Joss King Joss King i(A139513 works by)
Gender: Male
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BiographyHistory

Script writer and story editor, who works in both New Zealand and Australian television.

King began work as a script-writer with New Zealand's South Pacific Pictures: he was both writer and story editor on long-running New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He has continued to write for New Zealand television, including scripts for drag-racing drama series Ride With the Devil (2007), comedy series Diplomatic Immunity (2009), and comedy-mystery Paradise Cafe (2009), the latter a New Zealand/United Kingdom co-production.

Since the mid-2000s, however, King has written regularly for Australian television programs, particularly the young-adult fantasy series produced by Jonathan M. Shiff Productions: he has written for Pirate Islands: The Lost Treasure of Fiji (2007); H2O: Just Add Water, for which he was also story producer (2007-2010); and The Elephant Princess (2008-2009).

King's most recent work on Australian television was the eight-part series Small Time Gangster (2011), co-written with Gareth Calverley: the series won the pair an AWGIE Award.

Most Referenced Works

Awards for Works

form y separately published work icon Small Time Gangster ( dir. Jeffrey Walker ) Australia : Burberry Productions , 2011 Z1773478 2011 series - publisher film/TV humour

'Tony Piccolo is an average Aussie bloke. Early 40s. Affable. Hard working. He's a family man. Tony keeps his 'day job' secret from his wife and kids - for one very good reason. Tony is an underworld enforcer. Gripped by a sudden mid-life crisis, Tony decides he wants out. But in the gangster business, an enforcer with a conscience is a dead man - and a family is a dangerous thing to have.'

Source: Movie Network Channels website, www.mnc.tv/small-time-gangster (sighted 18/04/2011)

2011 winner AWGIE Awards Television Award Mini-series - Original
form y separately published work icon The Elephant Princess ( dir. Grant Brown et. al. )agent Australia : Jonathan M. Shiff Productions , 2008-2009 Z1656784 2008-2009 series - publisher film/TV children's adventure fantasy

Alexandra Wilson is a normal girl living in an average suburb. She can sing brilliantly (she's a songwriter at heart). She's funny and driven. Alex's band is her life, and her band-mates, expressive Amanda Tucci and realist JB Deekes, are her closest friends. There's also Marcus, their lead guitarist: he's a year older, and, well, rather attractive. Alex has two grounded parents, Anita and Jim, and one very centre-stage younger sister, Zoe. Life is very normal. But ...

Since birth, Alex has caused a succession of strange, somewhat magical events. Fortunately, she's been able to conceal, ignore, or deny them all. But then Kuru, a young man dressed in exotic robes, and Anala, a decorated adult elephant who has a tendency to vanish now and again, arrive on Alex's doorstep. Kuru explains that Alex is actually Princess Liliuokalani Parasha Khaled Persphone Amanirenas of Manjipoor.

Alex is not so sure about that! But the magical effects she seems to cause have recently blossomed. It's scary. Alex asks Kuru and Anala to leave, but they won't go anywhere. They are under the royal command of Omar, Chief Advisor to the former Queen Nefari, to bring the princess home to rule.

Manjipoor is an exotic, mystical kingdom that exists very close to our world--but not in it. The nation was born six hundred years ago when 'gifted' people (sorcerers, oracles, and witches) fled persecution and created their own territory, and later, for their protection, moved it to a parallel location by magical means!

Kuru's mission is made easier when Alex's parents accept him as an 'exchange student' and he is invited to stay at their home. He does his best to fit in at Alex's school. Alex keeps her identity as a princess a secret from everybody but Amanda and JB, but it's an ongoing problem concealing a wilful, sometimes-invisible elephant in her backyard.

Omar's recent revelation of the existence of Manjipoor's secret princess shocks and threatens Vashan, the last royal relative in a conflicted and dying dynasty, who fully expected to rule. Aided by his skilful servant Diva, Vashan acts--first subtly, then overtly--to prevent his cousin Alex from claiming her inheritance.

Back in 'The Old World'--our world--Kuru's persistence with Alex starts to have an effect. Alex begins to practise and accept her magic--and it often goes awry. It's not easy being a teenager with magical powers! Alex uses her magic to rectify some very teenage-related issues, as well as to bend the occasional rule, but she draws the line at using magic in her music or for the band. They've got to prove they're good enough without it!

Following an encounter in Manjipoor where Alex learns some of the history of her real mother, Queen Nefari, and is introduced first hand to Vashan's enmity, she awakens to the strong qualities developing inside her and the need for her in Manjipoor as a princess.

Simultaneously, Alex, Amanda, Marcus, and JB improve as a band. They get gigs, and Alex's confidence as a singer increases. Alex finds the pull between both worlds conflicting. When Vashan becomes increasingly bold in his endeavours to undermine and overtake Alex, his actions precipitate a series of stunning revelations affecting the lives of Alex, Kuru, Anala, and Omar and the future of Manjipoor. Alex finds she must make a choice about where her real destiny lies ...

Source: Jonathan M Shiff Productions website, http://www.jonathan-m-shiff.com.au/
Sighted: 15/12/2009

2009 winner Australian Film Institute Awards Best Children's Television Drama
Last amended 7 Nov 2012 14:10:13
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