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Isola Productions Ltd.

Rachel Jean

Film & TV Productions.

Isola Productions


Owned by Rachel Jean and established in 2001, Isola Productions has specialised in producing one-off documentaries, factual series, comedy and diverse drama. Over its first decade Isola won awards, garnered countless critical reviews and produced consistent ratings over many hours of prime-time New Zealand Television.

Relaunching in 2022 (after a 12-year break while Rachel worked as Network Commissioner and Television Executive), the company is focusing on comedy, drama and character driven factual production. Isola will remain dedicated to making quality programming using freelance directors and crew. We continually look for new and exciting partnerships and projects to continue to develop a diverse slate of both local and international production.

Based in Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand, Isola Productions...

Producer - Rachel Jean


Rachel has been producing film and television drama, comedy and documentary for more than 30 years, most recently launching a variety of shows for South Pacific Pictures; Two series of the drama Head High that critics called "...the best and most complex NZ drama in years, three seasons of popular comedy Mean Mums for THREE, as well as Last @ 11 and three seasons of the critically acclaimed comedy Educators for TVNZ. Series Two was a finalist in 'Best Comedy' at the recent NZTV Awards and a finalist for 'Best Streaming Comedy' at the upcoming New York Festivals TV & Film Awards, where Series One was awarded a bronze medal. Series Three is about to hit screens.

Prior to this Rachel was Head of Development for South Pacific Pictures, overseeing development of all South Pacific Pictures' dramas, including Westside, The Bad Seed, and the international co-productions 800 Words, The Sounds and the first six seasons of The Brokenwood Mysteries.

Before joining SPP Rachel was Head of Drama and Comedy Commissioning at THREE, a local NZ network. During this period, she commissioned many local drama series like The Almighty Johnsons, The Blue Rose, Hope & Wire, Underbelly NZ and Harry as well the channel's comedy line-up, commissioning and acting as Network Executive Producer for the launch of shows like 7Days, Jono and Ben at Ten, Super City, Hounds, Golden, Sunny Skies, AotearoHa Specials and the Comedy Gala.

Rachel began producing 30 years ago. Having produced more than fifty local one-hour documentaries and multiple factual series for local networks, Rachel went on to, one-off comedies like Love Mussel, and drama series like The Market and Ride with the Devil.

Rachel had previously produced comedy like Love Mussel, drama Series Secret Agent Men, Ride With The Devil and The Market, 11 short films for the big screen, and was Associate Producer for Niki Caro's (Mulan, The Zookeepers Wife) first feature Memory & Desire. She began her drama career producing a number of drama-docs like Million Dollar Conman and Benefits Man having produced over 50 one hour primetime television documentaries, many of which dealt with significant moments in New Zealand's history like Dawn Raids, Erebus; The Aftermath and the successful 1981: A Country at War, and ranging to personal journeys of discovery like Are You My Father, about a girl looking for her genetic father, Beyond the Prison Wall on prisoners trying to resettle in society and Life, death and a Lung Transplant, a personal documentary on her husband's double lung transplant. These are the documentaries that resonate for Rachel and for many New Zealanders.

Rachel Jean has a reputation for talent spotting, finding great stories and has the knowledge to develop and produce them for screen. She is now producing under her own company Isola Productions Ltd., as well as in partnership with other companies.

Rachel holds an MA (Hons) in Film & TV, a double major BA in English & Art History from Auckland University, and a diploma in Media Studies from Waikato. She has also lectured for the Screen Production Masters Programme at Auckland University.

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