Alex Breingan

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Alex 'Alexander' James Breingan (born May 1972,[1] also known as AJ James and Alex B,[2]) is a New Zealand television executive producer, television writer and former radio host.[3][4][5][6]

He was the managing director and founder of the New Zealand production company Stripe Studios which was liquidated in March 2024.[7][8][9] Breingan has been covered in widespread New Zealand media due to the nature of the liquidation with several actors publicly sharing that they weren't paid for their work with Breingan.[10][11][2][12] Breingan has claimed the problems arose after a 'u-turn' by the New Zealand Film commission, which they have denied.[13]

Career[edit]

Breingan was previously one of the executive producers for the morning series, The Cafe[14][15] which aired from 2016 until 2020. During this time Breingan established the production company Stripe Media in 2014, later known as Stripe Studios.[12][10] The production company produced various television shows across New Zealand.[16][5]

Shows from Stripe Studios that were produced aired previously on SKY Open New Zealand,[17] Discovery Australia New Zealand[18] and NBCU NZ for the channel Bravo.[19][20][21] The most notable series they produced and wrote was The Circus[22][5][23], Rich Listers[16] and Great Southern Truckers.[24][5][25] Rich Listers received criticism after Breingan publicly mentioned that the show was fictional.[26][27][28]

Financial and legal issues[edit]

Problems arose in February 2024 when reports of post-production services were not paid for their work Breingan's company Stripe Studios, owing a six-figure sum each to two different post production houses in Auckland, New Zealand. Both services sought legal advice.[10][22] American comedian Iliza Shlesinger who filmed a show for Stripe Studios[21] which is yet to be released applied for liquidation on 20 December 2023 to the Auckland High Court due to an outstanding payment of $600,000 NZD ($366,780 USD).[11][29][30] In March 2024, Shlesinger successfully liquidated Stripe Studios (Comedy), a subsidiary of the larger Stripe Studios Group.[31] Two days before Shlesinger applied for liquidation in December 2023, Breingan registered a film company in the UK, Loveday films. The website was taken down after questions arose from New Zealand media.[32] Breingan also registered another film company, SNB film in February 2024.[33][34][35][36]

American actor and singer David Hasslehoff who also worked on a show released with Stripe Studios alongside comedian Rhys Darby was also owed money. The show has since been in post production but not expected to be finished.[10] Shows that were produced from Stripe Studios for Bravo New Zealand were also no longer on their website.[10] The company along with other entities for several productions with Stripe Studios went into receivership March 2024.[37][6] A further three companies which were under the Stripe Studios umbrella went into receivership on 14 March 2024.[7] The receiver discovered irregularities in the finances and reported them to the relevant authorities. The overall debt that's owed is over $20 million New Zealand dollars ($12,226,000 USD).[13]

In May 2024 under a new alias AJ James, Breingan established a new IMDb profile with proposed shows and films in development. They were linked to another company, 'Frankly' which was a redirect from his Loveday films website. Breingan also had links with producers in the USA and in the UK noted on the IMDb profile.[2]

A Kickstarter was also established under his other name AJ James for an upcoming documentary film about the English singer Tony Hadley. The Kickstarter campaign raised $2 before being closed down after questions from media. The proposed television shows which also included several reality shows and one with Pat Sharp and Chris Moyles were also removed after questions from media.[2][38] Breingan was also filming a show with New Zealand chef Mark Gregory for a series titled 'Christmas at the castle' under his Alex B name.[39]

Breingan has claimed the problems arose after a 'u-turn' was done by the New Zealand Film commission to which they have denied.[13]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Loveday Films Ltd overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  2. ^ a b c d Currie, Shayne (24 May 2024). "Failed TV firms – Boss' new alias and $2 raised online for new film". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  3. ^ "48TH INTERNATIONAL EMMY® AWARDS COMPETITION ON SCHEDULE & MOVING TOWARDS NOVEMBER GALA – International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences". Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  4. ^ "International Emmy® Magazine 2021 – 2022 by International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences – Issuu". issuu.com. 2022-01-24. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  5. ^ a b c d Hipes, Patrick (2022-04-15). "Wonder Street And New Zealand's Stripe Studios Set Unscripted TV Deal". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  6. ^ a b "Auckland TV production companies in receivership". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  7. ^ a b "TVNZ staff in new PR showdown; Newshub's secret lifelines; Hoff, ABs shows now in TV firm strife". NZ Herald. 2024-03-15. Archived from the original on 2024-04-14. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  8. ^ "YesShop no more". Retrieved 2024-03-04 – via PressReader.
  9. ^ "Consumer Watch: Choice closes gap". NZ Herald. 2013-11-30. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  10. ^ a b c d e "David Hasselhoff owed money from Auckland production company". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  11. ^ a b "NZ film company's $2.25m debts - top international comedian: 'My patience is exhausted'". NZ Herald. 2024-05-17. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  12. ^ a b "View All Details". app.companiesoffice.govt.nz. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  13. ^ a b c Currie, Shayne (15 May 2024). "Media Insider: Stripe Studios receivership – creditors including US TV stars owed more than $20m, say receivers; authorities alerted to alleged 'irregularities'". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  14. ^ "New TV3 lifestyle show The Café to air in April". Newshub. 2016-03-10. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  15. ^ "TV3 announces new morning show". NZ Herald. 2016-03-11. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  16. ^ a b "TV: 'Reality' show Rich Listers, on luxury property market, is fake". NZ Herald. 2022-10-09. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  17. ^ "NZME. – OneRoof and new TV show connects buyers with dream homes". www.nzme.co.nz. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  18. ^ "Great Southern Truckers". issuu. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  19. ^ "FRED MEDIA ADDS TWO NEW STRIPE STUDIOS' TITLES TO ITS CATALOG – SEÑAL NEWS". senalnews.com. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  20. ^ "Alianza internacional de distribuidor Fred Media y neozelandesa Stripe Studios". The Daily Television (in Spanish). 2021-07-19. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  21. ^ a b "Spy: Radio star Ben Boyce's top-secret new show". NZ Herald. 2023-09-17. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  22. ^ a b "They lured a legend to NZ, now a TV firm is in spotlight over bills; 7pm show's new name". NZ Herald. 2024-02-22. Archived from the original on 2024-02-16. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  23. ^ Whittock, Jesse (2023-05-03). "NBCU's Bravo New Zealand Orders Reality Series 'Snow Crew' And Hayu Renews 'The Circus'". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  24. ^ "Fred Media helps Bravo's The Circus run away to join reality streamer Hayu". C21media. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  25. ^ Breingan, Alex (2022-07-05). "Great Southern Truckers – Apple TV (CA)". AppleTV. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  26. ^ "Spy: Rich Listers brings in the alpha rivalry of real estate agents". NZ Herald. 2023-06-18. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  27. ^ "Alex Breingan | Movies and Filmography". AllMovie. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  28. ^ "The Tank". New Zealand Film Commission. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  29. ^ "Advertisement of Application for Putting Company into Liquidation – 2024-aw639 – New Zealand Gazette". gazette.govt.nz. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
  30. ^ "Top international comedian applies to liquidate NZ production company". NZ Herald. 2024-02-22. Archived from the original on 2024-02-20. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  31. ^ "SMALL TOWN MEDIA LIMITED, STRIPE STUDIOS (COMEDY) LIMITED, GREY LYNN DENTAL LIMITED and WINIPAC LOGISTICS LIMITED (all in liquidation) – 2024-al1295 – New Zealand Gazette". gazette.govt.nz. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  32. ^ "Stripe Studios boss sets up UK company, website disappears after questions from Stuff". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  33. ^ "The fall and rise of Duncan Garner; Top reality TV shows 'at risk'; Media hacker's frustration". NZ Herald. 2024-03-25. Archived from the original on 2024-03-22. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  34. ^ "Private Site". franklyfilmco.com. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  35. ^ "AJ James | Producer, Writer, Additional Crew". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  36. ^ "Advanced search". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  37. ^ "View All Details". app.companiesoffice.govt.nz. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  38. ^ "AJ James - IMDb". IMDb. 2024-05-22. Archived from the original on 2024-05-22. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  39. ^ Christmas at the castle (Reality-TV), Mark Gregory, retrieved 2024-05-29{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)

External links[edit]

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