We acknowledge Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live and give respect to their Elders, past and present.

Read our Statement of Reflection

Your Cart

Your cart is empty right now...

Discover what's on
Your Stuff
Lists
No lists found
Create list
List name
0 Saved items
Updated: a few seconds ago
Getting Started
Get started with Your Stuff

A free Your Stuff account allows you to save, list and share your favourite collection items and articles. This account will give you access to Your Stuff, NFSA Player and Pro. You will need to create an additional account for Canberra event tickets.

Confirm
Skip to main content
National Film and Sound Archive of AustraliaNational Film and Sound Archive
National Film and Sound Archive of Australia
National Film and Sound Archive
National Film and Sound Archive of Australia
National Film and Sound Archive

John McCallum on Skippy's Secret

1979

John McCallum on Skippy's Secret

1979

  • NFSA IDWV612Z4M
  • TypeTelevision
  • MediumMoving Image
  • FormInterview, Series
  • GenresEducational, Children
  • Year1979

Shani Wood interviews Skippy co-creator, John McCallum, on Meeting in the Middle.

Meeting in the Middle was an early Sunday evening chat show hosted by Canberra teenagers that ran for 26 weeks. The idea was to have teenagers interview celebrities, asking questions they had devised themselves. The show aimed to bridge the 'generation gap'.

Shani wastes no time candidly asking what her viewers want to hear about – Skippy. Aware of his younger audience, McCallum gives a clear and entertaining explanation of why the series employed more than one kangaroo to play Skippy.

There is general agreement that actor and producer John McCallum, director Lee Robinson and lawyer Bob Austin, who together formed Fauna Productions, were all crucial to the success of Skippy. McCallum was also executive producer on two episodes, Long Way Home and Be Our Guest.

The production values in this clip from Meeting in the Middle are kept simple but the two-camera studio shoot focuses the attention on the interviewer and interviewee and effectively helps us stay engaged with what is being said.

Notes by Stephen Groenewegen and Adam Blackshaw

Shani Wood interviews Skippy co-creator, John McCallum, on Meeting in the Middle.

Meeting in the Middle was an early Sunday evening chat show hosted by Canberra teenagers that ran for 26 weeks. The idea was to have teenagers interview celebrities, asking questions they had devised themselves. The show aimed to bridge the 'generation gap'.

Shani wastes no time candidly asking what her viewers want to hear about – Skippy. Aware of his younger audience, McCallum gives a clear and entertaining explanation of why the series employed more than one kangaroo to play Skippy.

There is general agreement that actor and producer John McCallum, director Lee Robinson and lawyer Bob Austin, who together formed Fauna Productions, were all crucial to the success of Skippy. McCallum was also executive producer on two episodes, Long Way Home and Be Our Guest.

The production values in this clip from Meeting in the Middle are kept simple but the two-camera studio shoot focuses the attention on the interviewer and interviewee and effectively helps us stay engaged with what is being said.

Notes by Stephen Groenewegen and Adam Blackshaw

Decades
People
  • Broadcaster
    CTC 7 (Canberra)
    Interviewer
    Shani Wood
Decades
People
Industry professional? Go Pro

Need to license this item? A/V professionals and researchers can shortlist licensing enquiries via our NFSA Pro catalogue search and membership.

Get started with PRO

Collections to explore

  • Skippy

  • 1970s

  • Rove McManus

  • Start your own collection

    A free Your Stuff account allows you to save, organise and share your favourite videos, audio and stories.

More in Stories+

Personalized your experience

Save, create and share

With NFSA Your Stuff