View image at Flickr A few weeks ago I had the privilege of interviewing Robin Sather, the first ever LEGO Certified Professional.
Robin Sather hosted Season One of LEGO Masters NZ which ran for New Zealand audiences and achieved popular ratings.
After completing the production of the show Robin Sather took a well-earned holiday travelling the length and breadth of New Zealand.
Read on as I interviewed Robin about his new experience of hosting a LEGO Masters show.
MATANGA PEREKI, BRICKMASTER - ROBIN SATHER
David: A little background about you appearing in the show. How were you approached for this role for LEGO Masters New Zealand?
Robin: In Canada, we were in the middle of a really prolonged period of lockdown. We’d been locked down for most of 2 years, but it was 18 months of what you would say here in New Zealand was a Level 4 lockdown. Not a lot was happening.
Then out of the blue, I got this email from Screentime NZ, saying they were the production company producing LEGO masters New Zealand for TVNZ, and would I be interested in being their LCP?
Every production has to have a LEGO Certified Professional (or LCP, for short) connected to it. Of course, New Zealand does not have a LCP; the closest is in Australia. As much as everyone loves Ryan McNaught (as do I!), the Kiwis didn't want an Australian to host the show. It's as simple as that.
So, I got this email, and honestly, at first, I thought it was a prank. I genuinely thought it was some of my LCP mates pranking me and making up a fake email because it seemed too good to be true. I ignored it for a couple of days. I just thought, "Good one, guys!” But later, I thought I'd better check into it a bit further, and sure enough, it was legit! I replied, and we started talking.. Everybody got excited about the possibilities, and we quickly made some arrangements, and actually started working on the show immediately.
David: From what you've just said, Screentime NZ had selected you. Do you know what made them choose you for this position?
Robin: I think number one, they wanted an English native speaker. So that cuts out about half the LCPs. And I’m from a Commonwealth country, so that was an extra benefit. They were looking for an on-screen personality that would work. They had seen some of my stuff online, and they liked what they saw. They said they had me and one other LCP potentially in the mix. They contacted me first, and I said, "Yes, please!" And away we went.
David: That's really great to hear. How did you prepare for the role?
Robin: I spoke with several LCPs that have done LEGO Masters or were in the middle of doing LEGO Masters in their respective countries. I talked to Georg, the France LCP. I've spoken to Matija from Norway, who was working on Scandinavian shows. Caspar from Denmark was working on several fronts. And of course, Ryan from Australia and Nathan and his crew from the US.
I hit everybody up for any and all information I could get, and everyone was super helpful. The LEGO Group has a department internally that manages LEGO Masters, and they were prepping me and giving me information as well.
Personally, doing the show would mean travelling to New Zealand to spend many months of pre-production and then shooting the show. And since my wife’s business had also essentially been locked down, we decided that she would come along with me. So, it was a big deal to reset and figure out how we would make this all work.
David: I'm interviewing you on Matariki, the world's first public holiday honouring an Indigenous Celebration. And for LEGO Masters, New Zealand, you had the Matanga Pereki designation and Brickmaster. Can you tell me about your connection with the Maori culture for the show?
Robin: Yeah, certainly. It's been exciting to learn more about Maori culture, the connection to the land, and a lot of the terminology and the integration of Te Reo (Maori Language) into regular everyday life. To hear Te Reo on newscasts, see it on street signs, place names, and more – really helped to connect everything. It was inspiring.
On the show, we actually had a Maori guy that was a consultant for us - Scotty Morrison, who's probably well known to Kiwis as a sports personality and a presenter and commentator. He is a really, really nice guy. Scotty really looked over everything that we did – the lines we spoke, the dialogue between Dai and me, the challenges I designed. We ran it all by him, and we did make some changes based on his advice and were happy to do so. Scotty provided an excellent connection to Maori culture, and we wanted to have lots of it in the show.
You'll see bits and pieces of that here and there with pronunciations, and the Brickmaster idea was something we collectively came up with. We were bouncing around ideas. Australia, of course, has Brickman, and Brickmaster would be the next go-to. Scotty was tossing out words and things, and out came “Matanga Pereki”. That translates to Brick Master or Brick Elder, as far as I understand. That's kind of how it ended up. Very cool!
David: Okay, that's really interesting to hear all of that background there. During the shows, which came through from the second episode, was this concept that the contestants referred to as the “10-3-1” rule. Can you expand on this concept?
Robin: Yeah, everybody has a different way of describing or explaining to builders how to build for the show and just building in general. It's almost the same concept if you're an Adult LEGO fan (AFOL), building for an exhibit such as the Christchurch Brick Show, Wellington Brick Show or something like that. The idea certainly wasn't a rule, but it was a good guideline, and something I told the teams I’d generally be looking for. It was a bit of a shortcut to help teams think about this. I just call it “10-3-1”.
Basically, you want some aspect of your build that immediately stands out from 10 metres away - something that makes you say "Wow, what is that?". As you are drawn into that 3-metre distance, you should begin to see more about what’s going on; more of any story that’s there. New details should pop out, and you will probably understand better what you're looking at.
Then, as you get up close, to 1 metre away, you should see the intricate story details, maybe Minifigure action, and lots of smaller features. You might also crouch down, or stand tall, and look at the build from some more unusual and specific angles. Maybe a few Easter Eggs!
So, “10-3-1” is just a shorthand way of describing to teams the type of things the Brickmaster was looking for.
David: In LEGO Masters New Zealand, because they were only 6 teams or 12 contestants, the show appeared to start with a hiss and a roar, and then after only 5 weeks, it was all over. Do you think there could have been more to offer in LEGO Masters New Zealand in Season 1?
Robin: I certainly can't speak for TVNZ on the decisions about the show format, and the broadcast schedule.
But, I think a few things are at play, and I did have some influence there, so I'll speak to that. Number one: I loved having fewer teams because it lets you keep them around longer and get to know every team. I think that LEGO Masters productions with a lot of teams eliminate them so quickly that you hardly even remember who they were. We wanted to dive into the stories of these contestants, these amazing Kiwi builders, to get to know them and have them all be memorable.
We had 9 episodes in the series, which, when it goes by at 2 episodes per week, does happen very quickly. We didn't know what the airing schedule was, and I didn't realise they would be doing 2 episodes per week. Not that that matters. Other LEGO Masters shows might have 12 or maybe 13 episodes. LEGO Masters NZ had 9, so it’s almost as many. But when you air them close together, the whole thing goes by fast!
We had 9 episodes, but all 6 teams were present for the first 3 because we didn't have an elimination until episode 3, which was excellent. No one would appear on only 1 or 2 episodes and then be eliminated quickly. We knew we could tell many stories and get to know all the teams.
The shows were going to be 1 hour in length, which for TVNZ works out to 44 minutes of actual time. There's a lot of stuff to get in there. People will have different opinions; they want to see more building, or they want to see more people, more background, or whatever. Almost nobody is completely happy with the way that it's cut. There are hundreds of hours shot for each episode to have to cut down into that format.
I think, too, because it was a brand-new thing for the New Zealand market and TVNZ, there was a little caution. They didn't want to jump into a really grandiose production and spend a lot of money and time.
I think Series 2 will be similar in format. Still, perhaps with the great success of Series 1, we will see some enhancements with the format. I like what the Australians do with the 90-minute episodes. We certainly have plenty of footage to cut into 90-minute episodes.
We could certainly have more teams, but then I'd want more episodes. But I don’t make any of these decisions! I think it was really well done, given all the parameters and all the contexts that had to be respected and played with.
David: The more extended show format suggestion came through in some of the interviews I did with the teams as they exited. They suggested it could stretch to 80 or 90 minutes each episode. And when you take out the ad content, that just allows seeing more of the builds and more details.
Robin: Yeah, I agree completely. Again, this is a business about the broadcaster selling advertising and sponsorship for those slots. And because it was a brand-new show and an unknown in this market, I suspect there was caution there.
It was a big-time rating success. So, I could imagine potential advertisers and sponsors lining up to do the future seasons. Perhaps some of the Series 2 edits could be 90 minutes, but that's entirely outside of my influence and control. That's 100% a TVNZ broadcaster decision. But if could put my 2 cents in, I'm hoping that's what we get.
David: That sounds pretty good. From a broadcasting sense, the ratings were what they were expecting?
Robin: They were better than expected, actually, from what I've heard. There are lots of very detailed viewing statistics and demographics that the broadcaster tracks. Regarding viewing and sponsorship - this show did very well: As I understand it, it was the most-watched show on many nights. It did exceptionally well.
David: Well, that's really great to hear. As a viewer watching the show with the 12 contestants, to me, it looked like, instead of it being a competition, everyone knew that there were going to be these teams eliminated. Still, it appeared that everyone there got on very well. It was almost like a shared journey. There was a lot of interaction and support across the contestants and teams. And it just seemed really a friendly atmosphere, and everyone got on quite well.
Robin: There's no question. Yeah, absolutely. You saw that on-screen, but it was actually more profound than what you saw. It was really a shared experience for everybody. Even with me as the LEGO judge and co-host, and Dai as host. I still have many connections with the contestants, and I will continue to. We built friendships that will last a very long time, and indeed, the contestants bonded in ways that I'm sure are lifelong friendships.
There were many tears from people when the eliminations happened, sometimes more so from the non-eliminated teams! And I definitely had to hold back tears many times. Just making those announcements was the most challenging part of the show.
Without giving any spoilers, we incorporated mechanisms into the show whereby a team could get a competitive advantage. We had the Power Brick, which gave the teams holding it advantages and benefits. There were opportunities where a team could really mess with the other teams. In one instance, we gave one of the teams advance notice about the next challenge. They were free to do what they wanted with this information; Withhold it from the other teams, tell only 1 or 2 teams, or even give out false information. But with this crew? The advantaged team instantly said, “We’re going to share this info with everyone!”
The Power Brick could also be played for immunity from elimination, but teams were reluctant to use it because they wanted to let their work speak for itself. They wanted a fair playing field. This doesn't necessarily make for great dramatic TV! Still, it speaks to the cooperative, family, uplifting, encouraging atmosphere throughout the teams, and I love that.
David: Yeah, it came through very clearly in the TV show and online social media posts since then, as everyone's talking about their experience and sharing photos and details on social media.
I picked up a sense of responsibility that you and Dai, the hosts and the 12 contestants, had a responsibility as this was the first season for LEGO Masters New Zealand as a new concept. To make it equivalent, or packed with the same amount of power and punch, as LEGO Masters that we might see in Australia, in particular, but other countries worldwide.
Robin: Definitely, there was a sense of that. There was a sense that we needed to do this right and make sure that we plant a respectable LEGO Masters flag in New Zealand. That was right from the top down. New Zealand obviously is a smaller market. It's a fraction of the size of Australia and the number of viewers. Hence, the budget obviously isn't as big to produce the show. Again, I don't have those numbers, but I know it's a fraction of the budget.
The producers and the production company brought an amazing level of professionalism to the show. The look of the set, the camera work, the edits, the care given to the teams, and even to Dai and me. Incredible. Everyone involved really wanted to be there. 150% given by all.
Certainly, Dai and I took our roles exceptionally seriously. There was a lot of preparation and discussion to ensure that we did the best we could to get the greatest builds out of the teams and that they had an amazing experience. We all put our best foot forward for Season 1 of LEGO Masters New Zealand. I'm very proud of what we did. I think it was brilliant. It all came together, and everyone has been crazy happy with what they've seen.
David: I know that Dai Henwood, who typically works for the competitor TV network, specifically asked to be on LEGO Masters New Zealand. I know that many of the production crew, the people behind the scenes, the camera crew, the makeup people, the editing people, and the director and producers requested to be on the show because of their love for the LEGO brand.
Robin: That's correct. You're absolutely right there. People wanted to be included in the show even back in pre-production at the end of last year. I remember camera operators at auditions asking me to put a word in for them when the show started shooting! Every single person on the crew wanted to be there. I don't think there was anyone that did not want to work on future seasons (if we do more!). Everyone said, "Yeah, please make sure to let me know when you’re doing the next one!”. That’s pretty rare! It shows how everybody gelled and worked together, from producers and directors to cameras and lighting, to catering, admin, and everything else. I've worked on a few shows in the past. This LEGO Masters experience was the most pleasurable, professional, and fantastic production I've ever worked with.
David: To wrap up and finish this off. You mentioned that no teams were eliminated until the end of Episode 3. And one of the things that the contestants organised was they presented you with a Pounamu pendant while they were still together as the complete 12. Can you let me know how receiving such a gift made you feel?
Robin: As I mentioned, Episode 3 was our first elimination episode, and the teams knew this. They knew that when we were filming, and in the middle of that building challenge, this would be the last time the whole family, the whole whanau, would be together. We all considered ourselves that way, and indeed the teams considered Dai and me part of their whanau, which was very much an honour.
In the middle of filming at one particular break - teams do get breaks! - they were about to head off to their green room. Dai and I were there, and they called us towards them collectively. They were gathered there, and one of the team members, Jono - Jonathan Samson - was the person that presented Dai and me with these Pounamu. They were chosen specially for us and were both designed by different artists. We both were crying. I mean, everybody ended up crying, to be honest.
I understand the honour of it. I desperately wanted to have a Pounamu to take home, a very special part of my experience here. But of course, I realised you can't just go and buy a Pounamu. The fact that the teams, in this context, would come together, select the Pounamu, get them blessed by Maori elders, and then present them to us was incredibly special. I was humbled, honoured, and grateful to receive mine, and Dai was the same. It was fantastic. I'm wearing it right now. I wear it whenever I can.
David: Well, thanks for taking the time for this interview. I know you're travelling around New Zealand and catching all the sights, and it will be great to catch up with you when you're back in Auckland.
Robin: Yeah, cheers, David!
If you're in New Zealand, you might be able to catch up with Robin at the Christchurch Brick Show this weekend.
The LEGO Masters NZ episodes can still be downloaded from the TVNZ website.
You may be able to watch these episodes via a VPN from other locations.
Season Two of LEGO Masters NZ will screen towards the end of the year.
31 likes
10 comments on this article
By Huw in United Kingdom,
I've not succeeded in watching via VPN "This video cannot be watched from your location. If you're in NZ, please deactivate any VPN or Smart DNS service you may be running, and make sure timezone settings are correct on your device"
I've set my timezone to Auckland but it still didn't work, unfortunately.
By Squidy74H in Australia,
Looking forward to the second season. Thanks for the interview David! :)
By Squidy74H in Australia,
There's a Reddit group for Australian and NZ TV shows that had the episodes up as they aired, should still be able to find them. I found one person who had good quality versions with no commercials. Hopefully you get to see it Huw, was very enjoyable.
By Torrent_Studios in Australia,
This is really cool! Will Brickset be able to interview Brickman (aka Ryan Mcnaught) for the folks here in Australia?
By Huw in United Kingdom,
@Squidy74H said:
"There's a Reddit group for Australian and NZ TV shows that had the episodes up as they aired, should still be able to find them. I found one person who had good quality versions with no commercials. Hopefully you get to see it Huw, was very enjoyable."
Found them, thanks.
By Huw in United Kingdom,
@Torrent_Studios said:
"This is really cool! Will Brickset be able to interview Brickman (aka Ryan Mcnaught) for the folks here in Australia?"
If someone wishes to become our Australia correspondent and do so, then yes!
By JayCal in Netherlands,
Man, I loved the show! It was really nice, especially considering the budget. Robin did an awesome job. I hope that next season Dai will display some more humour/shenanigans. The other Lego Masters versions throughout the world mostly have more humourous presenters. But man, Robin really was outstanding in his role!
By winbrant in Canada,
Having worked with Robin with numerous shows and commissions I am happy that we Canadians can share him with a larger world-wide audience! And in addition to being a awesome artist and builder (both LEGO AND Duplo!) he is an interesting and fun person to hand out with...especially when you get him out on his One-Wheel :)
Some of his work: https://www.brickville.ca/
Robin and Diane, enjoy your adventure and we'll have to catch up when you come back home :)
By PurpleDave in United States,
Wow. Looks like the LCP program shed another batch of members. The last time I checked, nearly half of all LCPs were based out of China, and over half were from Asia in general. Now there’s ten from Europe, eight from Asia, three from North America, and one each from Oceania and the Middle East. Of those 23 members, I see five who are based in nations where English is the official or primary language. Eliminating Ryan and Nathan right off the bat doesn’t leave many obvious options for who their second call was going to be.
The thing with the quantity of teams isn’t as much of an issue once the US show hits the midpoint, but especially for those first couple episodes it does feel like all you’re getting is names from the teams who didn’t end up on top or bottom during judging. Once you trim out the ads, a broadcast network show in the US only has about 42-45 minutes of content. Factor out stuff like the group announcements, and they have less than four minutes per team for individual focus for those first few episodes. I had a chance to talk quite a bit with the five Michigan contestants from US S2, and learned that they’re even trimming out critical challenge rules and criteria to get under the time limit (for the hat episode, they also had to design a wearable accessory, but aside from seeing a bow tie and some eyeglasses, we didn’t see almost any evidence of that component, which makes it harder to understand how they were judged in some cases). It’d be nice to get 2hr episodes in the US, but it’ll never happen. Broadcast networks in particular are married to the 30/60 format.
By slugbiker in United States,
LM NZ was a refreshing change from the hype of the US version. I loved that fact that there were no eliminations the first few episodes, and that they showed the camaraderie of all the contestants instead of just pushing "drama" and competitiveness. Looking forward to season 2.
