{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Person",
  "@id": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/person/164591/john-banas",
  "name": "John Banas",
  "url": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/person/164591/john-banas",
  "knownForDepartment": "Writing",
  "description": "John Banas is a New Zealander writer, director, actor and teacher who has, for over forty years, worked extensively in New Zealand, Australia and the United States.  He began as an actor, writer and director in Kiwi theatre during the 1970s,  Banas increasingly focused on dramatic writing for television from the 80s on. After relocating to Australia, he established himself as a prolific TV screenwriter with a string of iconic shows, including Blue Heelers and City Homicide. His many New Zealand scripts include Bombshell and award-winning telemovies Siege and How to Murder Your Wife.",
  "birthPlace": "Wellington, New Zealand",
  "image": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/laWozoDYd1Jf819D72kwdIiIWXh.jpg",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0051555"
  ],
  "lastVerified": "3 May 2026",
  "filmography": [
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 3136,
      "title": "E Street",
      "year": "1989",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.667,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/48p8pp1X4KmlPMXxlOM8CzpbLya.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/3136/e-street-1989"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 4881,
      "title": "Water Rats",
      "year": "1996",
      "role": "Writer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.3,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/w6oHM0977ZG4qER3nZzA8CLPXRY.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/4881/water-rats-1996"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 2167,
      "title": "All Saints",
      "year": "1998",
      "role": "Writer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.231,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/cuKUm2nweOCpb1pl2k8k0THTBvn.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/2167/all-saints-1998"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 5203,
      "title": "Rafferty's Rules",
      "year": "1987",
      "role": "as Ken Bascomb",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 8,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/iWY6s5SilGbn6NyiZsc2j0YTrtx.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/5203/rafferty-s-rules-1987"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 43078,
      "title": "Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries",
      "year": "2012",
      "role": "Writer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 7.657,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/AeHJVpoWWKtCyFIZ6LbLkAR52vz.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/43078/miss-fisher-s-murder-mysteries-2012"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 4850,
      "title": "City Homicide",
      "year": "2007",
      "role": "Creator",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 5.9,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/lSJWL9TKsOrb9Gz7CppvKJgU6Ii.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/4850/city-homicide-2007"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 2267,
      "title": "headLand",
      "year": "2005",
      "role": "Writer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 7.889,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/szRaQagWDeT3wRE7StjnqN2iKSe.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/2267/headland-2005"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 42023,
      "title": "Tricky Business",
      "year": "2012",
      "role": "Writer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 7.5,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/8veiaIPdiQhJjdNUtBglurdb0DU.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/42023/tricky-business-2012"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 27873,
      "title": "Battletruck",
      "year": "1982",
      "role": "as Reuben",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 4.611,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/vKzIyRYkKfrUgHewh067a6i4Wj3.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/27873/battletruck-1982"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 4668,
      "title": "Mirror, Mirror",
      "year": "1995",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 7.571,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/gucQybDQsHkNvhh7NOUCd7F7jRf.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/4668/mirror-mirror-1995"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 59504,
      "title": "Emma: Queen of the South Seas",
      "year": "1988",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 3.75,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/cgIe6czhbpwAbhOJ4hN2SrxxrZ1.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/59504/emma-queen-of-the-south-seas-1988"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 40456,
      "title": "Underbelly NZ: Land of the Long Green Cloud",
      "year": "2011",
      "role": "Writer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.2,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/lfqMeXA155bP0Ze8mQbQFe9CoeI.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/40456/underbelly-nz-land-of-the-long-green-cloud-2011"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 29405,
      "title": "Mirror, Mirror II",
      "year": "1997",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": null,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/31DBFG10BxEi6PDFyqVhqPbqrTV.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/29405/mirror-mirror-ii-1997"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 88966,
      "title": "Straight Forward",
      "year": "2019",
      "role": "Writer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": null,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/8yVqneWrZX1H8HaMEERBh5L2epi.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/88966/straight-forward-2019"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 854868,
      "title": "Destination Love",
      "year": "2022",
      "role": "Writer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 5.1,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/vzxWBodVADBvbUXuzY5vnZGIHO1.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/854868/destination-love-2022"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 743276,
      "title": "Toke",
      "year": "2020",
      "role": "Writer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": null,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/oCOZpCjt39sSrrCMgI1eHWmKPfT.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/743276/toke-2020"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 854864,
      "title": "Love Knots",
      "year": "2021",
      "role": "Writer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 5.7,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/tgV1GsyUUFVjvXj5pjs4EnLdXtN.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/854864/love-knots-2021"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 115996,
      "title": "Siege",
      "year": "2012",
      "role": "Writer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 4.8,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/2qaYIBQkeyh5QyRxhtGtCMsm3ZT.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/115996/siege-2012"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 43330,
      "title": "Bad Blood",
      "year": "1982",
      "role": "as Macko Hager",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/6Z5g18WZ56FxTkzhSia8Rcxe0zV.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/43330/bad-blood-1982"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 358532,
      "title": "The Monster of Mangatiti",
      "year": "2015",
      "role": "Writer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.1,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/lFOJMyMvSnrzSRgzDRzL6Vmeryn.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/358532/the-monster-of-mangatiti-2015"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 830700,
      "title": "Phone",
      "year": "1974",
      "role": "Cast",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 10,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/hgD2pJQLJ2PFzMOGRU5ZgDaLTjA.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/830700/phone-1974"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 249713,
      "title": "Safe House",
      "year": "2012",
      "role": "Writer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 5,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/1UhmwoTMQQFvrPh6hXSoNi4v7db.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/249713/safe-house-2012"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 356088,
      "title": "Venus and Mars",
      "year": "2015",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": null,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/3DmgcrWBFnxyJvX2oNoXz2i9qth.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/356088/venus-and-mars-2015"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 354915,
      "title": "How to Murder Your Wife",
      "year": "2015",
      "role": "Writer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.6,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/QTLHSRenvO0zhszhHRYytq6J9r.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/354915/how-to-murder-your-wife-2015"
    }
  ]
}