Randy strode into the rundown house, took a quick look around, thanked the people who lived there, and hurried out. “It just won’t work,” he sighed to Brent and me. “I wanted a location that could pass for a grandmother’s house, but this looks like something from Tobacco Road.”

We had a problem. Gerald and the rest of our lighting crew had already arrived, and Mr. and Mrs. Foote were expected in an hour. If this house proved unsuitable, where would we film their interview?

Our story centered on a kindly old couple. When their car had broken down, Mr. and Mrs. Foote had used New Zealand Telecom’s new 0-800 emergency road service number from their cell phone. Since . . . CONTINUE READING: New Zealand: Living a Lie at Mrs. O’Brien’s