SUMMER 2018 | ISSUE 79 The Screen Industry Guild Aotearoa New Zealand quarterly Farewell Geoff Murphy We review John Reid’s history of John O’Shea and Pacific Films Film Otago, Southland: Who we are and what we do And, goodbye Andy Reid www.screenguild.co.nz Cover your cast & crew Looking at a location that requires on site marquees and facilities for the cast and crew? We provide specialist set outs for catering teams, make up, and costume departments. Continental Event Hire (formerly Hirepool Event Hire) have a huge range of marquees to suit any requirement. We also provide flooring underfoot, side panel options such as windows or transparent walls, and even the essentials for cast and crew catering, such as plastic chairs and trestle tables, glassware, crockery, and cutlery. Our pedigree and knowledge of filming requirements is well established with previous work including: Avatar, Petes Dragon, The lion, the witch and the wardrobe, Narnia, and Mission Impossible. Contact our dedicated film industry specialist | Neil Bosman 027 204 6165 Auckland • Feilding • Nelson • Blenheim • Rangiora • Christchurch • Queenstown • Dunedin EDITORIAL CONTENTS GUILD NEWS & VIEWS Nau Mai! 2 Behind the scenes Haere Mai! Karla Rodgers looks back on a tumultuous year. In this issue, we say goodbye and salute one of the founders of the modern New Zealand film industry. Without 4 President’s rave Geoff, his many collaborators, and the sacrifices made by Annie Weston’s first column. And it’s a ripper. his family, there’s a very real chance that either you or I wouldn’t even be working in this business. His influence is INDUSTRY that great. 6 In Memory Of Waka Attewell worked on Geoff’s sets many times, and his Geoff Murphy. take on what Geoff did and what it took to achieve it makes 10 Spotlight On The South for a great read. We hope you find something in it that resonates for you. The South Island Film Offices show us around. I’ve taken a page or two to say goodbye to Andy Reid 16 Whatever It Takes too. Andy was the bloke who got me into the industry, Waka reviews John Reid’s History Of Pacific Films and John O’Shea. who christened me ‘GT’ and who left an impression on 24 Regional wrap everyone he ever worked with. Goodbye old mate. And thank you. TECHOSPHERE We are also running Waka’s review of John Reid’s book Whatever It Takes, on John O’Shea and Pacific Films. The 5 Fine Print: Recommendations From The Film Industry Working Group. book looks like an essential read for anyone who wants to 20 Meet the people who represent you understand the roots of this industry, and why we do what we do. (Waka, you have been above and beyond this issue. 26 Newbie: Meet Reece Baker. Thank you.) 28 In Memorium: Farewell Andy Reid. We are also very happy to present the third part in our series on the film offices around the country, and what they do to assist film-makers in their regions. The Queenstown/South Island team have put together a great piece. Thanks guys. All that, plus the first ever column from our new President Annie Weston. Everyone who has held the office who we have ever worked with has said the one part of the job they don’t enjoy is writing these columns, so we always especially appreciate the effort! And we are featuring Reece Baker as our newbie of the issue. Anyone who has worked with Reece knows what a top guy he is. Welcome to the Guild Reece. Stay safe out there and over the summer, and we’ll see you Cover photo by Ken George. © 2004 New Zealand Film Commission, Capital Pictures Limited, NZ On Air and Spooked Productions Limited. all on set in 2019. All Rights Reserved. Haere rā, ISSUE 79 SUMMER 2018 Love your work, Editor Advertising GT. Graeme Tuckett Advertising queries, please contact Karla Rodgers on 09 8899522 Publisher/advertising (always dial 09), [email protected]. For a copy of our ad specs Karla Rodgers and rate card, please visit our website. Design All contents are copyright Screen Industry Guild Aotearoa New Zealand Jason Bowden / Anim8a Ltd. Inc. 2017, unless indicated otherwise. May not be reproduced, copied or Printing transmitted in any form without permission. GOLD STARS & CHOCOLATE FISH TP Printing Services Ltd. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the Contributors views of the Screen Industry Guild Aotearoa New Zealand Inc. Waka Attewell N Karla Rodgers, for getting through another year, with the Guild in Graeme Tuckett better shape than ever. 2018 has been momentous for everyone in Karla Rodgers Grace Alexander the Guild, and Karla has worked harder than anyone to see us all Tim Riley through it. Thanks you. Annie Weston N And to our new and returning executive members. Thank you for Kevin Jennings Nic MacAllan everything you do behind the scenes and on set to keep this vital Kahli Scott organisation functioning the way it does. N Merry Christmas and a great 2019 to come. www.screenguild.co.nz 2 | NZTECHO Summer 2018 BEHIND THE SCENES With over 20 years in the film industry, Karla Rodgers is now executive officer for the Techos’ Guild. Executive Officer Karla Rodgers looks back at a tumultuous 2018 Kia ora all, Unfortunately in some instances the latter has been the Well here we are again, another year done and dusted!! approach and understandably not received well by crew. This year at the Guild we slowed down from the manic For productions who have introduced this work- infrastructure revamp activity of last year giving time ing structure with fairly good results (I would not say to refine and tidy up the many loose ends from the perfect), the approach has been democratic, where previous year. in the first instance, all HOD’s having been consulted We also entered into a new era of partnership with and then been asked to present and discuss with their government on how the new work legislation should departments the alternative option offered. Thereafter, look and be defined within the screen industry. It was the HOD’s have been asked to vote on their depart- refreshing that the screen industry was identified as ment’s decision. If the majority accept the alternative having its own framework and not slotted into a “one working conditions then it must be accepted that this is size fits all”. A consultation group was formed made up the way the production will proceed. But it doesn’t end of key screen industry representatives (known as the there. HOD’s need to present any problems they fore- Film Industry Working Group FIWG) with SIGANZ be- see and solutions be sought in collaboration with the ing represented by our vice president Sioux Macdonald. production to mitigate a way forward before shooting The recommendations presented to the Minister will be begins. For example, some departments not getting suf- crucial as to how the screen industry moves forward. ficient breaks, (not just lunch breaks but toilet breaks). We await the Ministers’ response and will continue, as One solution has been that the 1st AD stop shooting we have throughout the year, to update you as officially to allow catch-up time. Put in place, this process has confirmed information and milestones come to hand. not necessarily been perfect, but manageable. For the productions who have approached this in what I would On the production front as we end this year there describe as a respectful manner, they have additionally has been a significant shift in the requests by some ensured there are at least two crew representatives major productions towards a style or work, in the US selected to speak on behalf of crew. Also they have known as “the continuous day” and in Europe as communicated with the guild throughout the process French hours. providing a copy of the final crew contract. This ap- I am somewhat despondent however, as we have set up proach has kept everything very transparent. how we wish to conduct business in NZ in the guide- lines set out in the Blue Book. These guidelines were The cautionary note being that there is a slow and reviewed last year and are fair and rigorous not just for notable shift to this becoming the norm, when in fact up technicians but also from the point of view of produc- until now the norm in NZ has been to follow the guide- ers. Surely we should consider our own standards to lines set out the Blue Book allowing all crew to have a be worthy of consideration and alternatives as a plan reasonable “tools down” lunch break. If the continuous B. Perhaps a bit of nationalism would do nicely here? day becomes standard practise it will be hard to come There is of course always room for logical and accept- back to our original guidelines. able argument in favour of alternative types of structure. So once again I urge crew, if presented the option of For instance, if child actors form the bulk of a produc- continuous working days to consider whether there is tion, work hours are restricted due to the limited hours reasonable cause to do so and as explained earlier that a child can be on set. This could be a fairly compelling comprehensive negotiation take place before principle and logical reasons to implement a rolling lunch. It is photography begins. Most importantly all crew (this ap- important to identify that the reasoning and argument for plies to all productions) be insistent that your contracts a change in work structure that differs from our own is are issued in advance of the first day of shooting.