NZ www.nztecho.comCHONovember 2009 Issue 41 THE GUILD FOR ALL CREW PEOPLE! The New Zealand Film and Video Technicians’ Guild NZTECHO 2 CONTENTS ‘el presidente’ speaks 3 Martyn Sanderson 4 Hollywood Hedonist... Part 2 10 A “Short” Chat 19 Ed’s Sorry… Anon’s Gone 21 LONO - What’s That, Again? 23 Language Less Polite! 26 But fi rst, thanks heaps to all who responded to my invitati on to comment on the Guild’s name – whether or not we should change it, and if so, to what. CREATIVE TEAM I had intended to publish in this issue a selecti on of responses culled from the eleven Publisher / Adverti sing pages worth I’ve gathered so far; but exigencies of space – three major contributi ons Fritha Stalker have all ended up being three ti mes the length anti cipated (I’ve had to delay a few other Executi ve Editor already prepared pieces ti ll our December issue) – and exigencies of ti me also – as I Tony Forster write, I’m less than 24 hours from climbing aboard a big metal bird to go shoot a doco in Design / Layout Berlin. So, my apologies – but given the responses so far, December’s will be a sti mu- Bright Ideas Ltd lati ng issue, I promise you! Printi ng Neville Newcombe However, as a taster: thus far responses are 35% in favour of keeping the present name, and 65% favour a change; of those 65%, roughly a half prefer Screen Associati on (of CONTRIBUTORS NZ), a third like Screen Crew Guild (of NZ), and a quarter have other suggesti ons. Alun Bollinger Tom Burstyn Thanks again, and – Keep those thoughts coming in, to [email protected]! Gina Dellabarca Tony Forster Fritha Stalker PHOTOS - Thanks to Tom Burstyn Annie Collins WELCOME, NEW MEMBERS! and the Sanderson Family We thank you for your support. Tony Forster Cover Photo: Seamus Cooney Assistant Director Auckland Martyn Sanderson with his wife Donna Kofoed Assistant Director Auckland Wanjiku Kiarie in Kenya, 1983 Kevin Luck Camera Auckland Rex Milton Broadcast Engineer Auckland Jenny Morgan Art Department Auckland DISCLAIMER: Bryce Pearce Safety Auckland The views expressed in the articles James Rua Camera Auckland herein are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily represent those Vincent Shade Assistant Director Auckland of either the NZFVTG or the editors Suganthi Sivakumar Line Producer Queenstown of NZTECHO. (Though, of course, Laura “Lou” Taylor Special FX Auckland sometimes they do!) Morne van Tonder Safety Auckland NZFVTG is supported by: NOTE: Occasionally a new member asks us not to include their name in this list. Al- though we think it disappointi ng, even shameful, that a small minority of producers sti ll hold archaic, simplisti c “us and them” atti tudes towards organisati ons like ours, we recognise that on rare occasions it may be tactf ul for a member perhaps contracted to such a producer, for example, to be discreet – and so we do, of course, acquiesce to any such request. 3 NZTECHO el presidente’s rave… Another sad loss: last month Martyn Sanderson shuffl ed off this On a point which I have made more than once, Sir Owen’s 1967 mortal coil. report proposed a single fl at-rate levy on all employers, on the He was given a wonderful send off in the Rangiatea Church in basis that we all benefi t from the work undertaken by those in Otaki, where he now rests in peace on a hill in the urupa by the risky industries such as fi shing or forestry or mining. He disputes church. Nick Smith’s claim that varied levies gives an incenti ve for people I knew Martyn well. We and our families lived together for to behave in safer ways. Are people really willing to risk killing several years at the Snoring Waters commune in Hawkes Bay; themselves for the sake of a few dollars of saved premiums? but somehow I felt I got to know Martyn bett er from hearing the things others had to say about him at his funeral. With so many * * * * * * * people gathered together talking and reminiscing, I got to hear Ah, what’s in a name? stories I’d never heard before, and to hear of Martyn’s work and In the last editi on of NZTECHO, Tony, our editor, explored the achievements which I wasn’t fully aware of. idea of a name change for our guild. This has been talked about Martyn made a considerable contributi on to the culture and arts on and off over the years, because the name “Technicians’ Guild” in Aotearoa. Although he will be sadly missed, his legacy will live seems to give the impression that we don’t represent those who on. work in areas which are not considered to be ‘technical’ areas, * * * * * * * such as art department, make-up, wardrobe, producti on offi ce, When this Nati onal-led government won the last general elec- locati on management, and so on. ti on, I made comment about some of the changes which could Of course we represent any and all who work in the screen pro- aff ect both us as screen workers and the populati on in general. ducti on industry, and we welcome the input of all departments. One of the areas of concern to me was what may happen to ACC. Lengthy discussion of the topic amongst the Nati onal Exec Sir Owen Woodhouse was quoted recently as saying the pro- suggests that a name change may be secondary to the need to posed changes to ACC breach the principles of the scheme which, inform screen workers about the work we do on their behalf, and as the head of the Royal Commission, he authored back in 1967. to encourage all in all departments to join up and help hold onto (The scheme was implemented in 1974.) and improve our conditi ons of work. The blow-out in ACC losses stems from the previous Nati onal Whatever our offi cial ti tle, we will always be known as the Government’s decision to allow private sector competi ti on; this ‘Techos’ Guild’. I guess it’s up to those of us who are already required a change towards ACC being funded on the same basis members to inform and educate those who aren’t, and get them as private insurers. So we have ACC desperately trying to predict to join up so that our voice can fairly represent all who work in and cover their potenti al costs years ahead. We need only look this industry. to the US of A to see how incredibly ineffi cient insurance is as a … AlBol way of paying for a populati on’s health needs. NZTECHO 4 Martyn Sanderson 1938 - 2009 I recall Martyn from post-Blerta occasions when I was old Martyn obviously was a thousand more things than the gentle enough to pick him out from what, as a very young Blerta child, Simple Man - not least a beloved father - but in my heart this is seemed one conti nuous family of people... always what he will be. There are myriad images of Martyn as a performer over a long The world is undoubtedly poorer for your loss, Martyn, but I and illustrious career, many I fi nd very memorable. Ulti mately, sincerely hope and believe you’ll be having a beer with those however, to me he is always and irrevocably linked with a who got there before you, especially Bruno and my own Dad, Bill. parti cular character, both man and performer suff used with a common thread: the gentleness of the Simple Man. I don’t recall With much love, which venture it was linked with – the unlikely Blerta TV series, Fritha. or another – but there is a clip (probably shot on Super 8) for Simple Man that accompanies the Blerta song of the same name, htt p://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=155653488494 and Martyn is its star. * * * * * * Simple Man eclipses other madcap Blerta moments with Martyn, Talofa, Tony Barry and Ian Watkin (amongst others) haring about the I am so very sad to hear about Martyn... but also know he has place wearing false chins and silly hats, dodging explosives. peace now. Somehow these need to be jogged out of a memory wherein I’m in Samoa... There is so much sadness and loss here too... If Simple Man is fi rmly planted. you make it to his tangi, please give him my love. We only met a couple of ti mes, but he gave me profound and I don’t know if I am innately melancholic, but “The Ballad of a gentle advice about life that, years later, has been immensely Simple Man” is undoubtedly a downbeat Blerta moment and helpful. not one you hear about much. The song is a haunti ng refrain, He truly was a beauti ful man. sung beauti fully by my – then very young – mother, about a Tofa soifua, man “passing by, doing the best he can” who receives a lett er F.C. “What does it say? She’s getti ng married on Saturday...”. Martyn * * * * * * * suff uses his portrayal with a humour that in other hands might Frederick Martyn Brocas Sanderson, actor, writer, poet: have been reduced to plain comedy, but in his hands only makes b near Granity, February 24, 1938; m (1) 1960 Elizabeth Eames it more poignant. I think that is true genius; thinking of it makes (diss 1978) 4d 1s, (2) 1983 Wanjiku Kiarie; d Otaki, October 14, my heart ache even now.