AUTUMN 2015 | ISSUE 64 The New Zealand Film and Video Technicians’ quarterly NZ film industry takes on gender imbalance Dissecting insurance myths Financial longevity: Chase money or dream? www.nztecho.com New Zealand’s largest and most modern hire fleet... ...available at 60 locations nation wide! Power Generation Access Equipment & Pumping Vehicles Earthmoving & Portable Toilets & Barricading Compaction Showers & Fencing Containers New Zealand’s largest EDITORIAL CONTENTS Autumn ia already here and it sure is lovely to be enjoying some March GUILD NEWS & VIEWS sunshine (although farmers and others around the country will disagree). 2 Behind the scenes and most We bring you a mixed bag of goods in this NZTECHO. Executive officer Karla Rodgers – Industry knocked for six Gender imbalances in key creative roles in the film and TV industry is a 3 President’s rave hot topic at the moment. Our cover story by Jan Sisley highlights some President Richard Bluck – New beginnings complexities around the issue and also what the industry is doing to address INDUSTRY it. The ball has already started rolling with South Pacific Pictures announcing modern hire fleet... participants in its trainee programme to be 50/50 men and women, a discus- 8 Gender on filmmaking agenda The film industry takes on gender imbalance sion has also been hosted by WIFT and DEGNZ. It’s a topic to watch and one NZTECHO will keenly follow. 12 Running for cover (and other musings) Roi Macgregor dissects industry insurance myths Producer Roi Macgregor dives into the murky world of insurance in the film 15 Regional wrap and TV industry and shares some great tips for technicians. It’s important ...available at 20 Speical tribute: David Comer, John Day 60 locations to be aware when you are or aren’t covered on jobs. If unsure then talk to production, your insurer or the Techos’ Guild. TECHOSPHERE Cinematographer Waka Attewell reflects on aspects of his ‘financial’ nation wide! 4 Fine print: Dancing the film festival beat journey through the film and TV industry. Waka’s had a go at everything from 5 Extreme close-up: Alexandra Sumner, post-production investing in trees to ‘selling his soul’ running a TVC production company but 6 Back in the day: Stu Dryburgh takes us back to an emerging film industry has this been enough to achieve financial security as he approaches 60? Waka Attewell reflects on financial survival NZTECHO is planning an article around financial future-proofing and I would 16 Point of view: love to hear from technicians with stories about how well or not so well 18 Techos tidbits Power Generation Access Equipment they’ve fared financially in the industry. What would you have done differently 19 Newbie profile: Andrew Galt & Pumping and why? What worked well? Email [email protected] Vehicles As always, thanks so much to all the NZTECHO contributors, especially Jan, Roi and Waka. Your support to NZTECHO and the Techos’ Guild is appreciated. One more important note before I sign off. The Techos’ Guild is seeking a new accounts officer. See page18 for more information. If you are an expe- rienced accounts officer, accounts administrator or perhaps an accountant returning to work then email your CV and a cover letter to [email protected] Hopefully you’re able to enjoy this NZTECHO magazine in the sunshine, as next time you hear from me it’ll be winter. Catch you then. Carolyn Brooke, editor Cover shot: South Pacific Pictures chief executive Kelly Martin. Credit: Jae Frew. ISSUE 64 AUTUMN 2015 Editor Advertising Carolyn Brooke Advertising queries, please contact Karla Rodgers on 09 8899522 Earthmoving & Portable Toilets & Publisher/advertising (always dial 09), [email protected]. For a copy of our ad specs and Barricading Karla Rodgers rate card, please visit our website. Showers Design Compaction & Fencing Justin Westgate / biote Printing All contents are copyright New Zealand Film and Video TP Printing Services Ltd. Technicians’ Guild, 2015, unless indicated otherwise. May not be reproduced, copied or transmitted in any form without permission. Contributors Karla Rodgers Graeme Tuckett The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the New Zealand Film and Video Technicians’ Guild. We appreciate Alun ‘Albol’ Bollinger Kevin Jennings Containers Tim Riley Andrew Galt the support of: Stu Dryburgh Alexandra Sumner Jan Sisley Roi Macgregor Waka Attewell Sioux Macdonald www.nztecho.com 2 | NZTECHO Autumn 2015 BEHIND THE SCENES With over 20 years in the film industry, Karla Rodgers is now executive officer for the Techos’ Guild. Industry knocked for six on Cricket World Cup Well 2015 has started with a hiss and a great big roar. It appears our Andrew Little released a press release on February 8th. From there it ‘cup runneth over’. was definitely out in the public arena, including on TV One news and in A major part of the start of this year was the employment of outside newspapers. The following day Radio Live talkback host Sean Plunket broadcast (OB) crew surrounding and the Cricket World Cup (CWC). devoted the whole morning to the issue with a resounding 90% of those Held in NZ, the CWC is an exciting event that showcases to the world who called in against the practise of bringing in cheap overseas labour. how wonderful little Aotearoa and its people are. Hopefully all of us are Sadly the situation is that the major event classification overrides all. And able to reap the benefits of this. Sadly though, there a dark side to how as Prime Minister John Key dismissively stated on the TV One piece “it this event has been staged in NZ. Given the classification of major event was up to them to hire who they wanted for the event”. It is disappointing status I can’t help but think that politicians may have failed to read some that Mr Key who appears to be very happy to ride on the positive wave of the small print. We appear to have given away some of our crucial of publicity that the NZ film industry is afforded but is not prepared to rights, in particular the right to ensure that all NZ residents are given the protect, or stand up for the employment of those who have made it opportunity to work on such events before we bring in overseas crew. internationally so well respected. Demonstrating how seriously flawed The host broadcaster for the CWC event is ESPN Star Sport, based out major event status visa processing may be, an additional news broad- of India. They in turn on-sell to other broadcasters to make their money. cast went out on TV One news on February 22nd alluding to breaches They employ the camera, sound, production managers and the like. of our immigration laws, with some of those who had entered the country They additionally contract a facilities provider, in this case, Broadcast to work with alleged undisclosed criminal convictions. Both broadcasts Solutions (BS) based in Hong Kong, they provide the outside broadcast can be viewed on TVNZ OnDemand on the respective dates or on the trucks and facilities. Techos’ Guild Facebook page. In December last year the Techos’ Guild was alerted by OB Guild The major event status legislation is fairly tight and additionally a recipro- members that details relating to crew employment seemed somewhat cal agreement. To make amendments to the legislation may take years, vague and cryptic and there was growing concern. After initial requests but this is what we as a guild will work towards. received by a ‘few NZ technicians’ asking for rates and quotes from NZ can and naturally wants to stage these great events in the future. It is ESPN and BS, crew emails went unanswered and as the days before however important that this does not come at the cost of our workforce. the event drew near there was a wall of silence. No contracts, schedules The next event under the major event status is the FIFA U-20’s World or call sheets. The numbers of NZ resident contractors approached for Cup this coming May and June. The television broadcast rights have work at that stage was less than 10. again been given to an international company so we will be looking very To initiate action we needed assistance as fast as possible and sought closely as to where technicians will be employed from. help to act on behalf of the Guild. Time was of the essence. Andrew Little’s office stepped up to the cause. Within days of our contact with the office, a letter was sent to the ‘Mr Big’ at ESPN. Although no response was received from ESPN, further dialogue with the handful of those initially contacted technicians was re-established from ESPN. We felt hopeful. The numbers however still remained dismally low and the wall of silence befell us once again. The identical scenario was simulta- neously happening in Australia with the same major event status having GOLD STARS & CHOCOLATE FISH been placed on the event across the Tasman. Two weeks before the event, crew lists finally came out and it became Big thanks to the following people for supporting and helping the apparent that the majority of crew were being brought in from countries Techos’ Guild: such as Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, and South Africa. In short, they were N Sioux Macdonald for ongoing support to the Guild. bringing in cheap labour. We were made aware of the rate being offered N Jan Sisley, Waka Attewell and Roi Macgregor for NZTECHO to these crew. ESPN, who were going to make an incredible profit articles. being the host broadcaster, showed they were going to maximise every N To everyone who helped with branch meetings.