When the media announced that the Hobbit Law was to be repealed, the Screen Industry Guild was immediately made aware of the uncertainty this announcement created amongst its members and the wider screen industry community.

The Screen Industry Guild decided the best way to proceed was with caution and weed out the media hype from the facts before addressing its membership or making any public statements.

In an effort to clarify the facts the Guild contacted the Senior Press Officer for the Labour Party who in turn put the Guild directly in contact with the Minister of Workplace Relations, Iain Lees-Galloway.

On October 27^th, the Screen Industry Guild emailed the Minister and within 24 hours the Minister responded and a phone conference was set up for 29^th October.

Within four days of this phone conversation a delegation of Screen Industry Guild representatives, Producer Barrie Osborne and a political advisor met face to face with Minister Ian Lees-Galloway and the head of MBIE.

Below is the subsequent letter received in response to this meeting and the Screen Industry Guild’s response.  

Letter to film and television industry from Hon Iain Lees-Galloway.pdf

Letter to Minister Nov 2017.pdf

The Screen Industry Guild of Aotearoa New Zealand Incorporated is the new name for the New Zealand Film and Video Technicians' Guild Incorporated.

Or if you prefer, The Techo's Guild is now the Screen Industry Guild.

Along with some other constitutional updates, the new name was voted in at this years AGM and became official when it was accepted by the New Zealand Registrar of Incorporated Societies.

All constitutional changes require a two thirds majority and this was easily exceeded.

The new name is more general than the old name that referred specifically to old-style film and video technicians. It reflects a guild that over its 30 years existence, has come to represent all kinds of crew and not just those who see themselves as technical.

The future of Auckland Film Studios Ltd (AFS) in Henderson will see the facility remain a cornerstone of the Auckland region’s screen production proposition – both domestically and internationally – for the short-to-medium term, while other new sound stages come on stream in Auckland. 

ATEED is pleased to be able to provide this assurance, given how AFS has been an important part in the development of Auckland's thriving screen sector.

Auckland Council’s Finance and Performance Committee (all councillors) considered the future of AFS at its 26 July meeting – based on a proposal presented by Auckland Investment Office (a unit within Council).
 
After deliberation, the councillors voted to accept an option which essentially involves: 

·         the shares in AFS being transferred to Council (from current owner, the CCO Auckland Council Investments Ltd)

·         the responsibility for the site (land and buildings) being vested in CCO Panuku Development Auckland, which will eventually use the land as part of the future re-development of Henderson

·         ATEED entering into a multi-year operating lease for the studio complex to ensure continuity.

At the meeting, the committee sought and received an assurance from AIO Executive Director John Duncan that some of the cash reserves held by AFS will be spent on bringing the facility up to an acceptable standard for screen production tenants.
 
Panuku Development Auckland’s ‘Unlock Henderson’ plan has a timeframe of 5-8 years, but a lease term between ATEED and Panuku is yet to be fully discussed.
 
An initial meeting between ATEED and AIO has been held, and immediate work is planned between ATEED, AFS and Panuku to discuss a seamless transition – including a timeframe, a suitable lease period, and the way to determine maintenance and upgrades required to ensure AFS remains highly marketable.
 
ATEED intend to consult with key industry users of AFS when considering upgrades and other aspects of AFS’ ongoing operation under ATEED.
 
In terms of the bigger infrastructure picture, updates will continue to be provided on the ongoing development of the Kumeu Film Studios site established through the landmark agreement with the New Zealand Film Commission, Warner Bros and Gravity Pictures.
 
Construction material is arriving on site daily for two new 2500 sq m purpose-built sound stages which are due for completion early next year. For those who don’t know, each of the stages being funded and built by the private land owner is bigger than the 2000 sq m Studio 5 at Henderson.
 
When you add the 5000 sq m of new sound stages to the 13,500 sq m of refurbished buildings already on site, the 27ha Kumeu facility ATEED is leasing and operating long-term represents a substantial increase in Auckland’s production infrastructure.
 
ATEED hope the details above provide an assurance that Auckland Council remains committed to helping grow Auckland’s screen production sector, which is hugely important to the regional economy with nearly $1 billion annually from production and post-production revenue –supporting thousands of jobs, and hundreds of businesses.
 
Via ATEED, Council will focus its investment on supporting the industry through leasing and operating studio facilities, and supporting the growth of screen industry clusters.
 
ATEED’s Screen Auckland production attraction team has a number of ‘live’ inquiries and pencil holds on the sound stages. Occupancy of AFS for the past two years has been especially good, and expectations are high that further production work will be secured in the near future.
 
To reiterate, ATEED understand the delicate screen industry production ecosystem made up of AFS, Kumeu Film Studios, Studio West, South Pacific Pictures, Kelly Park and many smaller facilities. All are key components of Auckland’s screen production infrastructure proposition which Screen Auckland works with the New Zealand Film Commission and the private sector to market.
 
ATEED will provide a further update when they have more information to share. If you have any questions, please contact Michael Brook, Manager Screen Auckland (michael.brook@aucklandnz.com) and they will do their best to provide answers.

Ngā mihi,

Dean Butchers, 

GM Business Attraction & Investment,

Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development

The Screen Industry Guild went into bat this week for crews who were coerced into working 30 hours on a commercial over just two days.

When these hours were reported by members of the Guild to Executive Officer Karla Rodgers, spoke with the production explaining that not only were the hours way outside the Blue Book, (the standard conditions agreed between producers and the Screen Industry Guild), it is an unsafe work practice breaching the Health and Safety Act and work standards.   The problem basically arose with the production company not employing an experienced production manager or 1st AD.

The production company said that they would be looking at how they operate in the future and asked whether they could forward the Guild contact details amongst their producers.

The Screen Industry Guild sees this as a positive result and wish to encourage producers to contact the guild when in doubt or if they require clarification on Blue Book issues.   The  Guild is also available to   discuss "outside the square" scenarios that may fall outside the Blue Book, particularly when crew may need to be consulted to alternative approaches.   

The Screen Industry Guild sees this collaborative style of working can only lead to a healthier safer screen industry.   

From 1 April 2017, the way contractors pay their taxes changed, giving greater choice and making it easier to get tax right.

This is an expansion of existing on schedular payments which is the name the tax department uses for payment to contractors like crew that will be subject to withholding tax.

Contractors already under schedular payment rules must complete the new tax rate notification form (IR330C) when you start any new job on or after 1 April 2017.

Tax rate notification for contractors form (IR330C) (external link) — Inland Revenue

On this form, you pick the rate you would like tax to be deducted at. New Zealand tax residents can pick any rate from 10% up to 100%. If you want to change your current tax rate, complete this form and give it to your payer so they can make the changes.

Tax rate estimation tool for contractors — Inland Revenue 

This information has been sourced from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.