Christchurch Quake and Losses

The Guild sends the warmth and support of all our members out to those suffering losses as a result of the second Christchurch earthquake on 22 February 2011. Here we offer up some messages and stories of hope from down south.

Brian Nelson “Just to let you all know that we’ve survived the earthquake with only minor inconvenience. We now have power and water back on and are accepting bookings. Thanks to all guild members for your good wishes and support.” Brian says he’s “staying busy at the moment with work from BBC Wales through to NZ networks and production companies. Some disasters can have their upside.”

Brian is a senior member of the Guild, joining us way back in 1996. We are glad things are working out for you, Brian!

Stephen Buckland sends a message to the CTV (Christchurch television) community: “When the news of the collapse of the CTV building came through, my thoughts turned to the clients I’d met there... I didn’t know you well. I doubt you were members of the Guild. You were doing your job to the best of your ability with the resources at hand, this I do know. I know CTV was an important training ground and sound and camera people often supplemented their income by working for Sky Sports and other freelance work. I know that 12:51pm was a busy time in the studio, as my appointments were usually for 2:00pm or later when the pressure was off for the afternoon. I hope there is a meaningful way for your colleagues to remember you once your losses are confirmed. Your loss is our loss. My thoughts are with you and your families.

Stephen Buckland is an ex-president of the Guild and General Manager of Sound Techniques.

Rescue heroes

Many crew will remember working with** Malcolm York** former focus puller who left Riverhead for Greymouth to go into the Police Force in 2009. Malcom and his dog Jack owed much to the Riverhead community that raised funds for veterinary treatment when Jack was badly injured in 2007. The investment in Jack’s recovery paid off in spades when the pair worked as part of the USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) team for the NZ Fire Service during the aftermath of the second Christchurch quake. Jack was one of nine dogs who located survivors, and helped to recover bodies of loved ones, lost in the rubble.

The Guild salutes this heroic pair and sends them our best wishes. For more details search for Malcom and Jack online, or enter ‘4723479’ into the search engine on www.stuff.co.nz

Working together after the quake

Anthony Lealand takes time out from getting on with business to give us an idea of what that fateful day was like, how Firework Professionals have worked with others, are coping now and offers up space that is ready to go.

When the earthquake struck, it seemed like Anthony’s business, located in Woolston, had escaped serious damage with just a few things having fallen over. “Looking along the side of our warehouse” immediately following the first earthquake, Anthony found that one of the tilt slab blocks was in fact “about 100mm out of line.”

So began a desperate race to get it held in place before an aftershock “took it right off.”

“We couldn’t get our forklift through the neighbour’s as they had dug a ditch, so while we were attaching strops, and clamping it to the other slabs, a violent aftershock tore it off… along with our switchboard. Each slab weighs eight tonnes so there was no arguing with that.”

The blow came with a silver lining, however “we were now able to get the fork lift out through the hole in the wall and prop another slab up that was in severe danger of coming off.” Thankfully such swings and roundabouts seem to be a feature of so many of the stories to come out of this disaster.

“To make a long story short – notwithstanding flooding from the damaged gutter, no electricity, no phones no water and no internet – within four days we were secure and starting to do business, with all the warehouse slabs (including front and rear of the building!) bolted on.”

“Then we heard through a friend that Ruffell Films studio was ready to fall over, and they were looking for studio space for a video shoot.”

An offer of space was instantly taken up. Sue Ruffell reports “we gratefully took advantage of Anthony’s offer of a shooting space as we had an urgent commercial to produce that had been scheduled the week of the quake.”

Using the warehouse as a studio wasn’t an entirely new idea. The space, more usually utilised for special effects and pyro training, is not small at fifty metres long. Anthony explains it has housed various shoots in the past (including Hell Pizza ‘zombie photocopier’ TVC pyro scene, a music video and a film school production). “We were able to fit in the lighting truck right next to the set, and the staff cafeteria made a good make up and wardrobe space.”

“With all the industry professionals coming on board we successfully completed the shoot,” Sue confirms.

Ruffells Productions had been housed in a 1930s historic lodge studio. The lodge was damaged in the earlier September earthquake and further damage from the latest quake meant it needed to be demolished. On a brighter note Sue says “there’s a great spirit of cooperation in Christchurch and we are all committed to making the industry work here.”

This shoot has left Anthony with a bright side too. He says they are looking at their studio with a fresh eye, a bonus in a “very seasonal and intermittent” business. Having lost bookings after the earthquake Anthony now sees new opportunities “The location is quiet with no flight paths over head and minimal traffic noise. The warehouse is very adaptable for all sorts of shoots as much of the equipment is on wheels and can be wheeled out of the way or moved with a fork lift.” there is “a workshop for set and prop production – the Kaitangata Twitch yacht sinking mechanics were built here – three-phase power, lots of parking and yard space” Anthony says Firework Professionals “welcome the opportunity to quote for SPFX and MEC FX throughout NZ and South Pacific.” Finally he offers up one more enticement, the capacity to “do boom shots from the bucket on the fork lift”!

It’s all go at Firework’s. See www.firework.co.nz and for footage of the warehouse space view the Johnny Love ‘My sympathy’ music video on YouTube.

Anthony Lealand and Sue Ruffell are members of the Guild.

**Respected writer lost **

Graeme Tetley, screenwriter passed away March 13, 2011. Graeme won awards at both ends of a successful career, with wins for co-writing feature scripts for both Vigil and Out of the Blue. Graeme was a many time collaborator with director Gaylene Preston (Mr Wrong, Ruby & Rata, Bread & Roses). The sad news of Graeme’s death reached us just as NZTECHO went to press. We send condolences to Graeme’s family and friends.