Navigating Industry Challenges and Changes
Summer is upon us again, and the weather has finally started to dry out in the North after what felt like the longest, wettest winter in history.
With the build up to elections, we definitely noticed a turndown in local television commercial production. This, coupled with the fact that so many dramas came to an end during the winter without anything in the pipeline to replace them, has found a lot of crew back in a similar position to 2013-2014 where there just isn’t enough work to go around to keep everybody’s heads above water. It’s times like this, that if you are a Head of Department, and do have some work that requires crew under you, perhaps thinking about spreading a few crumbs around will not only enhance your future pool of trusted crew, but will encourage people to stay in the industry and not lose them to more permanent employment in other industries. It’s a little like needing to build thousands of houses, but no builders are getting qualified, so in the end we all end up living in substandard conditions.
Coming into the silly season there doesn’t seem to be the normal volume of Christmas commercials being shot, and it would be fair to say that the studios are not at capacity in the foreseeable future either. Personally, I’m hoping that if our dollar keeps coming down, we may see a sudden spike of work coming into New Zealand, and in turn it may stimulate the local market somewhat.
With the new Government formed in September, came the media push regarding the ‘repeal’ of the ‘Hobbit Law’ within the Governments first 100 Days in Parliament. Regardless of what personal opinions or agendas are on this, it has been made clear to the Minister of Workplace Relations that to rush anything through Parliament just for the sake of their ‘100 day promise’ on a matter that is quite clearly multi-faceted and complex would be foolish. We were encouraged at the speed at which the Minister responded to our phone call after the news stories broke, and that he accepted our suggestion of a face to face meeting in his office only a week after they were sworn into office. What became clear at this meeting was that as a fragile industry, we need to approach any law changes that affect those within it in a considered and responsible manner, that will not only protect workers within all areas of film and television making, but will also not discourage international productions from wanting to come here to do business with us.
As a result of this, and subsequent meetings, the Minister has committed to working together with representatives of the industry, in an attempt to cater for everyone in different roles within it. The ultimate goal will be that crew and technicians who still wish to keep working as ‘contractors’, will be able to continue doing so, whilst those that take on more traditional ‘employee/employer’ relationships, will be able to be recognised as ‘employees’ and be eligible for any benefits that this entails. In the meantime though, it is business as usual, and we encourage members to carry on as you were when jobs come your way.
Amongst crew, it’s been another sad year, with the losses of several crew such as Terry King, John Worley and just recently one of our Executive Committee Members, Mark ‘Goat’ Gillings. For those of you that knew Goat, you will know that he will leave a very big gap in the New Zealand industry with his thoughtful and commanding presence on and off set. Goat started his career as an electrician, and became one of the most sought after Gaffers in the country, before making the shift to Location Scouting and Management, and then after moving to Queenstown he and his wife Pip, set up Map Productions, where he concentrated on a role he was born for, as a 1st Assistant Director.
He was a great mentor to me when I bought Film crews as a young ankle nipper, always available for advice whether I asked for it, or not, and in the last 6 months he was incredibly proud to be involved in helping me behind the scenes rewriting and editing the latest edition of the Blue Book on behalf of the Guilds’ membership. His experience and wealth of knowledge across the New Zealand and international industries was greatly appreciated, and will be something I will always cherish. The thing I keep seeing, as I get older, is that in this industry it doesn’t matter exactly what your role is, and where you fit in the puzzle, you are all needed to complete the final picture. We need to remember this moving forward during the quiet times as well as when it’s busy. Where one person leaves a gap, another must fill it, but it takes teamwork and forethought for us as an industry to achieve this.
