NZTECHO Relaunch and Guild Transition
Welcome to the new shiny full-colour NZTECHO! I hope within its pages you see positive developments toward serving you, the members, who make up this great association, now and into the future. I think you’ll agree our Communications Consultant and interim editor, Nicki Paull, has done a sterling job, as has our ‘tame designer’ Justin Westgate. Justin has been responsible for the redesign of the NZTECHO look and feel (production template) as well as layout and general invaluable advice and input into this particular issue. We have been very excited during the process leading up to publication, and we hope you enjoy the changes.
2010 has seen the resignation of some long-serving members of Guild committees. Enduring gratitude is owed to:
Jennifer Butcher (Auckland Chair, board member), Tony Forster (board member, editor and developer of NZTECHO), Annie Frear (Vice President), Paul Richards (board, signatory, AKL branch), and George Wilson (board, QTN branch). Your efforts on behalf of your community of techos are heartily applauded!
Warranting a special mention is the singular contribution of one David Madigan (soundie, Immediate Past President, Treasurer, board member, stalwart supporter of the office) who stepped down at the recent Auckland AGM. There’s no point trying to avoid the fact that David’s departure is particularly significant. Viewing it in typically positive ‘Madigan-style’, DM’s departure opens up an exciting set of opportunities – more than a couple of roles now left vacant for new techos to get stuck in. I suspect these roles are best divided amongst a group of techos, each taking an interest in an area of their choosing. Not only does this distribute the load but also the contingency as people come and go.
For the general benefit of the Guild and wider industry, DM ravenously consumed and digested relevant knowledge in a wide range of areas, developing a deep understanding of issues around immigration, industrial matters (in the broadest sense), safety and health, taxation, screen-related organisations and – not least – the raft of material feeding into the terms-of-engagement almost all screen workers benefit from (though some sadly take for granted). Yes, that’s right, the terms enshrined in the Blue Book; terms aimed at providing conditions whereby crew earn a sustainable living – and perhaps most importantly – fostering continued safety while earning that living!
David encouraged participation from members at the Auckland AGM, explaining that his Guild involvement has provided him with great satisfaction. He doesn’t believe his opinions ever stopped producers hiring him. On the contrary, he says that producers appreciate knowledgeable people on hand to discuss professional issues with intelligence and consideration. Respect for the considered opinions of others, even where they differ from your own, is certainly a central tenet of ‘Madigan-style’ discussion and negotiation. David undoubtedly enjoys widespread respect in the industry, and has built up professional relationships with individuals from widely divergent groups, further enhancing an appreciation of the ‘bigger picture’. To say that this will be sorely missed is a true understatement.
Already stepping up to the plate to fill recently vacated posts: Brendon Durey (Guild board member and director of family-run SPFX company Film Effects) is our new Treasurer (pending formal board ratification, a technicality essentially). Brendon is perfect for this skilled role, and thanks must be extended to him on behalf of the membership for volunteering for this job. Sioux MacDonald (board member and managing director of Film Crews diary service) has bravely stepped into the breach as Vice President; thanks are also owed to Ken Saville (sound, ex-VP, ex-Pres) and Zara Hayden (production, board member, AKL branch) for putting up their hands when the VP role became vacant. It was worked out, in usual collegial Guild style, that Sioux was the woman for the job during this current term, and both the remaining candidates stood down in favour of Sioux. Sioux’s physical proximity to the office already sees her providing regular support for Guild staff. I very much look forward to her input in her capacity as VP as we move forward into 2011, and beyond.
Many hands make light work, and it’s in your power to ensure the Guild focus is on what you believe to be needed in the industry. Opportunities for input cover the spectrum – from the relatively regular input of an active board member through to one-off, short-term focussed projects like the Safety Code of Practice review. As each craft section of the industry safety code comes up for consideration in the current review it will be essential to have meaningful engagement from members. The role you play could be as easy as reading a draft chapter and offering your thoughts on content, readability, and/or accuracy of information therein. Other ways to contribute can be as simple as letting the office know when something goes really well (or really wrong), or sending in a photo to this publication!
So, a call to arms: identify your industry passion, make contact with your Guild representatives (branch and/or board) then start a rewarding journey toward understanding as you engage with and contribute to the industry as best suits your strengths.
Well the elephant in the room (read The Hobbit) is well and truly on the agenda for discussion now. I agree with Albol: in a situation where emotions are running high, where it is well-nigh impossible to locate the facts and unlikely that any input will positively influence outcomes, it is prudent to refrain from weighing in with further rhetoric. My only comment to the press was that the Guild counselled ‘circumspection and calm.’ I genuinely believed this to have been the best approach. Despite outward appearances, I am certain that here – as with other strategic matters – everyone in the screen production industry (crew, actors, producers, etc.) had the same big-picture end-game in mind. In this case: no one wished a large production to go offshore.
This seeming lack of strategic cohesion in the industry is increasingly worrisome and was the subject of energetic discussion at our recent Auckland AGM. The Auckland Committee was charged with putting a motion to the Executive Board calling for a meeting of all organisations with a stake in screen production to talk about the general health of the industry. This is a great step forward. The irony which must be acknowledged is that anxiety about the ‘incident’ in question spurred this discussion and undoubtedly increased AGM attendance and participation (two things I’ve stated are essential to increasing effectiveness in our organisation).
To develop this theme further, the role played by industry organisations in the immigration process (for temporary work permits) looks likely to be changing. Over the course of an (albeit minimal) consultative process with Immigration New Zealand it was all too clear that the lack of a pan-industry body confused the policy makers, muddying discussions with them – as it does with any third party. The trouble is, the moment you start to consider possibilities for a pan-industry body the usual spectres are raised: funding shortfalls (or total absence), challenges in developing effective and equitable models of operating such an organisation, balancing input of creatives with business minds and technical experts. Yet none of these challenges should preclude the establishment of such a body. Far from it – I believe a pan-industry body to be not only crucial but inevitable. I only pray I’m not the one charged with nutting out the details! That last, albeit rather flippant, comment not only illustrates the saying ‘many a true word is spoken in jest’ but also points to a real problem in this industry: a lack of constructive leadership.
Post-Hobbit, what is most needed in the screen production community is constructive engagement, from leaders and those who support them. A much-admired colleague of mine always impresses me with the ability to identify the positive angle by which to approach any prospective ‘problem.’ As we seek ways to move forward and build an industry where viable careers are possible I think we need a serious dose of this positive attitude, coupled with a mindfulness of the inherently collaborative nature of screen production. Pointing fingers is just not going to get us anywhere nor is a focus on the past – be it on slights and hiccups or some real-or-imagined golden-era.
There are many examples of upheaval and struggle over 2010. On a personal note, the year is undoubtedly an ‘Annus Horribilis’ and I eagerly await a new year, as this one ends. Anecdotal evidence suggests, for various reasons, that this has also been true for many others over 2010; seemingly unprecedented events stacking one upon the other at times suggested preternatural cruelty. The truth of course is that this is another natural time of challenge as life is wont to send us, a time that we learn from, and that then passes. I have learned a few lessons it’s true, and even in the last few days more challenges and tragedy have unfolded. However, I have also been blessed in over the same period, not least with unwavering support from members of the Guild for which I will never be able to adequately express my gratitude. In the past I’ve sought comfort and reassurance in the separation of personal and professional, work being a relief in tough times, something I’ve no doubt you can all relate to. This year, in contrast and for the first time, the concurrent pressures pushed me to a place where it was all pure and simply too much to bear, and for a time I was unable to manage my role here in the office. It is a reflection of the genuine humanity of this community of people that I was given, without question, time out from my role, and then re-employed when I felt ready; that individuals stepped up to keep things running, and that compassion was extended to me in no uncertain terms. This is what communities are about, and it’s a measure of our community that not a single person showed me anything but care and understanding during my ‘dark days of the soul.’ So thank you, all of you, and in my opinion that’s certainly something to celebrate! Have a safe, productive and wonderful holiday season, and a very happy, fresh start to the new year.
