Reflections on Editing NZTECHO

In September last year, a sub-committee within the Guild’s National Executive was formed to discuss and steer future developments in this magazine. Since then, the sub-committee and I have been discussing our future.

Also last year, at the sub-committee’s request, I wrote an eight-page report on possible ways forward for the mag, with some initial thoughts regarding the viability of those options, and some comments regarding the potential costs involved.

Fairly early on in these discussions, I indicated that I was not interested in an increased involvement in the magazine - the simple fact is that I enjoy my other work in theatre and on film sets too much for that. Earlier this year, I told the Auckland Branch Committee that I would withdraw from the magazine editorship in the near future, but upon request I agreed to continue in the meantime to assist with the transition to whatever it’s agreed the magazine’s future might be.

During the production of the first two issues of this year, however, two things became clear to me:

One was that, although there are still the occasional highlights - such as doing interviews myself with people like cinematographer Tom Burstyn and the feature couple of the last two issues, our ex-president Sally Meiklejohn and designer Lyn Bergquist - much of the production of the magazine has now for me become quite routine. There is no longer the buzz of creating something new. Hardly surprising perhaps when I realise that the first edition of the magazine in this form was published in May 2002 - just on eight years ago!

Coupled with that was the realisation that to do all the things we would like to do with the magazine would simply be beyond the resources of the Guild, even with the new funding available from the Film Commission, which is tagged for “improving communications” and intended to develop and make more effective both the magazine and our website.

The conclusion has become inescapable. The time for me to pass the mag on to a new editor has arrived - to someone with a fresh passion for the job, a passion that I used to have but don’t really have any longer.

Accordingly, a few weeks ago I asked the National Executive’s magazine sub-committee to convene a meeting. We agreed to gather on a cold and rainy Tuesday morning. Early on, I was asked my thoughts on the future. I explained the above; the sub-committee accepted that; then asked me to join them to assist in managing the transition to a new editor, to become part of the sub-committee. I agreed to this, and also to edit this issue, and to help in finding a replacement editor thereafter.

Since there appears to be no obvious candidate within the guild leaping forth to take the job on, and since there is also clearly a desire within at least a portion of the guild for more professional experience in the position (I was a complete novice to editing when I took on the job, which was initially a voluntary one, and am basically self-taught), then it’s clear that someone will need to be found elsewhere...

So, if you are that person, or if you know of someone who might be, contact the Guild!

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At such a time, it’s tempting to think back over the past 8 years and reflect on the highlights, of which there have been many - and the rare lowlight too! What might be among those pieces of prose that have given me the most satisfaction?

To paraphrase a proverb: If we don’t know we’ve been, we don’t know where we’re going… At a stage in the growth of the Kiwi screen production industry when many of our industry pioneers are reaching the stage of life where awareness of mortality kicks in ‘bigtime’, it’s been surprising nevertheless how often we’ve found ourselves gathering tributes for those industry giants who have passed away.

I like to feel that we’ve done a good job of acknowledging those responsible for the renaissance of the industry in the 70s and 80s. It hurts to see some of our valued colleagues, who were sometimes also our closest friends, leave us; but perhaps it also reflects, like the staging of the recent industry reunion in Auckland, a growing depth and maturity in New Zealand’s screen production industry...

The most simple pleasure in editing NZTECHO has been when I’ve had the opportunity to do an interview for a magazine profile myself. Extended conversations with cinematographer (and now director) Tom Burstyn, and people such as the couple who were the centerpiece of the last two issues, Sally Meiklejohn and Lyn Bergquist (these 3 perhaps stand out in my mind because they were the most recent!), have given me a chance to get to know some fascinating individuals in a way that one cannot do when one is under pressure to complete so many set-ups in each shooting day…

But there’s no denying that for me personally, the item I enjoyed editing most (if ‘enjoyed’ is the right word!) was the story that Wayne Johnson wrote for us in December 2007 (Issue #30), titled “I Still Hear the Bang”. Although perhaps the longest piece we’ve ever published (that issue was one of two that have gone out at 32 pages rather than our usual 24), Wayne’s account of a chopper accident, and the aftermath, was never less than riveting reading.

As Wayne wrote in his introductory paragraph: “The truth is, not too many people get to walk away from a helicopter crash, and I am lucky to be a survivor. Why more of us did not perish in the water that evening is beyond comprehension; but if one word of what I’m about to write saves someone from the same horrors and tragedy of that evening, it’s been worth every second of putting this on paper after nearly eighteen and a half years…”

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Of course, one cannot do a job like this without the very real support and encouragement of quite a number of people.

If it were not for Tim Pope, who first approached the Executive with the idea for such a mag and wanted to produce it, NZTECHO might never have existed!

Little did I expect then that instead of just supervising on behalf of the Exec, I would be taking the thing over after only 5 issues (when Tim moved to Oz), let alone still be here now! Along the way, Rowena Singh was an enthusiastic and committed assistant editor for some years, a great support.

From outside the Guild, OnFilm’s Nick Grant has regularly encouraged me; Dara McNaught, Steven Gannaway, Dominic Sheehan, and (all of the Writers’ Guild) have been immensely supportive; and publishing industry professionals Vanya Lowry (award-winning journalist), Terry Snow (ex-editor of the Listener) and Andrew Caldwell (Art Director at NZ Geographic) have given me great advice.

Tim Thorpe (head of the now defunct Screen Council) delighted me by telling me (more than once) how much he liked the Disclaimer.

Each of the 3 Executive Officers during these 8 years - Janet Klee, Megan Ritchie, and now Fritha - have been not only publishers allowing me to avoid the business side of things and focus on what I enjoy, but they have also been brilliant sounding boards; not to mention really useful proofreaders of anything I’ve written myself. Fritha, despite an already impossible and always increasing workload in our office, has nevertheless managed to find time to write detailed and immensely valuable contributions, taking what was the “Office Report” to a new level. Ex-president and present treasurer David Madigan has been a font of wisdom in many articles over the years.

I hesitate here, because I hate to think I might forget someone; but I do want to mention that from the Auckland Branch Committee, Jennifer Butcher, Murray Milne and Paul Richards have always been particularly supportive - offering many story ideas, sometimes writing stories and contributing photos, as well as giving invaluable moral support.

But the magazine does of course belong to you, the members. I’ve always loved it when members send in unsolicited stories and photographs - and in that regard, Dave “Spoon” McLeod from the Queenstown Branch deserves a special note of appreciation for providing more photos on many events than possibly all other contributors combined!

Finally, I always eagerly await Albol’s “el presidente”. The unique perspective and integrity for which he’s justifiably admired always shine through his words.

If I were to offer one self-criticism of the way I’ve done the job of editor, it would be that I’ve not been able to devote enough time to pursue more members’ stories more vigorously - it’s always easier, and certainly quicker when under deadline pressure, to write another piece myself… Looking ahead to the future of the mag, although it’s planned to continue to increase the professionalism of our efforts, by hiring more professional freelance writers for example, I’d also like now to encourage members to, in a sense, (re)claim the mag for themselves. The saying goes that everyone has a great story, if not necessarily the proverbial novel, within them. Screen production people tend to have more such stories than most of the general population! Do please consider sharing them with us.

If by editing the magazine, I’ve been able to give a little something back to the industry that has over the years given me so much more than just an income, then I’m happy.

Thank you for your support, One and All. (And if anyone out there wants to produce my Berlin Wall doco with me...)

Cheers,

Tony F.