We Represent You!

Introducing your Guild representatives. They represent you on national and regional committees. All these roles call for voluntary time and commitment and are given by your fellow Guild member to ensure we not only have a Guild but we work in unity to uphold the terms and conditions we work to ensuring we have a professional and structured industry.

Alun Bollinger (AlBol)

past-president NZFVTG | national executive

Albol’s first job in the industry was as a cine-camera trainee with television in 1966. He left television in 1968 and has been freelancing since. He has worked in almost all areas of production over the years but mainly as a DOP and/or camera operator. He was a member of the various industry organisations that led up to the formation of the Techos’ Guild. As a long-standing Guild member he believes we need the united voice which the Guild provides, a voice for clear communication among crew and between crew and producers and directors.

Sioux Macdonald (nee Ferguson)

vice president NZFVTG | Auckland branch committee | national executive

Sioux began her career in the film industry at the tender age of 16 as a facilities assistant. The following eight years found Sioux working throughout the North Island for numerous post and production facilities before buying crew booking services company Filmcrews. Two decades on, Sioux still runs Filmcrews and enjoys watching her crew progress their careers, she is renowned for orientating new crew in the industry. Sioux has been a member of the Techos’ Guild for 17 years. She has been closely involved in updating The Blue Book with a specific focus on crew safety and on-set working conditions.

Nick Treacy

Auckland branch committee (current chair) | national executive

Nick has over 20 years’ experience as a freelancer in sound. Working on live acts in stadiums and pubs early in his career proved to be a great training ground for the rough and tumble of the film and television industry. Currently a field sound recordist on documentaries and broadcast TV, Nick’s passion for sound continues. Nick joined the Techos’ Guild as he saw it as a positive way to bring together a cohesive voice in the screen production sector and wanted to play a part in building a strong, healthy and safe working environment for crew.

Brendon Durey

Auckland branch committee (current chair) | national executive

Brendon began in the NZ film industry in 1986 as a stunt double on The Navigator. He now manages Film Effects, Auckland’s largest mechanical physical effects company. He has worked in TV, film, large-scale live shows and events over the years, mainly in NZ but also in many other countries. Brendon joined the Techos’ Guild early in his career and in recent years has served on the executive in order to contribute to a fair and safe working environment in the industry and to also help give a voice to film industry workers.

Murray Milne

Auckland branch committee | national executive

Murray started in Wellington in the 70s as a camera assistant when early NZ movies like Goodbye Pork Pie were being made. Freelancing from 1981 doing focus pulling on films, TVCs and docos. He progressed to a cinematographer, shooting several early NZ films such as Braindead before moving to Auckland in the early 90s. He has been a Techos’ Guild member since his Wellington days and has been involved in helping write The Blue Book since its inception. Murray believes the Guild has always been, and always will be, a very important group allowing all crew to talk through issues including working terms and conditions and safety.

Lou Taylor

Auckland branch committee | national executive

Lou Taylor is a special effects, lighting and pyro tech. Her start was through the union in the United States before coming here and joining the Techos’ Guild. Lou is active in the Guild because she believes in what it stands for and aims to do for industry contractors.

Ben Vandepoel

Auckland branch committee

Ben is a freelance sound recordist based in Auckland. He joined the Techos’ Guild primarily because of its work in the past and also for the future creation protocols and guidelines by which individual contractors can structure their work. He recognised that without this framework, the voices of individuals and small groups would get lost in the world of freelance. Also the power of this larger group could help influence decisions, or at least give voice to grievances, on a Government level that could affect us all. It is also a way to meet fellow workers, share stories, organise events and learn from others experience beyond the on-set environment. On a purely pragmatic level the Guild offers bloody good discounts too.

Sean O’Neill

Auckland branch committee

Sean has worked in the NZ film Industry for nearly 30 years and in that time has seen many changes. As a new member of the executive, he is looking forward to contributing to a team of like-minded professionals with a goal of making the industry a safe, sustainable and equitable environment for all parties involved. He believes that the open forum communication, participation and involvement of the Guild between all the groups associated with the industry (as witnessed recently with the incentive initiative) indicates an extremely positive step forward and hopefully the beginning of a new era.

Mike Lougheed

Auckland branch committee

Mike has been part of the film lighting scene for 19 years. During that time he has worked on a huge range of projects both in NZ and overseas. Over the years he has been part of the crew on countless commercials as well as local drama, tele-features and international films. Most recently he has made a niche for himself as an off-set best boy, working on several large features in Auckland. Mike joined the Techos’ Guild to help strengthen the voice of the NZ film techo. He believes that the Guild lends valuable support to the contractors in our industry and provides cohesion between all crew nationwide.

Rewa Harre

Auckland branch committee | national executive

Rewa left school 33 years ago with a passion to become a cameraman working in the film industry. His particular area of interest and fascination was the art and mechanics of using a camera and lighting to help tell stories. Since starting that journey, Rewa has worked on many interesting projects with many fantastic people. Rewa points out that the film industry is a collaborative process, therefore he believes strongly that we have and support a collective industry body such as the NZ Technicians’ Guild. As a longstanding technician, Rewa respectfully recognises that the guild was established and moved forward by a number of dedicated film and television technicians many years ago. There hard work and dedication to create a professional and solid industry lead to the establishment of The Blue Book, a document which is fundamental to the film industry framework and serves as the base for all those working environment.

Steve King

Auckland branch committee (current branch secretary)

Steve is a producer and director predominantly in the corporate media domain, but is also managing director of Prompt Service, NZ’s number 1 autocue crew. He has been a Techos’ Guild member since starting as freelancer in the video production industry over 25 years ago. The Guild has acted not only as a source of professional support and advice but also fellowship. Steve values and enjoys being connected to the rest of his peers and associates through more than just the current job he is working on.

Zara Hayden

Auckland branch committee

Zara Hayden started in the industry 16 years ago and works primarily in Auckland on TVCs as a production manager. She counts herself lucky and privileged to work in this industry. Zara particularly looks forward to those early morning call times which allow the pleasure of driving to location and seeing the sunrise. She is grateful to the early Techos’ Guild members who wrote The Blue Book. Without The Blue Book, Zara fears we would have a lot less protection than we currently do. Her passion is to see our industry become more environmentally conscious and sees the industry’s growing awareness of the need to be resource aware.

Axel Paton

National executive

Axel started working in the sound department in 1985 as a boom operator, which he did for 10 years, before shifting to the AD department and he continues this as an 1st AD. He has always found The Blue Book provides a very valuable set of guidelines for the industry and is keen to help maintain the working environment for crews.

Richard Bluck

President NZFVTG | national executive

Richard is a cinematographer based in Wellington. He has been in the film industry for 35 years as a cinematographer, camera/Steadicam operator, focus puller, director and producer. Along with his position for the Techos’ Guild, he is also president of the New Zealand Cinematographers Society. Richard’s background has seen him shoot numerous features and television productions with a specialisation in 3D. His involvement with the Techos’ Guild stems from his belief that industry members need to have a collective voice to promote fair and equitable treatment of all members, also to have a forum to interact and develop ideas to make the industry more sustainable.

Graeme Tuckett

Wellington branch committee | national executive

Graeme is a grip, dolly grip, location scout and occasional location manager. He writes extensively on film and is currently the film reviewer for Fairfax Media newspapers. He has written and directed several documentaries, including a feature length film on the pioneering Maori film-maker Barry Barclay. He has another feature documentary in development now. In 2012, Graeme set up the crew directory service Crew Wellington, and in 2013 he went into partnership with Sioux Macdonald to start Crew Auckland.

Ken Saville

Wellington branch committee

Ken is freelance location sound operator in Wellington. Ken has been in the film industry as a freelancer for 32 years. Ken’s support of good safe industry work practice within the film industry stems back to his attendance of the first Film Academy meeting in the early 80s out of which the Techos’ Guild was created. Voted chairman of the Wellington branch in 1999, Ken stayed in this position until his resignation in 2007. He additionally remained on the national executive until 2013. Often voted as crew representative, Ken stresses the Guild’s importance in upholding, representing and supporting the rights of all crew in the film industry. He stresses the importance that to survive, the Guild needs the help and support from all its members.

Sally Cunningham

Wellington branch committee | national executive

Sally has been in the industry since 2005 working mainly in the production office and occasionally as an AD. Most recently she has been working as an assistant production coordinator or production coordinator.

Sally joined the Guild in 2006 as a way of meeting people and networking. These days she is interested in encouraging everyone to join up so we are all more involved in how our own industry runs, especially those new to it or just out of film school. We need to get more people along to regular branch meetings rather than just being passive members from afar.

Adrian (Wookie) Hebron

Wellington branch committee | current chair

Adrian (aka Wookie) has been in the industry since 1986 and works as a gaffer. On his first feature the DOP said “first we are here to have fun then we will make a movie”. Wookie has tried to carry that ethos through his work ever since. A Techos’ Guild member since 1990, Wookie believes that if he is to take advantage of what the Guild has fought for then he should put something back, even if it’s just being a member or turning up to occasional events. Wookie says we are very fortunate in our industry to have a set of conditions that contractors and productions work to. Few other self-employed industries have anything approaching the conditions we have.

Belindalee Hope

Wellington branch committee

Belindalee has been in the industry since 1993 and works as a production manager on a broad range of projects. She is very aware of how tough it is negotiating independently as contractors, being at the mercy of tough deadlines and tight budgets. Without The Blue Book and the Safety Code of Practice, Belindalee believes this would be even tougher. She sees the Techos’ Guild as playing a vital role for peer support, networking, being a lifeline in times of need and as a voice on important industry issues. As demonstrated recently by the achievement of changes to the NZ Government’s screen production grants programme.

Tim Hope

Wellington branch committee

Tim has been working solidly in the production and locations departments of feature films over the last six years, mostly in the Miramar family. He has turned his focus to NZ films in his new role as film festival coordinator in the marketing department at the New Zealand Film Commission, to help get this country’s films out there in the world. Tim joined the Techos’ Guild to network with filmmakers and to get a better sense of the state of the industry.

Richard Lander

Wellington branch committee | current branch secretary

Richard Lander started out in the screen industry in 1979 at Avalon Studios as a TV One cadet. His first role was as a 2nd assistant to Dave Gibson on Black Hearted Blackfoot directed by Yvonne Mackay. Richard then became a cameraperson which is his craft and passion. Three years ago, when Avalon became a private independent company, Richard took on the role of studio and facilities manager. Richard now has the privilege of helping producers, directors and crews turn their stories into realities. Richard joined the Guild three years ago and believes strongly in its advocacy and looks forward to its growth.

Jared Connon

Wellington branch committee

Jared Connon began his career in the New Zealand film industry in the early 90s, initially training within the locations department and he has continued exclusively within this craft for over 20 years. He recently stepped up to production management and is looking forward to the very real and rewarding challenge that this role brings. He is also a foundation member of the Screensafe group, helping develop the new safety guidelines for the wider screen industry. Joining Screensafe and seeing how playing an active role in the film community really does make a difference, he hopes that more people will be attracted to supporting all the hard work that the Techos’ Guild puts in behind the scenes.

Mark Jackson

Wellington branch committee

Mark has been tech support and an AVID Media Composer tutor at the NZ Film School for the last six years and a Guild member since 2011. He is fully behind the Guild and what it does for the industry. Mark is interested in preparing students for the real world of the film industry both on set and in post-production. The Guild is an important contact point and he wants to ensure that NZFTS, as a school, teaches industry relevant skills.

Mark Gillings

Queenstown branch committee | national executive

As a Techos’ Guild member since 1989, Mark began his career in the lighting department as an electrician on the NZ feature film , remaining in lighting as a gaffer until 2008. With a well-timed move from Auckland to Queenstown in early 2006 he began his transition from gaffer to 1st AD, finding a niche with a strong technical background. As of 2008, he has worked fulltime as a 1st AD mostly working on TVCs in Queenstown, Australia and south-east Asia. He believes the role that the Techos’ Guild plays has been, and will continue to be, vital to the success and stability of our ever-changing industry.

Brett Mills

Queenstown branch committee | national executive

Brett has been in the industry for over 30 years, 25 of them in Queenstown. He has been a member of the Techos’ Guild for longer than he can remember. Brett did his first 10 features based in Auckland working in the lighting department, returning to his home town of Queenstown to establish a lighting company. That led to his involvement in camera and grip rental as well as lighting. Brett sees the Guild as a relevant and valid organisation in an environment that requires a collective voice.

Jaime Couper

Queenstown branch committee

Jamie has been involved with film lighting in NZ for 15 years in a range of roles and projects. Based in Wellington for eight years, he worked on features and television and is now based in Queenstown mostly working on commercials and the occasional feature. Jamie has been a member of the Techos’ Guild for 15 years and believes there needs to be a body looking out for issues affecting NZ technicians.

Thomas (Thom) Watson

Queenstown branch committee

Thomas is a technician based in Queenstown. He has been working on TVCs and films for the last 15 years, joining the Techos’ Guild soon after falling into the industry. Involved in stabilised remote heads predominantly, with occasional involvement in other technical areas, he is split fairly evenly between overseas feature film work and local TVCs, with the odd NZ feature in the mix. His interest in the Guild stems from the belief that there needs to be a collective body representing individuals working in the industry.

John Allan

Queenstown branch committee | executive committee

John has done it all, starting around 25 years ago as a swing driver, in the catering department, doing a bit of set labouring, as unit manager and more. It wasn’t until John worked on_ Muriel’s Wedding_ as a greensman that he found his home in the art department – a place in which he has found neverending workplace joy for the past 20-odd years. At the end of the day John says workplace conditions that most crew take for granted are because people in the Techos’ Guild made an effort and that is one of many reasons why he continues to be a member.

Wayne Allen

Queenstown branch committee | current chair

Wayne started in the outdoor adventure industry in the late 80s and has been in the Queenstown film business for around 15 years as a safety officer. He operates Southern Safety Film and Events, managing safety on TVC’s , features and large adventure events in the South Island. He sees the Guild in association with ScreenSafe, working together to provide a clear understanding of requirements for the filming community in its projects. The Guild can provide the framework for unity and support for PCBU’s (new acronym) in the industry.

Nic MacAllan

Queenstown branch committee | branch secretary

Nic spent many years on the peripheral of the film industry and in 2008 she walked away from her role as a HR Manager in the real world, and has been happily freelancing since then in production and art department. Nic strongly believes it is in the best interests of all those in the screen industry to collectively support the Guild and ensure a safe crew environment. A strong crew will provide a platform for the industry to grow which in turn will benefit everyone. What comes around goes around!

Jo Bollinger

Queenstown branch committee

Jo is an electrician who started doing lighting in the early nineties in Queenstown. From the West Coast, he has worked mainly in Te Wai Pounamu apart from a couple of years earlier on in Tamaki Makaurau. He is a member of the Guild because without it he says, “we’re screwed”. To ensure he’s not surreptitiously voted president, he turns up to as many meetings as possible.

Thomas (Thom) Watson

Queenstown branch committee

Thomas is a technician based in Queenstown. He has been working on TVCs and films for the last 15 years, joining the Techos’ Guild soon after falling into the industry. Involved in stabilised remote heads predominantly, with occasional involvement in other technical areas, he is split fairly evenly between overseas feature film work and local TVCs, with the odd NZ feature in the mix. His interest in the Guild stems from the belief that there needs to be a collective body representing individuals working in the industry.