Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Anatomy of a Shambles

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  • Tony Parker,

    Hey I'm happy the film will get made here and provide employment, attract attention to the country as a tourist destination etc. but it seems Key and co. are happy to bag teachers as greedy and put all their efforts into a film while ignoring the mess that is the Primary and Secondary teachers negotiations, which are not just about money but conditions and clawbacks that will make teaching a less atrractive profession than it is now. Just sayin. Now back to writing reports to the accompaniment of The Faces.

    Napier • Since Nov 2008 • 232 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Aw, Tony, your starting to sound like a greedy actor ;-)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    Cue the left wing outrage.

    Jesus Pat. So we won't hear you the next time Labour spends some of the hard earned taxpayers money on what the right would call "frivolous" activities then eh?

    That was my left toe outrage.

    Thanks Pat for the input. Now its a done deal you're off. Got some more timelines to keep current?

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • Tony Parker,

    Don't you know the best teachers are really actors in the classroom, sometimes top comedians too!!!

    Napier • Since Nov 2008 • 232 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    We are chasing the market of people who watch the extra content on DVDs. The all important have-no-life demographic.

    When the US mid term are over we will be inundated with Teaparty Tourists who will have watched them.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • Tinshed,

    I for one am delighted with the outcome - as I suspect the overwhelming majority of New Zealanders are. It is a Good Thing. (Actually a Very Good Thing.)

    Did the PM sell-out to foreign interests? I think he made a very pragmatic decision and reckoned that the benefits far-outweighed any costs. And yes, that includes the political costs, which are pretty small. (Hand-wringing teachers don't carry much weight at the moment I'm afraid.)

    One question intrigues me: would Helen Clark have done anything different? I suspect she would have managed the union side much better but assuming the same impasse was reached, would she not have done a similar deal? She might have packaged it differently, but she would have wanted the same outcome and worked to get it.

    Anyway, I am still smiling ear-to-ear :-)

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Jul 2008 • 12 posts Report Reply

  • rodgerd,

    Hobbit and Lord of the Rings are clearly international movies made in NZ. Boy and Whalerider are NZ films. There's a big area in between.

    Yeah. One of them had Billy Crystal on stage cracking jokes about New Zealanders monopolising the Oscars. That made me feel pretty good, actually. It's nice to be known for something other than sheep and an adventure playground or two in the South Island. YMMV.

    As far as "New Zealand films" goes, well, Whale Rider has a lot going for it, but when you note that Boy got shit from US reviewers for not being "Maori enough" because WR has helped set up a very specific image about what being a New Zealander, and a Maori New Zealander, is all about, well, there's some downsides to that as New Zealand film.

    And as far as the glory days of Kiwi film people are thinking back to, well, sure. But a lot of what we think of that period was made possible by cultural and legislative isolation - tight controls on imports, no Internet, hard to leave the country with money, and so on. The Cinema of Unease was great and all, but if Muldoonism is the price to be paid to get it, I'm don't want it.

    unparalleled in their unique beauty.

    Please. This is jingoistic nonsense. We don't have a lock on spectacular and moving scenary. And given the rate we want to dump shit on it, suck the water out of it, and generally flog it to within an inch of its productive capacity, who knows how long we'll have it for, anyway?

    I have always hoped that with his interest in military history, Jackson would one day do a NZ story from the World Wars. There are plenty of incredible tales to choose from.

    I'm pretty sure that's part of his interest in the Damnbusters remake, since Kiwis were involved in that. He could do the Battle of Britain, where one of the key figures winning the thing was a Kiwi, but the bit where his political opponents in the British air forces got him arseholed out of his job shortly thereafter might not go down too well in the UK market...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 512 posts Report Reply

  • Petra,

    For the teachers - Summer Heights High

    Rotorua • Since Mar 2007 • 317 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    The Cinema of Unease was great and all, but if Muldoonism is the price to be paid to get it, I'm don't want it.

    The Piano, An Angel at My Table, Once Were Warriors - all made after Muldoon. (And I saw all of them in Italy, to quite some fanfare.)

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Petra,

    I was living in Israel when An Angel at My Table came out, and they were raving about it. It seemed everyone there had seen it - The Piano too.

    Rotorua • Since Mar 2007 • 317 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Anyway, I am still smiling ear-to-ear :-)

    That's good.
    Glad the recession didn't hurt the filmos.:)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Please. This is jingoistic nonsense. We don't have a lock on spectacular and moving scenary.

    Sure don't. I'm still stymied as to where The Lonely Mountain will be. I hope it's not a CG effort.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Petra,

    Mt. Taranaki as The Lonely Mountain?

    Some CG will still be needed, but not too much, I'd have thought.

    Rotorua • Since Mar 2007 • 317 posts Report Reply

  • rodgerd,

    The bottom line is that the government are spending US$10M to keep that spending here (the US$15M tax breaks don't really cost them anything as that tax money would have been gone if the production left anyway).

    This seems to be a point that gets missed - this isn't like Bill English's ETS bribes to farmers, where taxpayers pay actual money out of our pockets to underwrite someone's industry. It's opting to miss out of tax revenue we wouldn't otherwise have and enjoy collecting the income tax, GST, and whatnot anyway. And, of course, not paying dole for a bunch of out-of-work technicians, and, yes, actors. Plus the lack of forclosures on people who can't pay their mortgages and whatnot.

    I'm going to break my usual distrust of the Nats by saying "Well done, John".

    The devil will be in the details of contracting and employment law changes. I'd like to see them before I relax.

    And, of course, AE's mess has managed to shaft the taxpayer (concessions), but the CTU's campaigns for teacher pay and the opposition to the 90-day at-will sacking law. But, hey, I'm informed it was worth it so some people could express their feelings...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 512 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    It's the only thing I can think of as close, but it's a volcano - not really the kind of place you mine.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Petra,

    Spotted on Facebook:

    "Roman Polanski announces plans to film in NZ - John Key agrees to lower the age of consent to 12."


    ooooh, burn!

    Rotorua • Since Mar 2007 • 317 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    So we wait. Tomorrow Parliament will have to interupt one dictatorial piece of legislation being pushed through the house (RWC) to begin "dialogue" about the new superduper dictatorial labour laws for movie employees.... er.... contractors.... er.... employees.........contracting employees....I wonder what unforeseen fuckcluster will emerge over the next few years from what we get tomorrow. It will certainly not be "considered" legislation....again

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • Tony Parker,

    (Hand-wringing teachers don't carry much weight at the moment I'm afraid.)

    No they don't - not from a government that sees education as a cost rather than an investment.

    Napier • Since Nov 2008 • 232 posts Report Reply

  • Petra,

    not really the kind of place you mine.

    That's where the CG comes in - put a digital lid on it, and viola!

    Rotorua • Since Mar 2007 • 317 posts Report Reply

  • Petra,

    This seems to be a point that gets missed - this isn't like Bill English's ETS bribes to farmers, where taxpayers pay actual money out of our pockets to underwrite someone's industry. It's opting to miss out of tax revenue we wouldn't otherwise have and enjoy collecting the income tax, GST, and whatnot anyway. And, of course, not paying dole for a bunch of out-of-work technicians, and, yes, actors. Plus the lack of forclosures on people who can't pay their mortgages and whatnot.

    Personally, I'm not too concerned about the tax breaks as long as it is still within the realm of good business investment sense. Shame the cost of the investment had to increase; but it is still a good investment, I think.

    What concerns me is the law change. I'll be watching that one, and coming in here to see what you more learned legal folk have to say about it.

    Rotorua • Since Mar 2007 • 317 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    The only really fitting thing about Taranaki is that it's 'lonely'. Otherwise, it's too conical (the dwarves and hobbit spend their time on "the doorstep" in what is described as a valley between mountain arms), and it's not at the end of a chain of lower mountains, the way The Lonely Mountain is described. But I'm sure it will come out all right.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Nick Shand,

    As a teacher (and a technical artist) I am happy that the kids I taught today will have a 1st class home grown film industry craving to nurture and inspire their creativity.

    I am relieved that when home-troubled kids throw their anger and frustration in my face tomorrow, I can calmly look out the window and dear to dream that next year 'I am busting a gut' somewhere in Middle Earth.

    The evidence amassed on Public Address over the past month informs me that Sir Peter Jackson is by far a more suitable employer/contractor of my skills and talents than the Hon. Prime Minister John Key.

    *groansss* now how do I remove 3 threads of comments from my [redacted]

    auck • Since Aug 2008 • 79 posts Report Reply

  • Petra,

    No they don't - not from a government that sees education as a cost rather than an investment.

    Oh, man. I really feel for you guys. You have your battles cut out for all on all sides - "damaged" (not quite the right word, but I hope you know what I mean) kids; lazy kids, reprobate parents, overbearing parents, Anne Tolley, the bank manager; a huge section of the public that "just don't get it"; anti-unionists; people that think it should be your "vocation" and therefore you don't need money, you should do it for love; and just generally being one of society's punching bags.

    I couldn't do it. But I can openly support you, and I will. :)

    Rotorua • Since Mar 2007 • 317 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    What's Mt Aspiring like?

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Petra,

    Maybe Mt. Tarawera at the right angle could work. Not the usual view you see on postcards, across the lake - but from, maybe Rerewhakaaitu or Edgecumbe? Or even Mt. Edgecumbe itself?

    Rotorua • Since Mar 2007 • 317 posts Report Reply

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