Posts by Brenda Leeuwenberg

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  • Speaker: ReEntry V: Finding my Feet,

    Nicely described. I've been back from Europe just over 2 years and it's still a constant pull for me - there are days where I just resent this town, this country, this arse-end of the universe. There are a few days where it's cool to be here (admittedly, usually in summer).

    Messages from friends in Amsterdam, or images of the canals in the evening light, still make me feel like crying. The most disconcerting thing about coming 'home' was finding myself feeling homesick.

    Wellington • Since Oct 2008 • 41 posts Report Reply

  • Island Life: Symptoms persist,

    He started out by snarling at Her Majesty, Brenda, Queen of New Zealand.

    I love it that I'm the queen. But it was that Braunias tosser that snarled at me on Friday night - not the other guy.

    Wellington • Since Oct 2008 • 41 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Grown men might weep at the rucking,

    Re the National Film Unit nostalgia flick.

    Can’t help but notice how white everyone looks

    And skinny!

    Wellington • Since Oct 2008 • 41 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Grown men might weep at the rucking,

    Not to threadjack but Paul Brislen has just twittered that Vodaphone has signed an agreement with Twitter that will let you tweet from any phone, not just smartphones.

    Man, you totally hijacked the thread - this was about rugby, in slow motion, to tchaikovsky!

    As an interesting addition to that, apparently Peter Wells recut this Score and transformed it into a homo-erotic film. Sadly not to be included on NZ On Screen.

    Wellington • Since Oct 2008 • 41 posts Report Reply

  • Speaker: ReEntry,

    I guess there's a certain amount of spoiled brat attitude in what I say - it's not like it's hell on earth in NZ. It's just not what I'm craving for right now.

    From a life of regular work trips to Paris, Stockholm, Berlin - holidays to almost limitless European destinations within an hours flight - double glazing - a richness of culture and language ... currently if I'm really lucky I get to fly to Auckland for work.

    I do indeed sound like a spoiled brat :) But everyone is looking for different things in life I guess!

    Wellington • Since Oct 2008 • 41 posts Report Reply

  • Speaker: ReEntry,

    You clearly didn't live in the American south when you were overseas. :)

    Ah, I never said there weren't other bad places - just that those aspects of NZ are never really touted overseas, or remembered when you're a homesick expat.

    I actually find it wierd that it's seen as an important goal of public policy to attract "Kiwis" "home".

    If people feel that another country offers them what they want in terms of variety of work, cheap drugs, wider range of fellow perverts, warm beer or a range of lethal fauna, then why shouldn't they live there?

    Equally, if people from overseas are keen on impressive mountains, swimming in freezing water, being two steps removed from an entire capital city, dance parties in the bush, rural poverty or low-level gang warfare, then they might want to move here.

    Shouldn't the government just be trying to improve life for those of us who choose to live here? If they do that, and we still lose people, it won't make things majorly worse for those that remain.

    I completely agree.

    Wellington • Since Oct 2008 • 41 posts Report Reply

  • Speaker: ReEntry,

    I returned to NZ from Europe almost exactly 2 years ago. In my case it wasn't really my choice to do so and even 2 years on I'm still homesick and at home.

    I think it depends a lot on where you've got to in your travels, where your head is at about where you want to be. I had moved on from NZ and was happy to have it as a place to visit family and a convenient passport. So for me I feel like I've stepped backwards and time has stopped.

    I think NZ's hype is a thin veneer - sure it's beautiful, but it's also violent, racist, technologically retarded, poor and in many aspects bordering on 3rd world. Takes a lot of beauty to get past those things if they're in your face every day!

    I recommend getting a job you enjoy, keeping busy, and if you're a city person - live in the city.

    Best of luck :)

    Wellington • Since Oct 2008 • 41 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Proud Wednesday,

    Brenda, are NZ on Air looking ahead into the future on this one? Someone has mentioned previously that when funding music videos, having the video go on youtube is a requirement.

    NZ On Screen isn't privy to the workings of NZ On Air's policy makers :) We are a project that is being funded by NZ On Air, much in the same way that a TV production company is funded to produce a programme.

    I do know that they are looking at the funding contracts with a view to inclusion in NZ On Screen. However NZ On Air, as Russell has pointed out above, does not hold any ownership of the programmes and music it funds, therefore it is not really in a position to say what happens to them.

    Note also that there are frequently additional funding partners - programmes are not all 100% funded by NZ On Air, therefore other players get to have a say too!

    Complex ...

    Wellington • Since Oct 2008 • 41 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Proud Wednesday,

    Problems do arise because often, particularly with archival material, we're talking about contracts that were drawn up before the internet, and the implications for streaming or downloading video, were even a consideration.

    The issue of clearing and securing rights for the material on NZ On Screen has been a complex minefield of issues. Almost every single title has a different scenario.

    So while it would be great to have full length programmes of everything available for free for everyone to stream or download ... it isn't going to happen.

    We have had to get signed copyright clearance for all the material that is on NZ On Screen at the moment. It is at the discretion of the copyright holder how much they allow us to have - and often followed by a deal with the broadcaster as well - however they sign these agreements on the understanding that material is streamed (well, as you know, sort of streamed) through the site and not available for download or redistribution.

    We are not going to solve this problem easily - although we will continue to try and get access to as much material as possible for NZ On Screen.

    Wellington • Since Oct 2008 • 41 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Proud Wednesday,

    d'you know what would be great ... you have taken the time to write a great piece of feedback about watching this show. Please feel free to register and post your feedback on the site.

    The discuss tab, that goes with every title, is there for just this kind of response :)

    And also to get the stories behind the shows ... but that's another angle!

    Wellington • Since Oct 2008 • 41 posts Report Reply

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