Posts by Alec Morgan

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  • Hard News: A few (more) words on The Hobbit,

    Luckily in New Zealand political death threats generally remain threats. A union colleague of mine in the 80s GH Andersen, had a file literally an “inch” thick of abusive and threatening letters, 99% anonymous. This does not mean tragedy never happens-FG Evans killed by scabs in Waihi 1912, Ernie Abbott, Wellington Trades Hall bombing 1984, and Christine Clark run down intentionally by Derek Powell at a 1999 Lyttelton picket.

    So when the likes of Dean Morganty from Queenstown called on FB for “burning effigies of Jennifer WL” I began to take this “Hobbit thing” more seriously. The internet seems designed for the dark sadistic kiwis. Facebook groups sometimes more like mobs. The debate here while often not to my taste, has indeed been reasonably civilized albeit very well represented with producers.

    A family member works in the film industry and I have restricted comments under my own name in recent days. “You’ll never work in this town again” has not been said but I could feel the vibrations.

    John Barnett’s comments about Robyn M and Jennifer WL’s likelihood of future work pretty much add up to that too. The whistle to other actors being- ‘try this and you’ll get some too’. Bad behaviour from anyone does not of course necessarily negate the last months arguments over tactics, and who did what when.

    Tokerau Beach • Since Nov 2006 • 124 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Hobbit Wars,

    Your comment is muddled and inaccurate SteveH.
    Do stop me if you have heard this one before though... it is highly unlikely that many contributors here would offer to do any work for a company not involving billable minutes or hours. Community, school, internships, domestic and other such work excepted.

    Tokerau Beach • Since Nov 2006 • 124 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Hobbit Wars,

    @ Craig. Posted at 8:51PM on 4 Oct 10.

    @Alec: I know you're a relative noob around here, but make your point without the name-calling and man-splaining patronage. It's good to form to pay PAS contributors the basic courtesy of presuming what they is in good faith, and with no hidden agendas attached. If you don't know how ugly and hateful "scab" is, you should save your breath to cool your porridge.

    Thanks for the advice Craig. I don’t eat porridge as it happens. Your record of squishy scatology on this blog however could make one look a little askance. I am not a noob just a rare commenter, PAS is a cozy wozy civilised environment. I even won a lovely Grant Smithies book prize from Russell B a ways back. I visit several times a week for entertainment and information.

    I am well aware of the implication of “scabbit”. Are you aware of the old rather grim Jack London Ode to the scab? I had my livelihood threatened by “Sandy Mcnabs” in the late 80s so I take it very seriously. People on the the FB page “Keep the Hobbit production in NZ” were offering to work for nothing, now is that volunteerism? Not in my view. My terminology however uncomfortable for you was accurate.

    Tokerau Beach • Since Nov 2006 • 124 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Hobbit Wars,

    Don’t be pushed off your trail of enquiry Jacqui by “on message” producers and ‘scabbits’. People lose work and contracts and agreements every week in NZ. What about the hundreds of full time Fisher and Paykel whiteware workers from Dunedin and Orcland that got bounced as F&P moved to the notorious international alley in Mexico. That company was determined to move regardless of any patriotic offers of working for free etc. The EPMU and other unions did their best but the jobs were gone for all money.

    The lesson is you do the best you can in the here and now, not projections and maybes. Producers and funders are modern day Sam Goldwyns, it is still all about bums on seats.

    Tokerau Beach • Since Nov 2006 • 124 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Hobbit Wars,

    @Ben. Life need not be predicated on the ‘tyranny’ of the majority, the ‘sharp end of the spear’ is often vindcated and embraced down the track.
    I mean really, FB petitions are an easy device. LOTR is almost fluffy animal territory for hundreds of thousands of kiwis, but that should not negate Sir Jackson being called on to earn his knighthood and treat the serfs (not just the headliners) fairly.

    Anyways the blog owner has moved us all on to another post.

    Tokerau Beach • Since Nov 2006 • 124 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Hobbit Wars,

    Well there are a few names you will never see on that list! My point really, Ben, the industry at this point is little more than a rabble of competing individuals, freidmanite theory occurring before us. It is not what I want that matters, which by the way does not involve a boycott unless it were a widely supported one.

    No one at AE should expect to be thanked for their role in this, but they are conducting a principled stand, despite the hoards of non unionists barking away. The film execs are in control and some of the crews are salivating. Hobbit will be made or not made and life will go on.

    Tokerau Beach • Since Nov 2006 • 124 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Hobbit Wars,

    When the dust has settled on this “Hobbit Affair” more than Actors unions may need to look at themselves. Over various blogs and on FaceBook http://www.facebook.com/hobbitnz people that demonstratably would not touch a union with a forty foot pole have been commenting on the fine detail of MEAA/NZ Actors Equity affairs. The attitude from some is telling, nasty comments and promotion of burning an effigy of Actors Equity President Jennifer Ward Lealand. People offering to work for no pay on the “Hobbit”. And there is a roll of what I predict will be termed, dishonour, in the near future at http://www.PetitionOnline.com/nzhobbit/petition.html which confirms that some generally liberal people have lost the plot on this one.

    A US film industry quote on mogul Samuel Goldwyn that said “at least you always knew where you stood with Sam,–nowhere” has long had application in New Zealand. From early cinema production-Rudall Hayward’s American involvement, through international product distribution via Kerridge, Moodabe and later corporates, the hierarchical/food chain model has largely prevailed.

    Short and feature film, historical docos and regional cinema would barely exist if volunteers and community goodwill had not been proffered. Friends of mine worked on Xena for years and it turned their lives around. But the psychology of ‘can do’ creative Kiwis historically has made them amenable to the individualism displayed this week and vulnerable to the underlying corporate agenda. Name your production be it long or short-“Back River Road”,“Utu”, “Last Samurai”, “Whale Rider” , “Boy”, many communities have had one over the years. Why is it in the ‘land of the free’ the United States of America, we find the most switched on and organized film industry unions? One suspects they must be on to something and it is not a race to the bottom.

    This past week the NZ film industry ‘rock’ was flipped over. Squiggling away were decades long divisions, NZ/Aust./US/UK, Auckland/Wellington, agent/producer, actor/techie/tradesman/jack of all tradesmen, employed actor/under employed actor/unemployed actor/wannabe actor and so on. The ‘big guys’ mostly forgotten.

    The challenge is still to unite all who can be united, crew and actors alike, in co-operation with the international unions. Kia kaha AE and NZCTU.

    Tokerau Beach • Since Nov 2006 • 124 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Hobbit Wars,

    Warning: generalisations follow. This ‘Hobbit issue’ is resonating I feel because it frames a reassessment for some about where Aotearoa is at two years into this Tory government. LOTR was an end of 90s phenomenon. We have all kind of ‘moved on’, but... On FaceBook numerous bright, mainly young people a generation removed from much spark or memory of collective union organisation are stumping up for Sir Peter. Smaller numbers for NZ Equity, the latter sometimes guiding discussions, making and scoring valid points. The heat of some threads dissipating as facts and perspectives are added. And others not.

    My concern is if abandonment or disparagement of collective solutions prevails we are headed to becoming ‘individual contractors’ in an existential as well as employment sense. Our relationship with and fair treatment of others helps define us and make life more fulfilling and bearable.

    Words land hard sometimes. A rapidly typed line can wound. Or be returned to sender ‘pedanted’ to bits by other readers. Cut and thrust prevails at the Standard for sure, but not the dark sadistic kiwis, as at Mr Farrar’s plumbing leak. PA is more a cosy club where comfort trumps conflict. And why not. It is interesting to dip into a milieu close to, freelancers and all, but ultimately different to my own.

    Tokerau Beach • Since Nov 2006 • 124 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Hobbit Wars,

    @Craig: good on you Craig, I remember JAGPRO well. I am willing to withdraw my generalisation “anti unionism displayed here” and apologise to any other union supporters at PA.
    (reply button did not apply for some reason)

    Tokerau Beach • Since Nov 2006 • 124 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Hobbit Wars,

    I felt queasy after reading most of the above comments (Jan Farr and Helen Kelly excepted) from the often caring sharing PA commenters, which basically put the slipper into the most vulnerable players in this “Hobbit project” drama. So, sent off a quick solidarity message from myself and family to local Equity.
    http://www.actorsequity.org.nz/contact-equity

    Gordon Campbell, Scoop, conveyed in his usual short thorough style the industry machinations that may ultimately decide the outcome.
    NZ tax breaks falling behind the international ‘race to the bottom’ levels, all sorts of hands out for a cut from Hobbit-Tolkien Estate, the departed director, New Line execs, MGM changes etc etc.

    I recall first seeing NZ Equity President Jennifer Ward-Lealand in a Renee play–“Pass it on” many years ago, plot concerned the 1951 waterfront lockout and Jennifer may have absorbed some of the values therein. It is incredibly brave of her to publicly front this given the high stakes and the ‘face fitting’ nature of the local industry.

    The almost instinctive anti unionism displayed here has got to be related to a generation of independent contracting by middle class kiwis. I am a freelancer too but I know where my loyalties lie.

    Tokerau Beach • Since Nov 2006 • 124 posts Report Reply

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