That's not an earthquake you felt in Henderson. Rather, management at South Pacific Pictures was jumping up and down about yesterday's observation here that TVNZ's relationship problems with independent producers were such that SPP "appeared to be having second thoughts about a continuing emphasis on TV production".
Looks like I'm in the cactus with Barney again. I'm not removing what I said - that would be a bit silly now - so I suggested that they could send me something I could use. Which they did:
We would very much like to see your comment online removed. If you are not willing to do this, we would like to see this statement published in the same column.
"To say that is absolutely untrue. South Pacific Pictures has never had second thoughts about continuing the emphasis on television production. It's just not true," says South Pacific Pictures Chief Operating Officer, Andrew Shaw.
South Pacific Pictures is New Zealand's most prolific television and film drama production company, and the maker of New Zealand's longest-running television drama, Shortland Street.
The company has never considered changing its emphasis away from television production, as stated online by Russell Brown. South Pacific Pictures continues to produce television, including the new production NZ Idol, and continues to develop new ideas and projects for both television networks in New Zealand and for overseas partners.
Well, I didn't say they were bailing out. But if you look at the in-development section of SPP's website, you won't find any new TV dramas. There's Sione's Wedding, a feature film (to screen later on TV3); a four-part doco on Captain Cook; a feature film called Rosalind Franklin: The Dark Lady of DNA; and Jonah, an animated cartoon featuring Jonah Lomu as a superhero. Mataku will be coming back, but with a different production company, and the last series of the excellent Mercy Peak has already been produced, with 10 episodes left to screen (TVNZ churlishly declined to promote the last season in any other media). Another SPP drama in development with TVNZ (possibly the Tom Scott thing) was scratched earlier this year when the new team moved in.
So the observation that a continuing emphasis on TV production - for those who have a choice - wasn't a given seems reasonable enough, given the widespread gloom in the screen production sector about TVNZ's recent direction, and the fact that TVNZ has been encouraging writers to pitch to it directly. God, I'm glad I don't have to dwell in TV politics all the time …
Speaking of which, the actual wording of yesterday's announcement about Marty Behrens' departure from TVNZ was: "Ian has accepted Marty's resignation with regret, having agreed that their respective visions for TVNZ are different." Some people think events were probably hastened along by Fraser's intervention last week with a press release which read:
Ian Fraser says TVNZ has taken on board the constructive suggestions from today's Screen Production Industry Taskforce report. He says he is well aware that the Company needs to do more to cement its relationship with the independent screen production industry and is very focused on that objective.
"In fact this year we have been putting considerable effort into improving our engagement with the creative community. We are proactively communicating our plans for future television content and working on greater transparency and rigor in our commissioning process".
Ian Fraser says TVNZ is absolutely committed to the Company's Statement of Intent to work cooperatively and cohesively with the independent production sector and "that is exactly what we mean to do".
It was probably the "needs to do more" that did the trick. Expect to hear more on this one.
Tze Ming Mok got in touch to point out that while Salam Pax is busy playing around with digicams, Riverbend's Iraq blog Baghdad Burning, was recommended for regularity, consistency of presence in Baghdad, and quality of writing - not as many jokes, but perfect spelling & grammar, and a seriously squinty-eyed analysis. That's what we like from 24 year-old nerd girls." Quite right - I haven't looked at Riverbend for a while, and she's really come on. She also points to Continuing Collateral Damage: The health and environmental costs of war on Iraq. From the executive summary:
The war on Iraq and its aftermath exacted a heavy toll on combatants and civilians, who paid and continue to pay the price in death, injury and mental and physical ill health. Between 21,700 and 55,000 people died between March 20 and October 20, 2003 (the date on which this report went to press), while the health and environmental consequences of the conflict will be felt for many years to come.
It had to happen: Microsoft is moving into the online music retail market. The Slashdot discussion is as full of fear and loathing as you'd expect. Meanwhile, the most popular digital download in America last week, Outkast's 'Hey Ya', sold 8000 copies, while the top-selling CD single, MercyMe's 'I Can Only Imagine' sold only 7000. The numbers say more about the state of the singles market than anything else, but it's an interesting milestone.
And, finally, in the surely-some-mistake department, a panel of experts assembled by Q magazine has named the greatest song ever recorded: U2's 'One'. Say what?