Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Anatomy of a Shambles

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  • Kyle Matthews,

    I've been told of an unlucky pair of children (from Timaru, of course) who, when visiting relatives with family, as a huge group dreaded dinner time - dinner plates being scarce -and were presented with the dog and cat's dishes "given a quick rinse".

    I know of a student whose flat, in order to save issues with dishes, went out at the beginning of the year and bought one dog bowl, one fork, one knife, one spoon (all plastic), all the same colour for each flatmate. That's what they eat everything off.

    Saves issues about who left what dishes about, who's bowl is whose, and apparently makes washing up much quicker.

    Those crazy students.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Those crazy students.

    Reckon. Not quite as cracked as a mate of mine who only eats off disposable plates, cups and cutlery, because he's both a hygiene freak AND terminally lazy. Most of his food comes out of cans or packets.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Alan Perrott,

    fair enough Carol, but I remain unconvinced that only one side has been dicked with here.

    and I'm yet to see a dispute of this magnitude anywhere where one party is driven snow.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 438 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    At last, it is clear.

    The Hobbit war is a cunning plan by Warners to drive down the New Zealand dollar.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    The Hobbit war is a cunning plan by Warners to drive down the New Zealand dollar.

    Hum... I'd love to know how the WSJ came to that conclusion, but as far as I can tell it's locked up behind a paywall. Don't know if that's an entirely bad thing, on the sanity preserving front.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Carol Stewart,

    but I remain unconvinced that only one side has been dicked with here.

    As far as the handling of the lifting of the boycott goes, I wouldn't be surprised if it's not black and white.
    But looking at the whole situation, seems to me that the studio have shown considerably more good faith than the unions.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    Peroxide (or peroxide-releasing compounds) is a major component in many Bleaches

    Thanks, Ian. I knew that-- I was just being a smartass ;-)

    Ward-Leland

    Could you at least spell her name correctly ie Jennifer Ward-Lealand

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming,

    Trotter's lost the plot, hasn't he?

    I'm not sure that Trotter ever shared the same dimension as the plot.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • FletcherB,

    hamishm said

    Now Brownlee says that they will change the Employment laws so that Warner's can get what they want.

    RB replies

    I don't even understand what he thinks he can do, frankly.

    Have you forgotten he's our feudal overlord now? :)

    If he can just frame it in terms of assisting the recovery in Canterbury.... he can do ANYTHING..

    Getting Sir PJ to employ a couple of ch-ch people or shoot a few secs of southern scenery could be enough?

    Minimum wage down to $5 ? Tripple the overseas production rebate? no problem!

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report Reply

  • Pat Hackett,

    This dispute is starting to remind me of Disney War , which I'm sure Russell has read. (If not, I'm happy to post you my well-worn copy).

    Plenty of parties seem to be scrambling to have their stories in order, depending on Warners decision. If the movie goes, the media backlash against AE and CTU will be immense, and the Nats are ready to ride the crest of that wave. In readiness, the unions have got their "it was all about the tax breaks" story lined up.

    If the production stays in NZ, Key will capitalise on the opportunity to be the last minute saviour of thousands of jobs, and will sweeten the deal for Warners to secure himself that gold-plated PR role. The unions position will be that it was always a bluff by Jackson, and we told you so.

    Auckland • Since Oct 2010 • 95 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Out of interest -- when was the last time one of the above directed a film shot in Mexico?

    Um, Pan's Labyrinth was produced and distributed by a Mexican company (owned by Curaon) with Mexican key crew and department heads. It was, granted, shot in Spain with Spanish actors, but I'm not sure what point you're trying to make.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Ben Allan,

    I think the CTU needs to stop pushing its conspiracy theory angle, since although NZEA, MEAA and co might have set out with quite reasonable intentions, they're starting to look a bit silly now.

    I haven't really seen anyone ask this: assuming Warners HAD decided some time ago it was a better option for them to film elsewhere, why would they feel the need to use the union as a scapegoat? Why would they feel the need to have a scapegoat, full stop? Wouldn't they have just upped stumps pulled out? They don't answer financially to New Zealand. Is their reputation as a movie studio among Kiwis worth hundreds of millions of dollars to them? I don't see it. It's been suggested that it's because they wanted to "take heat off Jackson." Assuming that the studio was even worried that much about this (doubtful), what "heat" would PJ have received if he'd truthfully said: "Well, WB has decided they don't want to film in NZ, because it's cheaper elsewhere - I'm very sad about it, but there's nothing I can do." Who would blame him for that?

    Putting millions of dollars into pre-production here only to pull out and leave much of that money wasted hardly seem like the most cunning plan to save money on the production. It seems silly to suggest WB was planning this all along when a) I just don't think they're that smart and b) I just don't think they'd *care* that much about maintaining their reputation with Kiwis. Why would they?

    If they're looking at better tax deals etc. NOW, it's hardly surprising, but please let's dispense with the idea that this was all a Machiavellian, 10-moves-ahead scheme on their part.

    Since Oct 2010 • 4 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Odds Bodkin!
    Golly, Newton and a Golden Helmet in the same thread....
    ...majestic range

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming,

    (That Jackson, eh? What has he ever done for us! I mean, apart from the jobs, and the money, and the international recognition, and the tourism, and the skills development, what has Peter Jackson ever done for us, eh?)

    Peace?

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Jacqui Dunn,

    A soapy residue glass kills off the foamy head

    So true. In my previous life as a barmaid in a pub in London, we "did" the glasses like this: one in each hand, into a sink of plain cold water, swished them round, put them on the side to drain, "polished" them with a linen cloth.

    Ah, the swinging sixties!

    Deepest, darkest Avondale… • Since Jul 2010 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • Alan Perrott,

    back again Carol - maybe we need our own thread?

    I'm not even sure you can go that far...the timeline presented by the union raises a few questions. to what extent was this issue allowed to progress toward relative crisis point by the studio?

    their case, it seems to me, is a much easier sell to the public and they have far better resources/ experience to put their case.

    but I wouldn't want to take that line of thought much further because it's getting into conspiracyland, and I'd much rather point the finger at hamfistedness.

    who knows, both sides could be right on the emails...who's to say the stuff from the union was seen by the right people?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 438 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    It seems silly to suggest WB was planning this all along when a) I just don't think they're that smart and b) I just don't think they'd *care* that much about maintaining their reputation with Kiwis. Why would they?

    I'd be very surprised if they didn't care about their reputation within the industry. And that includes a reputation for being tough negotiators on employment contracts.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Ben Allan,

    I'd be very surprised if they didn't care about their reputation within the industry. And that includes a reputation for being tough negotiators on employment contracts.

    Fair enough perhaps - but that still doesn't suggest a pre-existing plan to take the films out of New Zealand, does it?

    Since Oct 2010 • 4 posts Report Reply

  • Andre Alessi,

    I'd much rather the question be put to Lucy Lawless -- did her freaking husband bully or coerce her into taking her top off? If so, she not only needs to get a good divorce lawyer on the speed dial but go shopping for a new agent.

    I for one, demand more Lawless boobs on my television screen, not less.

    I mean, I hardly think Rob Tapert is in the same league of spousal coercion as Jeri "Seven of Nine" Ryan's husband.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report Reply

  • Jacqui Dunn,

    Maybe they're just good at swinging with the punches. After all, if politicians can have their own spin doctors, big organizations, especially organizations which may have masses of resentment towards unions, would be foolish not to have their own and take advantage of it.

    For what it's worth, I don't think it was a pre-existing plan. It didn't need to be.

    Deepest, darkest Avondale… • Since Jul 2010 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • Angus Robertson,

    Ben: have tasted the spoons and report no difference.

    Auckland • Since May 2007 • 984 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    dripping, politically correct sanctimony

    Heh. Tom, if only you could bring that less foamy Sanctuary persona here.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Ben Allan,

    Maybe they're just good at swinging with the punches. After all, if politicians can have their own spin doctors, big organizations, especially organizations which may have masses of resentment towards unions, would be foolish not to have their own and take advantage of it.

    Yeah, I don't doubt they are now making the most of the current situation as it has developed - probably trying to enhance their reputation as tough to negotiate with (and it would hardly be surprising if they asked for increased tax breaks from the government now as well).

    But there's a difference between that and what the CTU seems to have been suggesting, which is certainly coming across as "Oh, well they were never really planning to film in NZ, anyway. The fact the production may be moving is not a result of our intervention, but of other factors. It won't be our fault." I think those other factors are absolutely in play *now*, but the way pre-production was in progress, things were lining up, money was being spent etc. before, it's evident that they weren't in play *before* the industrial action.

    Since Oct 2010 • 4 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming,

    Can I just say that I am fucked off by Ian Mune's oh-so avuncular bullshit on Breakfast this morning? Patronising delusional old prick.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Petra,

    (That Jackson, eh? What has he ever done for us! I mean, apart from the jobs, and the money, and the international recognition, and the tourism, and the skills development, what has Peter Jackson ever done for us, eh?)

    lol, don't ever read Yahoo! comments. Here's what one genius thinks about the prospect of Key stepping in:

    John Key if Peter Jackson has made millions ripping off NZ and all the other sir this and thats have made millions now lose a bit of cash because actors want their dues tough its nothing to do with you.

    Unbelievable, huh?


    As for the dishes, I wash my cups in whiskey - kills the bugs - and then rinse them in vodka to get that Good Housekeeping sparkle and shine. For added hygiene, I gargle with gin before sipping on my beer glass. Funnily enough, I love doing the dishes.

    Rotorua • Since Mar 2007 • 317 posts Report Reply

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