Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Yet More Hobbit

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  • Nick Shand,

    If nothing happens for a week and this thing goes pop -- the actors aren't walking away

    Gollum: It likes riddles, praps it does, does it?

    This thing a Kiwi industry it devours
    Actors, writers, crew, SFX towers

    Gnaws irony, bites hands that would deal,
    Grinds hard earned reputations into traitorous spiel,

    Dismays a King, bamboozles Brown,
    All to bring the tallest runaway poppy down!

    ++++++
    This thing all things devours
    Birds, beasts, trees, flowers

    Gnaws iron, bites steel,
    Grinds hard stones to meal,

    Slays king, ruins town,
    And beats high mountain down!

    auck • Since Aug 2008 • 79 posts Report Reply

  • Jonathan King,

    I hear stonewalling from Equity has continued for a fourth day since SPADA said, OK, let's talk.

    I agree, their only course of action left is to be the 'good guys' and call off the No Work order. Else they're sure as shit gonna be the bad guys.

    Since Sep 2010 • 185 posts Report Reply

  • Jacqui Dunn,

    <Okay, what I did there was this:

    (quote)who can't for the life of me figure out how to do a quote as outlined next to the post box! Duh!(/quote)

    Except instead of parentheses, I used pointy brackets like < this and this >

    Make sense?>

    Um.....
    I'll try Ian's.
    Don't wait though, please. It's embarrassing.

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

  • Jacqui Dunn,

    or...

    Do it an altogether other way.

    Thank you Ian. And thank you Sofie. So far, I've managed bold and italics but the flipping quoty thing I just couldn't fathom.

    Ah, but I've just noticed. I quoted Ian, but it hasn't greyed out like everyone else's.

    See. Double duh!

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

  • Nick Shand,

    <q u o t e>insert quote text here</ q u o t e>

    here be a visual clue

    auck • Since Aug 2008 • 79 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    but the flipping quoty thing,,

    Ok.

    Step 1. Type a "< " then type a"q" ,then a "u" then a " o then a "t" then a " e" then a >


    Step 2. copy and paste what you want to quote here.

    Step 3. Type "<" then "/" then a "q"u ote> as in step 1.
    Just think of it as quote unquote with what you wanna quote inbetween.
    When you press preview, you then know if it worked and if not, recheck the <'s. Right, good luck.

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

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    <q u o t e>insert quote text here</ q u o t e>

    here be a visual clue

    Now that looks simple, instead of my confusing way of trying to teach . No spaces between the letters and you will win. :)

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

  • Jacqui Dunn,

    No spaces between the letters and you will win. :)

    Oh, you mean like that? Gah! I was just going to do "....." like a real dummy!

    Sorry everyone. When I get over my embarrassment I might be brave enough to ask the meaning of some of the words I see and don't understand. But not now. Sufficient unto the day......

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

  • David Hood,

    My attempt (and this might not work, depending on PA's unicode compliance) but bear with me:
    <quοte> Your quoted text goes here </quοte>

    becomes

    Your quoted text goes here

    Dunedin • Since May 2007 • 1445 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Oh, you mean like that? Gah! I was just going to do "....." like a real dummy!

    Don't worry, most of us got to practice back when the preview button wasn't also the post button.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • SteveH,

    Don't worry, most of us got to practice back when the preview button wasn't also the post button.

    Preview button still works normally for me.

    Since Sep 2009 • 444 posts Report Reply

  • Jacqui Dunn,

    Seen this? Inneressing.
    Nah?
    Oh well, actually Phillipa Boyens in the Herald Business section (as my attempt at a link didn't work either....bugger) But don't tell me....yet.

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

  • Russell Brown,

    EDIT: interesting thing about the above article is that it doesn't even bother to refer to NZ actors equity. This is an Australian union calling an international boycott of a film shot in NZ. NZ actors are just along for the ride on this one I suspect.

    Not sure about the last sentence, but all SAG's communications refer exclusively to the MEAA, MEAA contracts, a "New Zealand branch" of the MEAA, etc.

    I think the only person who can call off the boycott is Simon Whipp, not Equity's Frances Walsh, or JWL...

    I suspect you're right. He's the one who drafted the "don't work" order, and I would think he's the only one who can un-draft it.

    Does anyone know if anyone has talked to SPADA yet? Or are we still all getting the silent treatment?

    Unless something happened today, no, Spada's offer to talk remains unrequited.

    Indeed, Actors' Equity/MEAA hasn't talked to anyone so far as I know. Either brinksmanship or disorganisation; I'm not sure which is more alarming.

    The line from the actors' side that it's all sweet and talks are underway really is spin.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Jonathan King,

    Unless something happened today, no, Spada's offer to talk remains unrequited.

    Nothing happened today. Nada. Zip.

    Since Sep 2010 • 185 posts Report Reply

  • Jonathan King,

    Interesting post from a Wellington actor -- "one of the eleven naysayers" -- who was at the Wellington meeting:

    What is it exactly that Equity wants?

    Since Sep 2010 • 185 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Interesting post from a Wellington actor -- "one of the eleven naysayers" -- who was at the Wellington meeting:

    If this is true, it's genuinely appalling:

    3. At the Auckland meeting non-union members were welcome and their votes were counted without question. In Wellington this was not the case. All actors present were invited to vote, the motion was read and the ‘yays’ counted. But when non-union members raised their hands to vote ‘Nay’ - exclamations of “should they be allowed to vote!” rang out. The motion vote was then suspended while the panel debated whether non-union members actually had the right to vote at this meeting. Non-Union actors were then made to feel uncomfortable and awkward while the Union members held a separate (Union only) vote to decide if the non-union member’s votes should be counted. This is a lack of basic professional respect. Any group, guild or board will know that you make this decision before an open meeting and not after you have already invited non-members to attend your forum (and seen the nature of their vote).

    What the hell are they doing?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    And taking tendentious nonsense to new heights, Chris Trotter's column in The Press today.

    Peter Elliott sent a copy to me as part of a big mailout to actors. On one hand, I'm grateful to hear something from the actors' side, on the other I'm alarmed if this is typical of the internal communications between Equity members. It's just mad.

    I've asked Peter to register to comment and put his case here. Hopefully he will.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Bennett,

    NZ actors need to commence discussions with SPADA immediately. They need to be able to clearly articulate what they are seeking in terms of reform, and a coherent strategy to achieve that. They need help in the form of proper PR advice - at present they are coming across as muddled and incompetent.

    They should also dispense with the services of Frances Walsh and Simon Whipp, who are doing them no favours.

    They should try to understand all sides of the equation, rather than demonising people or organisations. Otherwise no meaningful compromise can be reached.

    The open letter from the Wellington actor makes me very cross. If it's true, what kind of way is this to behave?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 174 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Bennett,

    Russell, are you thinking of doing anything on Media7 about this?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 174 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    OK, Russell, if we slap each other simultaneously will this get any less weird?

    Nor was the fact that the National-led Government, by refusing to lift the level of state support for New Zealand's film and television industry to match that of the Czech Republic's or Serbia's, was much more likely to drive The Hobbit's production offshore than Equity.

    The only explanation I think of for this appearing under Trotter's by-line is some Freaky Friday-style soul swap with Bernard Hickey -- which would explain a lot.

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

  • Nick Shand,

    The actor was slammed down by union members before he could finish the second page.

    grrrrr this inflames my bile more than anything I have read to date. Can these muppets truly know nothing of safe meeting process? Forget f’ing voting rights as votes hold NO SIGNIFICANCE without the right to speak reasonably. Anyone making a well reasoned argument in a meeting can greatly influence the outcome without themselves needing 'special permission' to vote. Not forgetting the vote was in many respects NON BINDING (which was probably not explicitly stated anyhow).

    It feels like we are being exposed to an IRL rehash of Meet the Feebles with regard to how AE are shamefully operating. Please, someone educate these muppets because when you cut someone down in a meeting and then shamelessly lie about it to the media afterwards, you cause lasting damage to the solidarity of a special and culturally unique industry.

    auck • Since Aug 2008 • 79 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Cox,

    Yeah, I gotta admit that part in particular kinda blows my mind.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 312 posts Report Reply

  • Jonathan King,

    Nor was the fact that the National-led Government, by refusing to lift the level of state support for New Zealand's film and television industry to match that of the Czech Republic's or Serbia's, was much more likely to drive The Hobbit's production offshore than Equity.

    Remember folks: The Hobbit is looking for a home because there is a No Work order on NZ. Now, as the old joke goes, they're just negotiating the price.

    Equity/MEAA are still stinging about the term 'bully'. Seriously, some new ones just entered my head this evening: terrorism; suicide bombers.

    Since Sep 2010 • 185 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming,

    What the hell are they doing?

    Improv.

    I think I prefer Sit, Stand and Lie...

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Oh, and another classic from Trotter:

    Do the 1000 or so signatories to the Facebook petition backing Jackson's position experience no sense of shame when they hear their country's world-beating actors and technicians referred to as "Mexicans with cellphones"?

    I feel pretty fucking embarrassed for the (in the version of the story I've heard) visiting American studio executive who said that and got fed a steady diet of shit by everyone -- including Jackson -- for the remainder of his stay. I'm rather proud of that, and hope the gentleman concerned spent Oscar night 2004 in a Tijuana motel.

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

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