Posts by Simon Bennett
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I'm not a National supporter in any shape or form, but I work in TV production, and what Jonathan Coleman was saying made quite a bit of sense to me.
Sidestepping what 'quality' programming actually is, lets use an example of a series of hour-long in-depth documentaries or current affairs programmes. How do we get these onto Primetime? NZOA issues a call for expressions of interest in broadcasting said series. The networks then tender for the funding. A condition of funding is timeslot. I'm sure various other conditions could be applied to make sure the proposed series meets specific 'charter' objectives. I think it likely that networks will compete to secure the gig. For heaven's sake, no-one would want the competitor to secure the funding.
However, if one network were to deem said series to be too commercially risky to commit to in prime-time, it would only take the success of the competitor, for them to be hungry for the next opportunity. Network TV works that way.
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Agree with all the above, Russell. However, it'd be nice if we could get outgoing email to work. It's not happening - either via Wi-Fi or 3G. This despite the network settings being identical to our macs at home. Grump.
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I predict a parting of the ways - with a huge payout. Which will generate another furore.
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I suspect that if a contract has been entered into between two parties, with full disclosure of an action on the part of one of the parties, which if brought to public attention might damage the reputation of the other party, then unilateral termination of said contract without full payout might be quite difficult.
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I'm led to believe that one of the academic criteria for measuring the 'output' of a discipline is the level of postgraduate study. This is linked to funding.
In the areas of theatre and film studies (at VUW, anyway), the number of postgraduate students is relatively low.
Might this not be an indicator of success? That graduates are finding employment, rather than recommitting to further study with the possibility of work in the education sector at the end? Film and Drama students tend to want to make films and produce plays. And this is a bad thing?
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University cutbacks in the humanities, particularly in the areas of Theatre and film studies is something that makes me quite wild.
In the early '80s I began an LLB/BA degree at Victoria. I had no real idea of what to do with my life, I had been good at English and languages at school, so law seemed to be the obvious vocational training.
I decided to fill some of the BA side of my degree with Drama and Film studies credits, and Wham! I fell passionately in love with the subject and felt consumed by a sense of vocation. Naturally, I dropped the law degree and devoured every possible paper in the film and drama studies areas. I was lucky to have inspiring teachers in Russell Campbell, David Carnegie and Phil Mann. It was David and Phil who suggested that I might consider directing professionally, and encouraged me to take the Toi Whakaari path into the industry.
Anyway, 20 odd years later and I have had a rewarding career in theatre and television drama. As Head of Drama at South Pacific Pictures, and Executive Producer of Shortland Street and Outrageous Fortune, I believe I'm making a not insignificant contribution to the economy in the area of 'cultural capital'.
My point here is that if it weren't for courses such as those I attended at VUW (and I understand the film studies course is under scrutiny there at present), I would not have discovered my vocation, nor would I have been likely to contribute to the economic and cultural life of the country in the way I have. I thought that one of the ideas behind university study is to open students' eyes to possibilities; to offer choices and options; to widen knowledge and understanding of the world.
I would be terribly sad to see these areas of endeavour dry up in any of our tertiary institututions.
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'Migration'
As in, we're going to try to change everything we do and the way we do it, in order to keep up with changes in technology that we really don't understand. We're going to market the bejesus out of these changes and promise punters a brave new technological world. We hope it works - the IT guys seem confident.
See: 'Telecom', 'Xtra'.
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Cue Mac vs PC argument...
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The props on Shortland Street (including the Apple computers) are often supplied gratis. There is no paid product placement at this stage.
I was responsible for introducing the Macs in 1997 when I was Producer of the show, because I liked the look of them and because I'm an Apple fan. At that time Apple Computers were at the nadir of their commercial history.
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The CER thing cuts both ways.
Last Man Standing - the Australian drama series filmed principally in Melbourne, written in Australia, with one NZ actor in it was claimed by TVNZ to be 'local content'.