Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Hope and Wire

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  • Sacha, in reply to Lilith __,

    we really do not know how to feel. it makes us awkward. sorry.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    Well put, Sofie.

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

  • Lilith __, in reply to Sacha,

    we really do not know how to feel. it makes us awkward. sorry

    And that's a perfectly valid feeling, too! No apology needed.
    And it's not that people outside of Chch can't understand, it's just that you haven't lived it. Same with any big emotional experience. It's a different kind of knowing.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell, in reply to Lilith __,

    Same with any big emotional experience. It’s a different kind of knowing.

    Good story-telling- fictional or factual- can partially, in an imaginative collaboration of thought and emotion, bridge that gap.
    I get emotional insight from people's stories here. It's not the same as living an experience, but it's powerful, nonetheless.
    So more, please, I reckon :)

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe,

    @Sofie. How sad for you and everyone. Hugs.

    Thank you all for moral support and kind words: I didn't plan to derail the thread with the personal. So many insights -- some I don't agree with -- are helping to construct my own shifting narrative of these times.

    I get furious some days but overall have a weary optimism. So many heartbreaks, and so many opportunities.

    It's a long haul. Business surveys are showing expectations of the CBD revival are moving out: now many expect it will take off around 2017.

    I'm unsure about Campbell because clear storylines are best, and this is muddied (literally) by the Increased Flooding Vulnerability being investigated for our land, the result of which will impact on everything. We found out that a month ago, with a bald three-paragraph letter.

    I have a real concern about the fact that owners are expected to prove damage rather than have it properly assessed by EQC's professionals: that seems wrong in the extreme -- but a court would need to rule. It's a two-tier system: for those without financial back-up and those who have it.

    The effects of the earthquakes shift in ways no-one can predict. Eighteen months ago, there was no sign of what was about to happen. The land claim had been settled and closed, EQC had said a few months before. No mention of flooding: yet modelling by insurers and council started in November 2012 I found out a few months ago.

    The comment about fractures of relationships becoming more apparent is true. Relationships are shattering all over. A middle-aged person we met recently said he knew of 15 reasonably solid couples, plus himself, who had split in the last two months!

    So more of the personal, and the emotional from me. I'm no academic: I read and appreciate the technical and creative deconstructions and analysis of Hope and Wire. But it's personal. Life and death. Fear; so much fear: especially for my children.

    They aren’t her feelings, though, that’s the problem. They’re our feelings. She’s put fiction where our real stories should be. I have great respect for Preston as a filmmaker, but I think the show is misconceived.

    And I recognise that everyone in NZ has feelings about what’s happened in Chch, and that many of you have been deeply supportive. That means a lot.

    I'm with Lilith. Every word.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __,

    Jolisa was talking the other night of novels about soldiers in wartime. Can non-soldiers understand enough to write about the experience of fighting? Should they?

    [I'm not sure of the answer, but I think it's a fair analogy]

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell, in reply to Lilith __,

    I think the answer is yes and yes. If people could or should only write of the own experience we'd have no fiction at all.
    Doing it well is the hard part :)

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Rob Stowell,

    Doing it well is the hard part :)

    I expect no consensus on whether Hope + Wire has done it well: it depends what the individual desires and the earthquakes' place in their life. Whatever, done by whoever, will polarise.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __, in reply to Rob Stowell,

    If people could or should only write of the own experience we’d have no fiction at all.

    I guess a key point here is that Hope and Wire isn't quite fiction. It's a fictionalised reconstruction. Would it be much without the stock footage?

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Lilith __,

    Jolisa was talking the other night of novels about soldiers in wartime. Can non-soldiers understand enough to write about the experience of fighting? Should they?

    So should Gaylene Preston have ever made any films that didn’t draw from her direct experience – because with one wave of the hand you’ve wiped out her entire career as a director and producer. Including, by the way, the straight documentaries she made about the Napier Earthquake, the experiences of women (including her mother) during the Second World War and survivors of breast cancer.

    I guess a key point here is that Hope and Wire isn’t quite fiction. It’s a fictionalised reconstruction. Would it be much without the stock footage?

    Well, that's a fascinating question. Did you watch The Widower on One last night? Will be very interested to see the ratings, and how many people had absolutely no problem seeing a reconstruction of Malcom Webster's murder of his first wife and attempted murder of his second (who co-operated with the production) -- crimes he's IRL currently serving a life sentence for.

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

  • Lilith __, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    So should Gaylene Preston have ever made any films that didn’t draw from her direct experience – because with one wave of the hand you’ve wiped out her entire career as a director and producer. Including, by the way, the straight documentaries she made about the Napier Earthquake, the experiences of women (including her mother) during the Second World War and survivors of breast cancer.

    No Craig, that's not at all what I mean. This is not a documentary.

    And of course people can write about things they haven't experienced. But here we have NZ's second-largest city, full of people ready and willing to tell our own stories. Some of us have. And a big kia ora to Russell for giving us the space here to do that.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Chris Waugh, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Well, here's an interesting little detail:

    attempted murder of his second (**who co-operated with the production**)

    (my emphasis added, of course)

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report Reply

  • LG,

    For me it wasn't for any of the above reasons that "Hope and Wire" fails. It fails because of the ongoing alienation we feel by the minister for earthquake recovery having first excluded us from the CBD, then illegally red zoning entire communities, and lastly feeding us to the insurance wolves is not a finished story. Telling the first bit only seems impatient and a much much larger story of the daily frustrations since the earthquakes will also be told one day. In the meantime "Hope and Wire" feels like an exercise in opportunism. What does the "Wire" refer to anyway?

    ChCh • Since Jul 2014 • 1 posts Report Reply

  • Ken Sparks,

    A press release from NZ on Air outlining all the programmes they've funded about the Christchurch earthquakes.

    Cox’s Creek • Since Apr 2011 • 60 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to LG,

    What does the “Wire” refer to anyway?

    Hopefully we shall see ;) Wire? Communicaton? Wire? Fencing? Wire, last moments?

    It fails because of the ongoing alienation we feel by the minister for earthquake recovery having first excluded us from the CBD, then illegally red zoning entire communities, and lastly feeding us to the insurance wolves is not a finished story.

    It does have a bit longer to run.
    I think any Producer or Director's feelings are very relevant otherwise the production could just be a bunch of file footage. Personally I would be fine with that but a "Shortland St" style of production has been chosen (no offence meant) so I accept that Preston got the funding, She gets to do it her way and in time after many productions are made I think there will be room to compare.
    I have only experienced a real Earthquake in LA in 1994( and I went into the simulator at the Museum twice.) LA( and around California) get a lot , even one in the last hour but I really don't think they get the bureaucratic bungling that we see here.How Brownlee has not looked to other Countries and their solutions is beyond me. Stupid, stupid.

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

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Ken Sparks,

    A press release from NZ on Air outlining all the programmes they’ve funded about the Christchurch earthquakes.

    Getting a 404 on that, can we get a fixit please?

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

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Lilith __,

    But here we have NZ’s second-largest city, full of people ready and willing to tell our own stories.

    That’s why I thought of Campbell Live. When they did the Caravan, I cried listening to the people and their experiences. This stuff needs to get out there and John Campbell has a budget. He is small steps I know but some nonetheless. The more word gets out….
    And send emails to the new Mayor. Send many emails demanding answers.

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

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Lilith __,

    soldiers in wartime. Can non-soldiers understand enough to write about the experience of fighting? Should they?

    It is not as simple as that though. To some soldiers war is glorious, to others it is hell and to all but a few it is not the fighting that dominates the experience.
    As for non-soldiers writing of war can I refer you to Michael Herr's Dispatches
    I actually knew a couple of the characters and others who never made it, not even to the book.
    On a grand scale war and earthquakes have similarities, neither are personal, on a smaller scale you can point the finger of blame in war for actions taken. In the case of Chch the fingers should be pointed at those that have taken no helpful action or worse, hindrance or profit, not at those that tried to help but achieved little.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell,

    Link here

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell,

    Some more of The Eastern in this clip

    (Not sure how I feel about what this portends for the next episode or so- beyond it didn’t quite work for me today :) I dunno- sometimes it only takes a little pinch of cliche to spoil the whole pot.)

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    It is not as simple as that though. To some soldiers war is glorious, to others it is hell and to all but a few it is not the fighting that dominates the experience.

    I've obviously failed to explain what Jolisa and I were discussing. It's about this (earthquake) experience being so extreme and so complex, and how it's a shared experience which can't easily be conveyed to those who haven't lived it.

    Of course individual experiences vary. But as Creon and Emma and others have said, there's a core of common experience which brought Chch together.

    And I'm really not hating on Preston or any of those involved with Hope and Wire. I'm trying to tease out why Chch people have responded the way we have.

    And big ups to The Eastern. They are AWESOME.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Brownlee Trumpets big news!

    More than 1000 government staff will work in central Christchurch by 2016, dispelling the notion of a ''doughnut effect'' in the city, Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee announced today.

    Wahoo! Dollars for Doughnuts!
    This is what constitutes a major CBD announcement by the Minister is it?

    Old news, gift-wrapped up to cover the smell of perfidy...

    - when this exact same thing was announced by the Prime Mincer in September last year it was '1700 jobs'!
    Now it's 1100. We've been robbed already!

    Prior to that in July there had been reports of:

    "A plan to bring 2500 public servants back into central Christchurch has prompted more than 20 responses from property developers and landlords to accommodate them"

    see:

    Then again in September:

    "Central Christchurch just got a major kick-start.
    Prime Minister John Key announced yesterday about 1700 government employees would relocate to offices around City Mall in 2016 as part of the city's earthquake recovery. "

    and here too

    even as recently as April.


    So why is Gerry Brownlee insultingly selling us this as something new, and wonderful?
    Do they just not remember, or not care, what they've said?

    I guess we should be lucky he remembers our name...

    Enough!!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    How Brownlee has not looked to other Countries and their solutions is beyond me. Stupid, stupid.

    other countries put the needs of their citizens ahead of foreign re-insurers and other financiers.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to LG,

    What does the “Wire” refer to anyway?

    I believe the song lyrics talk about being held together with hope and wire.
    #8

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __,

    The severe shaking on 22 Feb 2011 lasted 12 seconds, only.

    [ source (pdf)]

    “[the paper covers] 6 damaging earthquakes, on
    4 September and 26 December 2010, February 22, June 6 and two on June 13, 2011. Most notable of these was the 4 September event, at Ms7.1 and MM7 (MM as observed in the Christchurch CBD) and most intense was the 22 February event at Ms6.3 and MM9‐10 within the CBD.”

    “While the duration of strong shaking of each earthquake was short (around 10 to 15 seconds) the cumulative duration of strong shaking was over 60 seconds.”

    (page 3 of the pdf has a fascinating chart of ground acceleration in February vs September).

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

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