Hard News by Russell Brown

What a nice man, with, as Craig pointed out afterwards, a wonderfully relaxed voice.

I cat-napped through the interview, but was chatting to the guy before hand and he was admirably zen for someone in the middle of trying to record and mix a self-financed album in ten days. I really admire people like Darryn Harkness who know how hard it is when you're not operating in the 'mainstream' corporate comfort zone, but love what they do so much there's just no time for bitching, whining or self-pity.

A hell of a week. You'll get used to all those helpers, I'm sure. Except the guy who brings the bad coffee.

It's the crew: all these people it takes to make a TV, show, all so experienced, and all helping.

Just relax and before you know it you'll be slapping people for bringing you the wrong brand of mineral water.

DIM, I think it's more traditional to dash the beverage with the back of your hand...

Just relax and before you know it you'll be slapping people for bringing you the wrong brand of mineral water.

Heh... Anyone who tried bringing the diva-tude around producer Jill Graham would be the lucky recipient of the world's first boom mike colonoscopy. Really lovely, but I wouldn't muck her around.

... she had a man around, "and he gave me digital". Eeew!

There's an analogue follow-up joke in there somewhere, but I can't quite put my finger on it.

No tongue-in-cheek responses, please.

No tongue-in-cheek responses, please

I'd consider posting some of what's occurred to me, but I've killed threads before.

I can't wait to watch me some Media 7!
'cept the podcast links from the mini site don't work in Google Reader (There are no enclosures and then it goes to a place holder page on tvnz.co.nz) and of course not living in NZ, TVNZ on demand is off limits...any word on those Youtube clips? Or do I HAVE to fire up the Mac and hit me some iTunes?

Another of our neighbours was with her, and they'd come to ask advice "because you're in that TV ad".

Heh, that's great. People used to occasionally knock on my family's door when there were issues, as the neighbours all knew Dad was a police officer.

Good that you didn't just reprise your role and say "it's not OK" and then shut the door in her face.

Another of our neighbours was with her, and they'd come to ask advice "because you're in that TV ad".

What's the word for "that would be heartwarming if it wasn't so heartbreaking"?

I'm glad some "celebrities" can give advice. I think if I ever meet Stephen Flemming maybe I will collar him and ask him if I need to change my deodorant, and if I can install a DVS system as a renter. He'll have the answers, right?

What's the word for "that would be heartwarming if it wasn't so heartbreaking"?

Life, Joanna.

What's the word for "that would be heartwarming if it wasn't so heartbreaking"?

I'm sure there's a German word the neatly encapsulates the idea in 13 syllables. Freudenaberzuschaden vielleicht?

Actually I've just realized there's an english word. Bittersweet.

video sorted!

Another of our neighbours was with her, and they'd come to ask advice "because you're in that TV ad". We agreed it needed to reported, and the police came later.

wow that's more just some good mate, that's helping change a life.
i thought it was great when you did those ads, and wow

this has made my weekend

Getting up from dinner to answer the door to a neighbour whose abusive relationship had finally come to a brief physical assault. Another of our neighbours was with her, and they'd come to ask advice "because you're in that TV ad". We agreed it needed to reported, and the police came later. She's out, she's strong and it's going to be alright. It was the surge in reported family violence in action, and it's a great thing, because really, It's Not OK.

Sometimes, I thought, being on TV does do some proper good.

Using it for the good, Russell. It's what it's all about. Made me cry.

wow that's more just some good mate, that's helping change a life.

i thought it was great when you did those ads, and wow

this has made my weekend

I'm not meaning to say I was the hero -- the other neighbour spotted things sooner and has done much more -- but it's really brilliant that three different households in the street have rallied so quickly, and that they had that ad campaign in their minds. I reckon it's a real vindication for the campaign.

The only people who don't seem to get that the huge jump in reported family violence is a good thing are Family First.

__I'm not meaning to say I was the hero_

not saying you are, just noraml awesome

but you were prepared. when asked, to publically step and say what you did.
and becuase of you and everyone in that ad, well maybe one life has changed for the better.

that makes my weekend

i feel the same way about the john kirwan ads, i do know of 2 instances where those made a difference in a persons life for better.

Doubt it Steve. Most of the high achievers with credit cards that I know who have depression issues are too embarrassed to admit they have an issue that needs addresssing.

2005 was my annus horibilis <sp?> as too many men I knew in my wider circle of friends and colleagues, all in their 40s, most married with kids, couldn't face life any more and took their own lives.

It's those they leave behind who have the hardest time as most times no-one really knows why and always ask what they could have done/said differently. The wife/partner and kids are the ones I feel the most for. Depression is a silent killer of relationships as well as lives.

All credit to Russell and his neighbours.

...she had a man around, "and he gave me digital". Eeew!

One endures much similar hilarity at one's expense, with the job title "Digital Services Manager."

...they'd come to ask advice "because you're in that TV ad".

That's a good result for the TV ads. I hope that eventually people will be able to just assume their neighbour will help, whether seen on TV or not - don't think it'll be anytime soon though.

I'm glad you had a think about it Steven, because your original post, though impassioned, caused me to think that you may have forgotten that one of our own people took his own life not too long ago. We don't know why because most of us didn't know Finn personally, and I would suggest that it's not for us to judge why people take their own lives.

I didn't say we shouldn't talk about suicide Steven, I said we shouldn't _ _judge_ _those who take their own lives.

It would now be useful to know what the actual consequences of domestic violence are, for all those involved.

That's a big, big question, Steven. Obviously it's different for everyone: every situation is different, every individual reacts differently. And how do you know if, twenty years down the track, someone's inability to form a stable relationship, say, is a consequence of abuse they suffered or witnessed as a child?

It certainly wouldn't make for a very punchy or effective message. But I do think it is worth talking about.

Preventing Violence in the Home director Jane Drumm told a child abuse conference in Manukau yesterday that the safety of women and children should override the privacy of offenders.

I wasn't aware that privacy was an issue here. The main reason people are going to get name suppression in a case involving violence is to protect the privacy of the victim.

Surely all someone needs to do is compile the daily court news from all the papers into a database and put it online.

I wasn't aware that privacy was an issue here. The main reason people are going to get name suppression in a case involving violence is to protect the privacy of the victim.

Surely listing the details of the offender is going to blow away the privacy of the victim in many cases?