Public Address | Cafe | Hard News: Telling stories about us

Ian Dalziel

Tue, 08 May 2012 12:09:39 +1200

An off topic 'Howl at the Moon!'
Is it just me? Am I just an old curmudgeon?
But the BNZ's 'Closed for Good' promotion seems to be unnecessarily punitive on their customers – not everyone has ATM cards or internet banking, I needed to make a cash withdrawal today -…

Geoff Lealand

Tue, 08 May 2012 10:17:17 +1200

Yes, it is a damn fine example of investigative journalism and Philip deserves heaps of praise for it. The University of Canterbury is now employing grad students to ring up its alumni to beg for money; I informed the last caller that they wouldn't have a cent from me whilst…

Kumara Republic

Mon, 07 May 2012 21:20:48 +1200

The Press have tossed another editorial to the congenital idiot they must keep locked up nearby for generating tripe on demand – this time on TVN7’s demise…

What the fuck does the editorial writer want anyway, News of the World with pictures?

Russell Brown

Mon, 07 May 2012 20:46:03 +1200

No shit, Sherlock…

'Fears ‘The GC’ will put Kiwis off visiting the Gold Coast'

The party scene that takes up the second half of the first episode is the opposite of my idea of a good party, I'll give you that.

Jos

Mon, 07 May 2012 20:17:29 +1200

It's all good, Mr Ed is on Maori TV as I type, wonderful stuff!

Rob Stowell

Mon, 07 May 2012 13:02:54 +1200

Perhaps not the place to post it exactly, but Philip Matthews (bless you, mate!) takes a good hard look at what's happening at the University of Canterbury.

Sacha

Mon, 07 May 2012 12:30:35 +1200

Some gems from the Press comments already, including this from tv producer Phil Wallington:

This editorial is pure tosh. The logic is missing totally and the writer does not understand the funding mechanism of NZOA. Commercial broadcasters decide what "rates" and ignore everything else as "Worthwhile" or worthy" which are…

Rob Stowell

Mon, 07 May 2012 12:19:29 +1200

Gawd, that was a shocker orright. Singing the virtues of our current economic system must have taken all the rational and melodic energy that writer had to spare, leaving nothing but the tide-swept debris of prejudice and spite :)

Ian Dalziel

Mon, 07 May 2012 07:39:07 +1200

another insult to intelligence...
The Press have tossed another editorial to the congenital idiot they must keep locked up nearby for generating tripe on demand – this time on TVN7's demise...
TVNZ7 was always something of an anomalous relic in broadcasting. It was established by TVNZ to run "public service"…

Hebe

Sat, 05 May 2012 19:42:06 +1200

Don't frighten the paycheque eh?

Hebe

Sat, 05 May 2012 19:39:19 +1200

I took the trouble of watching episode 1 of The GC on demand... if it's anything to go by, I nearly had a shoot-the-TV moment only a few minutes inI watched the 30-second GC trailer, having no knowledge of it until I read your inviting post. Unfortunately it seems it…

Joe Wylie

Sat, 05 May 2012 19:34:47 +1200

Dunne is a nong.

Damn right
Yous are not wrong. After the token huffing, a reprise of the 2005 post-election hissy fit.

Hebe

Sat, 05 May 2012 19:22:46 +1200

Dunne is a nong.Damn right. A caculating nong. Speaking up when it is too late, as always.

Rob Stowell

Sat, 05 May 2012 19:19:38 +1200

Anyone here watched 'housos'? It's an SBS mocku-reality series about people living in govt housing, featuring 'kev the maori' and his wife. Funny. But might put you off visiting Oz altogether :)

Kumara Republic

Sat, 05 May 2012 00:43:13 +1200

I took the trouble of watching episode 1 of The GC on demand... if it's anything to go by, I nearly had a shoot-the-TV moment only a few minutes in.

Jos

Fri, 04 May 2012 18:08:19 +1200

Nong is a good word!

Kumara Republic

Fri, 04 May 2012 16:34:17 +1200

No shit, Sherlock...

Fears 'The GC' will put Kiwis off visiting the Gold Coast

Geoff Lealand

Fri, 04 May 2012 15:20:38 +1200

Dunne is a nong. He has had ample opportunity to speak up in defence of TVNZ7 long before now but hasn't.

Kumara Republic

Fri, 04 May 2012 11:54:55 +1200

The current state of affairs is all the more untenable, when we're told there's no money left to keep TVNZ7 running, but there's somehow still money to fund Jersey Shore knockoff prolefeed.

3410

Fri, 04 May 2012 11:26:31 +1200

Minister's blistering attack on TVNZ

United Future leader Peter Dunne has labelled a move to replace TVNZ7 with a channel repeating TV One programmes a "disgusting insult"...

"TV One represents the worst of television in this country. It is crass, superficial, lowest common denominator rubbish...

"By contrast, TVNZ7 has always appealed…

Lilith __

Fri, 04 May 2012 10:55:30 +1200

the way north Americans – in particular – watch TV. There is very little "appointment viewing"

What of Hulu? Your favourite shows just when you want them?

Ian Dalziel

Fri, 04 May 2012 10:36:11 +1200

and it is announced that TV7 will be replaced by a channel for people who can't operate their recording devices or tell the time...
Wow, I feel so well served by TVNZ...
I wonder if they get to charge their advertisers twice?

Kumara Republic

Fri, 04 May 2012 09:54:36 +1200

The GC gets a big-time pasting in the Dom – the general feeling is that the goalposts were shifted in the pitch. Even Mike Hosking has his standards.

Joe Wylie

Thu, 03 May 2012 22:29:27 +1200

Oh dear: Tom Fruwen has an interesting article about mockumentaries...NZ on Air, The OZ Gold Coast and international companies usurping the system.
The revelation of $104,594 of NZ on Air funding for coverage of last month’s Anzac dawn service is particularly risible. An alliance of local opportunists and a multinational…

Geoff Lealand

Thu, 03 May 2012 21:58:09 +1200

Excellent Media 7 tonight, Russell.

Ross Mason

Thu, 03 May 2012 20:54:31 +1200

Oh dear: Tom Fruwen has an interesting article about mockumentaries...NZ on Air, The OZ Gold Coast and international companies usurping the system.

Kumara Republic

Thu, 03 May 2012 10:08:42 +1200

So effectively it's just de-evolution rather than conspiracy.

Still, Bruce Springsteen saw through all the bollocks years back... and there were only 57 channels at the time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAlDbP4tdqc

Marcus Turner

Thu, 03 May 2012 09:33:44 +1200

Part of the reason for this constant repetition is the way north Americans – in particular – watch TV. There is very little "appointment viewing". What I mean by this is that people don't tend to know in advance what they're going to watch: they haven't read the listings beforehand.…

FletcherB

Thu, 03 May 2012 00:15:42 +1200

I’m old enough to have seen and enjoyed “real, in depth” documentaries of a style that are no longer presented…. but I can accept that times have changed and what I’d like to see more of may not ever be offered again…

But what REALLY PISSES ME OFF in “reality…

Sacha

Wed, 02 May 2012 15:20:24 +1200

like actual public service television, you mean? #gasp

Marcus Turner

Wed, 02 May 2012 15:11:59 +1200

@DeepRed et al: my point was to address the questions in the original post.

I think commercial broadcasters have found that traditional documentaries aren't working for their business. I've observed that those who have attempted to build a broadcasting business based on them have tended to fail, or survive by…

Evan Yates

Wed, 02 May 2012 12:18:12 +1200

Minor quibble with Geoff Stevens' quote:

If I were to make a doco on claustrophobia I wouldn’t go and interview the Minister of claustrophobia. We’d stick someone up a telegraph pole and leave them there.

That wouldn't necessarily worry a Claustrophobe. Now an Acrophobe might be a bit wobbly...

Sacha

Wed, 02 May 2012 12:05:28 +1200

Regarding "quality" television

Often bandied around as a trojan synonym for 'high' culture unfortunately. As if the masses need to watch more opera. Though we do like that behind the scenes look at the ballet company we all fund together. Shades of sparkling grey.

Ian Dalziel

Wed, 02 May 2012 11:44:34 +1200

Dogs day afternoons...
Release them in a national park with primitive weapons and minimal resources...
Hell bring it to Chchch, we have a great natural resource that the police are already using!
Sergeant Alastair Sim, of the Canterbury police dog section, said the city's earthquake-hit eastern suburbs were the "most…

Jeremy Andrew

Wed, 02 May 2012 11:04:37 +1200

I’m thinking Roman gladiator revivals and live vigilante snuff à la The Running Man, with the shock value of Cannibal Holocaust. Jeux de la Mort came close, but no cigar.

Maybe select a bunch of teenagers from poverty-stricken communities and compel them to fight to the death with promises of…

Kumara Republic

Wed, 02 May 2012 10:08:55 +1200

Television in New Zealand is essentially all commercial and – from my perspective – its programmes reflect this. What’s offered may not be to your taste but it seems to be working for the businesses concerned.

Then again, when does the race to the bottom hit, well, rock bottom? TVNZ…

Marcus Turner

Wed, 02 May 2012 09:58:09 +1200

Regarding "quality" television and "crap" TV: this is clearly an area where individuals' values differ, but my understanding from interactions with people who are involved in the business is that most people use television to "blob out". Another way of putting this is that most people are using TV for…

Marcus Turner

Wed, 02 May 2012 09:18:32 +1200

(Removed: someone else already answered the question.)

JacksonP

Wed, 02 May 2012 07:42:59 +1200

Greg Johnson and Bluespeak at Take Me Back, June 2009.

The sound track to Blues for Robin is one of my all time favourite CDs Tom Ludvigson and Greg Johnson. Lovely, haunting.

Was going to mention that. Seems you all got there. It is very good, and watching them play…

Russell Brown

Tue, 01 May 2012 23:12:12 +1200

Further thanks to you Russell!
Ordering apopo-

I'm delighted I was able to help.

I recalled Amplifier announcing recently they were to start rolling out the Ode catalogue, so I looked there and – bingo!

Jen Ross

Tue, 01 May 2012 22:18:56 +1200

It was "Donated to Science" by Paul Trotman. Really interesting film. It played at last year's Doc Edge festival and also on TV3 (a nice example of good commissioning by a NZ broadcaster).

Islander

Tue, 01 May 2012 21:55:42 +1200

Blues for Robin is for sale on Amplifier, as either a download or a CD.

Amplifier has been steadily making available the Ode catalogue — which includes many records that pretty much disappeared on release. This is a good thing.

Further thanks to you Russell!
Ordering apopo-

Islander

Tue, 01 May 2012 21:51:13 +1200

ANZ-made, based in Dunedin. Excellent doco-

Russell Brown

Tue, 01 May 2012 20:54:30 +1200

Are we talking Robin Morrison, Jos?
I was lucky enough to share time, and a book project, with him- I’d be delighted to be able to buy this CD – cheers!

Blues for Robin is for sale on Amplifier, as either a download or a CD.

Amplifier has been steadily…

Peter Rees

Tue, 01 May 2012 20:44:27 +1200

Here in the UK we caught the tail end of an interesting doco about Otago medical students and their cadavers. Couldn't tell if it was NZ or British made. Anyone see it?

Tom Ackroyd

Tue, 01 May 2012 20:27:25 +1200

Most people will watch whatever is put in front of them, and they're encouraged to do so by the hype and bullshit that the channels throw at them about upcoming shows. Even otherwise intelligent people seem to tweet about shit like Project Runway or Masterchef Rotovegas or somesuch, so they…

Islander

Tue, 01 May 2012 20:05:23 +1200

Thanks indeed Jos!
I'm working from a family computer but have emailed the site to myself- cheers!

Jos

Tue, 01 May 2012 19:49:52 +1200

MANU 1453

I found this
http://jazzscore.com/catalogue/filmscores/senseofplace/senseofplace.html

Islander

Tue, 01 May 2012 19:42:14 +1200

Kia ora Jos – thanks for this- I'll search- cheers n/n Keri

Jos

Tue, 01 May 2012 19:31:42 +1200

Yes Islander, I bought mine at Parson's many years ago, couldn't believe they had it in stock.
:)

it says CD MANU 1453

1993 ODE Record Company

Ian Dalziel

Tue, 01 May 2012 19:24:20 +1200

Bizarro world....
For some reason programmers think we just want to watch reality TV shows.
Ain't it a sad indictment that documentaries aren't considered reality, but contrived schadenfreude-heavy "reality TV' shows are...

Islander

Tue, 01 May 2012 18:41:44 +1200

Are we talking Robin Morrison, Jos?
I was lucky enough to share time, and a book project, with him- I'd be delighted to be able to buy this CD – cheers!

Jos

Tue, 01 May 2012 18:34:22 +1200

The sound track to Blues for Robin is one of my all time favourite CDs Tom Ludvigson and Greg Johnson. Lovely, haunting.

Robyn Gallagher

Tue, 01 May 2012 18:32:24 +1200

On the other side, the chattering classes, said “we need to do more in-depth docos.” But the problem with that is they were so deep they disappeared. No one saw them. It devalued the form. They were earnest, preachy, polemical.

I've heard one problem is that when you ask people…

nzlemming

Tue, 01 May 2012 18:07:55 +1200

To be fair, that's probably because a large promotion of those of us in the all-important target demographics do want that.

Yeah, nah. Do we actually get the choice? If you don't have access to Sky or TelstraSky, or one of the few places that Freeview actually show (j/k) then…

Sacha

Tue, 01 May 2012 17:44:44 +1200

Quota doesn't seem to be dumbing down the Oz industry.

worked better than nothing to get NZ music on commercial radio too.

Kumara Republic

Tue, 01 May 2012 17:08:41 +1200

That weed doco featuring Dakta Green on TV3 a few months back was pretty good, and it had a few surprises in store.

Even so, the moment reality TV jumps the shark can’t come soon enough. We need someone like the Chasers crew or Jay Pryor to deconstruct the shit…

JacksonP

Tue, 01 May 2012 17:01:50 +1200

My favourite on NZ On Screen, as I’ve probably mentioned before, is the Robin Morrison Doco Sense of Place.

The 1981 From the Road also amazing, and includes his Gallipoli Veterans.

I stumbled across one recently though, which I found quite fascinating, about the Mikhail Lermentov story. There’s a lot…

Russell Brown

Tue, 01 May 2012 16:45:28 +1200

One of the best documentaries I have ever seen is Gerard Smythe’s Out of sight out of mind about the de-institutionalisation of Templeton.

Gerard's work is such a strong argument for for the non-formatted auteur documentary in New Zealand. I haven't seen that one, but his Alun Bollinger doco was…

Hilary Stace

Tue, 01 May 2012 16:31:39 +1200

One of the best documentaries I have ever seen is Gerard Smythe's Out of sight out of mind about the de-institutionalisation of Templeton. For some fortuitous reason it did get a screening on free to air TV, just before Christmas 2004. However, I doubt that a recent documentary in…

Graham Dunster

Tue, 01 May 2012 16:06:15 +1200

Quota doesn't seem to be dumbing down the Oz industry.

Keith Hunter makes some pretty good docos – is he represented at the festival?

Did you ask Geoff when we'll be able to buy 'Skin Deep' again? Be nice to see his earlier work available legally again.

Sacha

Tue, 01 May 2012 15:42:29 +1200

he's a Berliner :)

Jan Farr

Tue, 01 May 2012 14:30:01 +1200

Lucky you! Looks like a brilliant festival. Have you heard if there's any chance it might travel south?

Russell Brown

Tue, 01 May 2012 14:12:39 +1200

Who he?
Werner Herzog surely...

Ha ha! Spelling from the original, but I've corrected it to save her blushes.

Joe Wylie

Tue, 01 May 2012 14:10:09 +1200

...part Weiner Herzog...

Who he?
For those who don't Facebook, confirmation that you're not missing much.

Ian Dalziel

Tue, 01 May 2012 14:03:46 +1200

...part Weiner Herzog...
Who he?
Werner Herzog surely...

or is the River dog
really a Wiener her dog?

Geoff Lealand

Tue, 01 May 2012 13:32:51 +1200

Just listening to Phil Wallington talking to Jim Mora about this...good stuff

Paul Campbell

Tue, 01 May 2012 13:23:38 +1200

It's a pity the Documentary festival isn't leaving the North island – of course here in Dunedin we're annually treated to a one-of-a-kind documentary festival when the students doing the Natural History Film Making course at the Uni present their work (some samples here)

Public Address

Tue, 01 May 2012 13:23:38 +1200

Discussion from blog post.