Posts by Sacha

  • Hard News: A few (more) words on The Hobbit,

    They wouldn't have bloody run it like that in Australia.

    Some of us speculated that they probably would have, actually - and that failure to adjust for local industrial relations culture may have contributed to the problems.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Hard News: A few (more) words on The Hobbit,

    good broadband

    You mean the type that Steven Joyce has spent an extra two years negotiating and which we still haven't even seen the start of work on?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Hard News: A few (more) words on The Hobbit,

    Campbell also has some ideas about leveraging opportunities out of this situation for our screen industry.

    What LOTR offered was an opportunity to build an entire industry off the back of what Peter Jackson had achieved. We could have created a wide ranging knowledge industry of a sort that bypassed the usual tyranny of New Zealand’s distance from its markets. Almost by accident from a national planning point of view, the film industry could have become exactly the sort of business cluster that Harvard University marketing guru Michael Porter had – decades ago – urged New Zealand to create.

    Did we take full advantage of that opportunity? Hardly. Jackson built Weta Digital alright, but the government copped out of its side of the bargain.

    ...

    The strategy now should be to seriously fund and foster the growth of spinoffs – in gaming, in animation, design shops etc – that will enable the industry to expand out horizontally. To pull its weight properly in this process the Film Commission needs more funding – under conditions that ensure it meets cultural and commercial objectives from micro-budget features to mainstream theatrical releases. Unfortunately, Jackson did not provide that framework in his recent Film Commission review. After paying lip service to writers and directors, he then advocated funnelling most of the money to fewer of them, and virtually neglected the digital realm altogether. But that’s another story.

    Oddly enough, the government would probably get bipartisan support for a national planning initiative based around building our film industry, in order to ensure that the opportunity presented by The Hobbit is not, once again, lost.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Hard News: A few (more) words on The Hobbit,

    OirishBill rounds up the arguments that Te Hobbitspat was only about big business all along.

    Oh, and latest from Gordon Campbell who provided sound insight into the big money side of things throughout. Doesn't think much of Key as a negotiator.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Hard News: A few (more) words on The Hobbit,

    OK. At the risk of confirming PA's traitorous reputation amongst certain cloth-cap champions, Spada responds to MEAA's newsletter to members. Avert your eyes, children of the Ponsonby proletariat.

    Yesterday the Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) issued a newsletter to its members, attempting to explain and justify the industrial action it initiated against THE HOBBIT. A number of statements made in this communication are mischievous, misleading or false.

    At a time when SPADA was hoping trust and goodwill were restored, this communication is divisive and destructive.

    The continued re-writing of history by MEAA as they try and paper over their failures must stop. The MEAA must acknowledge and accept the consequences of their actions.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Cracker: Oma Rapeti!,

    I think I see those walkers driving every other weekend.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Hard News: A few (more) words on The Hobbit,

    So if those children are thrown into mainstream schools, it will be disaster for all.

    Not wanting to get into an in-depth debate about segregated vs inclusive education for disabled children, but if the needed resources aren't applied then I guess "thrown" is fair.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Regulate What?,

    You do notice the Report link at the beginning of each post? Not that it's as satisfyingly witty..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Hard News: A few (more) words on The Hobbit,

    What do we want?
    Moderation.
    When do we want it?

    .. whenever potentially troublesome comments are posted

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Hard News: A few (more) words on The Hobbit,

    I admire the simplicity of this placard

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

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