We’ve got the elections this year and that means everything is up in the air.
Simon Bridges says he’ll likely reverse the TVNZ-RNZ merger if National gets back into power.
The Film Industry Working Group’s recommendations around collective bargaining for the screen industry could go out the window.
NZ On Air could get an increase in funding… Or not.
There is some certainty in the media space, though. My predictions:
TVNZ will continue to lose money as long as it stays the way it is, no matter how good a job Kevin Kendrick does (and by all accounts he’s doing a good one).
TV3 will face the same uncertain future it has since it started in 1989, even with a new owner.
The NZ Screen Sector Strategy 2030 will… do something good, bad or indifferent (industry bets seem to be on either of the latter two at the moment).
NZ On Air will have a new CEO shortly—whether it’s a great opportunity for someone new to make a mark or a hospital pass will come clear by the end of 2020.
And the rest of the world, including Australia, will keep capitalising on the demand for internationally-focused TV drama produced locally.
At DEGNZ, it’s very much steady as she goes.
We have a strong board in place who are highly proactive around key issues for us and the industry.
Our focuses strategically will be copyright, collective bargaining legislation, post-production workflow and training, and keeping an eye on the vocational education work being done by various entities, which will get a lot of attention in 2020. There are, of course, always unexpected developments that need a response and we’ll stay alert to these as the need arises.
As a union now affiliated to the Council of Trade Unions, we will have an opportunity to sharpen our skills and knowledge with them in preparation for negotiations should the collective bargaining legislation go through.
We’ll continue to provide membership services including our professional development programme, thanks to the financial support of NZFC, the Vista Foundation, the Australian Screen Directors Authorship Collecting Society, accounting firm VCFO, and with the support of Resene, Event Cinemas, Rialto Cinemas, Dominion Law and Handy Training Online.
We’ll maintain our partnerships on various activities with the NZ Writers Guild, Equity NZ, SCGNZ, NZAPG, SPADA, WIFT, Ngā Aho Whakaari, NZCS and look to forge a relationship with the newly-formed PASC.
DEGNZ is committed as we always say to ‘the creative, cultural and financial well-being of New Zealand directors and editors’.
With the shake-ups in our domestic screen industry scene including more SVODs coming online, and on the international stage with Brexit, the U.S. elections, and the novel coronavirus, we hope that you will join with us as we head into what is undoubtedly going to be a tumultuous 2020.
Tui Ruwhiu
Executive Director