Film project by, for and of women

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34087, 26 February 1976, Page 4

Film project by, for and of women

I By

KEN COATES)

An ambitious documentary series which will examine the present) position of women in New Zealand society is being undertaken by TVI. There will be 10 half-hour programmes. The. project is Dunedinbased and the producer,) Deirdre McCartin. has gathiered an all-female crew from’ all over the country- to i produce the series. This includes Margaret Wilson, from TVI in Christchurch, who has been desig- ’ nated “chief cameraperson.” Margaret, aged 25. became (the first female TV news camera operator in Ausitralasia last May. Although a ■fully-trained and qualified i photographer, she tried for many years to get a job with I the N.Z.B.C. without success.: i One chauvinistic objection: [was that women were not: I strong enough to carry heavy) icameras and equipment, but: ) Margaret has been hefting i I around heavy gear for months; now with no trouble. She 'keeps fit and has made about) 200 parachute jumps as a; member of the Canterbury) Sky-diving Club. ' Deirdre McCartin says she I ! has had great support from ) iTVl’s administration in find-i

ing the best female talent in each area of expertise — I sound, camera, lighting, editI ing, interviewing and research. “It is a great credit )to the corporation that it recognises the importance of this.” she says. As well as exploring women, childcare and the community, the series will )try to answer the question ■of whether women are the ) chief victims of a violent I society. It will also look at opportunity barriers to women in schooling, unions, and seniority in work. Attitudes to responsibility will : be examined. Another theme will be women and health, and topics to receive treatment will include preventive health care, paramedical care, selfhelp groups, “women's complaints,” problems of the ) general practitioner. the : health system and mental i health. Maori women and immi- : grant women will he dealt jwith. In this area, Maori I education, earnings, employment opportunities, the rise lof urban population, expended families and the ■changing situation of the ; Maori family will come under i scrutiny. 1 Country women will be ' particularly interested in the

i way in which the programme - looks at. rural women. Miss - McCartin says this will dis- - cuss the degree of social t: choice, participation in t. decision - making. isolation f and the positive quality of life for rural women. ? “Women alone” will be a ei theme with emphasis on the I ageing woman, the solo t mother, pressures to marry, e society’s attitudes and t! employment. t 1 Women and sexuality will a also receive treatment, inincluding “sexploitation.” sex -; inside and outside marriage, 1: the older woman and relationships and the gay e community. s The documentary will - attempt to answer the quesqition of whether the media - trivialise woman, and will .! look at women as workers »■ in the media. e. Miss McCartin says that II when the major part of the research is finished, filming . will take about a year in t rural and urban areas j throughout New Zealand. .) “When the series will be eishown is a matter for the . programme planners, but I e )would like to see it go on e|air at the beginning of March, r 1977.”