TV drama risks an early death

Press, 12 April 1978, Page 6

TV drama risks an early death

PA Wellington Television One's drama series, “Rachel,” would die if an industrial dispute centred on film crews was not settled today, said the chairman of the Broadcasting Corporation (Mr lan Cross) last evening.

Last-ditch talks between i the corporation and the Public Service Association! appeared to reach stalemate yesterday when the corporation rejected a package offer. Film crews will meet today to decide on further action. The president of the P.S.A. (Mr J. F. Turner) said it was likely that it would step up its industrial action, which has already put "Rachel” in jeopardy. The association had rejected a proposal from Mr Cross to allow filming to continue on the series and its South Pacific Television equivalent, "Gather Your Dreams.” “We see the programmes as part of the over-all dispute,” Mr Turner said. Filming on both series stopped last Wednesday when the film crews resolved to start a work-to-rule, which effectively stopped all filming on location. Mr Cross said a final decision on the fate of "Rachel” would be made this morning.

(This meant that the dispute would have to be settled by I this afternoon at the latest. The corporation had more (leeway, “possibly a week or ■two,” with the S.P.T. series, he said. Filming on "Rachel” had just started on location in 1 Marlborough when the work-to-ru!e was imposed. The sixipart series was intended as TVl’s prestige production for the year and stars the New [ Zealand-born actress, Barbara Ewing. I The channel’s director of 'programmes, Mr A. Morris, | said last week that actors i and actresses in the series I had other commitments which prevented filming from • being drawn out much 'longer than scheduled. Winter weather would also create hazards in filming, he said. Film crews, comprising cameramen, editors, and sound recordists, seek in- ' creases to bring their pay levels up to National Film (Unit levels. Their demands also seek compensation for working on more complex

colour equipment. The P.S.A. on Monday; offered a new package deal! which involved taking most 1 of the pay claim to arbitration. But it wanted wage increases granted to somei workers first. The corporation rejected the package and repeated its offer to allow the entire dispute to be settled by an independent arbitrator. Mr Turner said the P.S.A.’s proposal had bridged most of of the gap between the parties. It was now up to Mr Cross to compromise a little to bridge the rest. But Mr Cross said the P.S.A.’s formula “represents! a significant concession be- j yond those already offered., “We say the whole issue! should go to arbitration and' iwe will gladly accept the! decision of an independent! i tribunal,” he said. He! ■appealed to the film crews to| lift their ban and keep i “Rachel” alive. i ‘lf they do not, it is the; public that will suffer more! [than the coloration or its! staff.” he said.