TV1 bid to save dispute-hit drama

Press, 13 April 1978, Page 6

TV1 bid to save dispute-hit drama

By KEN COATES Television One will try’ its utmost to save its drama series, “Rachel,” from being axed, and filming is due to resume today. Because of a development in the television film operator’s wage dispute yesterday, the ban on work beyond a radius of 20km was dropped. After operators’ meetings in the four main centres, normal hours of work were resumed, although film cameramen, sound recordists, and film editors still altered to a ban on overtime. This has opened up the possibility of a‘rescue operation for “Rachel.” a 13-part drama series being filmed on location in Marlborough. The head of drama for TVI (Michael Scott-Smith) said yesterday . he ‘ would fly to Blenheim this morning to have talks with the producer, John Anderson. “Because of the ban on

overtime, we cannot use the film crews for the normal 10hour day, and will have to re-schedule shooting on a 7|-hour-day,” he said. It is touch and go because lof the limited time the New ! Zealand-born actress, Barbara Ewing, can stay in this country, but we would like to keep going if we can.” Miss Ewing has arrived from London to play the lead role in the drama, but because of the stoppage has [been sitting in a Blenheim [ motel — waiting. ! She recently wrote an ! article for the “Listener” in I which she described a similar | experience on location in the j Lake District. • But continued production ! of the drama is by no means assured. Television film • crews have given the chair- ! man of the Broadcasting Cor- [ Boration (Mr lan Cross) until 13 p.m. today to make what i they term a more positive rejsponse to pay claims.

■I A package proposal from; ■[the P.S.A. was rejected by! >! Mr Cross earlier this week, j i If the response is not ac- ; ceptable to the P.S.A., the s film crews will start selective stoppages and the over- • time ban will continue. > Filming on the other drama ! affected by the dispute,} TV2’s “Gather Your Dreams,”[ 1 being shot near Thames, re-! I sumed yesterday. ] Mr Cross said last even-} i ing that the corporation • i would “turn the other cheek”} 'and wait for the television! i[film crews dispute to go to! i• arbitration, reports the Press} -! Association. >i He was commenting in a; [statement on the announce-} i!ment by the president of the} II Public Service Association; i (Mr J. F. Turner) about the' ■ ! possibility of selective stop-j ■ pages and further cuts to’ I [location filming. t| “Until we get to arbitration! -■we will put up with it and I maintain the best possible!

[service to the public,” Mrli i Cross said. I “Beyond the absolutely; minimal response of not pay-’! ing anybody for work they refuse to do, both television channels will maintain open and friendly relations with members of the Film Opera- , ;tions Group. , [ “We must understand their [predicament even though we ] • are bitterly disappointed with [the P.S.A.'s tactics,” he said. ; “Mr Turner has made no [offer to settle this dispute. In ! effect, he asked us to make ;a partial submission to his [strong-arm tactics as a price , (for his agreeing to arbitra- ‘ • tion,” Mr Cross said. “With the senior execu-}, I fives of TVI and TV2,I found! : • this approach arrogant and in-i 'suiting.” !l | However, the corporation • •would indulge in no counter- ! measures. Mr Turner and the P.S.A. , “may proceed to cut and ibleed Public Service broad-i!

I casting until their pique. or} [whatever it is that motivates I them, is satisfied," Mr Cross} I said. Mr Turner said yesterday! the action would affect the' livelihood of workers in-1 volved, and they were aware! of this, but the corporation's-! offer had been “so short of' realistic” that the workers’ had no choice. He said the P.S.A. had approached Mr Cross on Tuesday with a proposal in which} the association agreed to go! to arbitration on the issues; outstanding, in return for; agreement on moderate increases at two positions on the Film Operations Group •salary scale. ’ This “compromise pro-( Iposal” had not been accepted, and so the P.S.A. had approved action. Some effect on programmes; due for telecast, a® well as 1 'those being prepared, would I be inevitable, Mr Turner said.!