Lance or Camera –
there’s strength in numbers
NZCREWS has a new website. The man who set it all up and, through the association of freelancers that is NZCREWS, is continuing to support this industry is Yves Simard. We provide general communication through the pages of NZ Video News, but there’s nothing quite like having a “one on one” meeting with your peers which is something that can happen through being a member of NZCREWS.


Ed: Yves, just give us a little taste of what one can expect from the NZCREWS new and improved website?

Yves: Well “new and improved” has been on the horizon for quite a long time. Networking is a big part of it and “caring and sharing” actually goes a really long way. It’s funny how people all over the world in our industry, share a lot of the same questions and concerns and the more that you’re able to share that information, the better it is for everyone. We’re good at it – we’ve been doing it for over 9 years in New Zealand, we have a great group and a tight resource. Our website, a major component of the group reflects that, now more than ever.

Ed: Okay, so caring and sharing’s nice, but jobs – people want to actually get work out of this, so how is NZCREWS going to help cameramen for example. I mean everybody doesn’t have a Sony 700, so what are you doing for them?

Yves: When we first started we were called the “D35 Boys” because most of the guys had D35s. Then many of us went to XDCAM, so we were the “XDCAM Boys” – now we’re the “700 Club”. Being stereotyped is something we have been used to, it’s all in good fun so it doesn’t worry me.
Ed: But the “700 Club” is just one arm of NZCREWS – you do have a lot more. For example, I have listed myself in the corporate director section of NZCREWS.

Yves: The actual membership of XDCAM owner/operators is less than 20%. We have a huge cross-section of members that operate everything from Panasonic P2 cameras to EXs. There are quite a few labour only operators and in the past few years we have added directors, editors, of course sound recordists and this year we are listing freelance producers like yourself and production managers.


Ed: So there’s a large number of successfully working people in NZCREWS who don’t actually own 700s?

Yves: We do have a huge cross-section. I mean, that’s what it’s all about and that’s what the freelance market is all about. In fact, we’re like a menu in a restaurant where you can pick and choose what you want of a lot of different items on offer. At the moment, the 700 is hot on everyone’s lips and I think that’s fine. Like you said earlier, it can be about getting work; it’s about communally being able to advertise through a web presence, it’s about associating with people who are established, it’s about a network that strives for higher standards and it’s about making a difference in your community. You know, I get a call every other day for jobs I can’t do, referring back to the site makes it easy for me. I have confidence that my client will find the right person. So it’s a good way of fostering a community and, yes, work can be the by-product of that.

Ed: So how is the new site going to help that?

Yves: Well, we’ve taken a page out of a lot of other things that seem to be working on the Internet front … we’ve gone with an approach that is much more “people based”. Members can market themselves as they see fit. And we’ve got a few things that are a bit of social networking, where you’re able to plug into groups and client bases.

The site itself is designed for producers and production managers. They can easily list and find the people they use regularly or find new people that they didn’t know were around. They will get updates of members’ activities and they will be able to contact them quickly and efficiently.

Ed: Is the website going to be any easier to use for the more senior members of the NZCREWS grouping – such as myself – who don’t have a FaceBook page?

Yves: Absolutely, no web experience necessary, it was created from the design down so everything is no more than a click or two away. Facebook is social networking, our concept is simply to overlay an existing freelance network on a website, allowing you the tools to tap into that network. Simple. In fact, all freelancers are sole trade business people so networking is not new, people have been doing it for centuries. The word “free-lance” is a medieval term, Knights who were for hire, often considered the best in their field. We associate ourselves with that line of thought and it reflects with our way of thinking, our ethos and the theme of our site.

Ed: So what do you look for when you’re picking somebody?

Yves: Skill, experience and of course, most importantly, personality.
When you hire somebody you usually make a phone call and ask “Who would you recommend for this job?” Nobody goes to directories to take a chance on a person they have never met, unless you are desperate. The internet is full of websites that are exactly that, CV services and lists.

Personally, I hate being on a generic list, with simply a name and phone number, and we all know that CVs are fudged all the time. NZCREWS is a breakaway from that; we are about people and personalities. I don’t get hired exclusively for my experience. I get hired for who I am and what I can bring to the table with my skill base yes, but we all know that personality will far outweigh technical skill.

Have you been on a job with a grumpy cameraman lately? It can make or break the project no matter how good they are. Our membership is more than a good list of good people; it’s a window into their personalities as well as their skills. We offer a website experience to producers who look to surround themselves with crew they like and who can do the job. We know that our website attracts the right sort of client with that right sort of mindset.

Ed: So you can see on the website who plays nicely together?

Yves: You see who’s a team player, who likes playing nicely in the sandbox, who has achieved a certain level of respect of their work amongst their peers. Our core group has been together for 9 years now, we are more than colleagues we have become friends, issues are different today and I think we all look to the greater industry in keeping the standards high, and competitive on the world market, and offer a support network to those who are eventually going to fill our shoes.

Ed: Do you have a “crazies” section?

Yves: Present company excluded? If we did, I would be the moderator for sure. I don’t think you get to 9 years of this without having a touch of craziness – it’s part and parcel of our business and I think that’s what keeps it exciting.

If I had a pitch to do for our site, it would be to simply have a look; we think it’s cutting edge, others revolutionary. We know our stuff and are very proud to use words like simple, intuitive and functional. We have learned from our own initiatives and look to where others have succeeded and bettered it.

My favourite comment is that “it’s easier to use than my cell phone” and we have had producers who don’t know how to use their Outlook, emailing and texting immediately to their top crews. It’s very simple and extremely powerful both in the same breath and we are extremely proud – I speak on behalf of Michelle and I and of the entire membership.

Ed: I’m looking forward to that! And the site is … ?

Yves: The site is http://www.nzcrews.tv

Ed: That’s what it was before.

Yves: It always has been.

Ed: And to celebrate this new website and, of course, get people interested in the whole concept of NZCREWS, what are you doing?

Yves: We are planning a big launch. Two years in the making is worthy of a celebration and everyone will be invited. It will be posted on the site and we expect a huge turnout, like our warm up party last year.