THIS is the story of a Muswellbrook HSC student, his film, a few bureaucrats, the Education Minister, a cranky journalist, and why people feel disconnected from politics and decision-makers.
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There’s a happy ending, which is nice, although the journalist’s still cranky.
The student is Gerry Loadsman, 18. From when he was young anyone who met him knew he was destined for a career in drama, come what may, with a focus on film.
In 2016 he completed his HSC film major, My Pretties, referencing the musical Wicked, which references the film The Wizard of Oz. A key song from the Wizard of Oz is Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
Because Gerry’s an outstanding student he faced a dilemma – should he strive for a perfect HSC mark by prioritising artistic merit and using Somewhere Over the Rainbow, or aim for OnStage, which showcases outstanding HSC drama students at events in February, and which required him to use different, and less appropriate songs, because of likely copyright issues with Somewhere Over the Rainbow?
He chose artistic merit. Gerry achieved a 30/30 HSC mark for the film and was phoned to say it had been selected for OnStage without a nomination process. He was thrilled. His mother and teacher were thrilled and his school, St Josephs High, Aberdeen, organised a bus for one of the performances.
Then OnStage realised the copyright problems. Gerry was called a few days before Christmas to say his film couldn’t be shown after all. He was devastated.
His teacher rang Education Minister Adrian Piccoli’s office. She rang the Board of Studies. She rang anyone she could think of to have the decision reversed. Gerry offered to mute songs that breached copyright. This was rejected as setting a precedent. But a film ran at OnStage a few years ago with a muted section because of copyright.
I was contacted and put questions to Piccoli’s office and the Board of Studies, including whether the minister agreed with the Board of Studies’ decision. Piccoli’s office deferred to the Board of Studies, which became the NSW Education Standards Authority on January 1, as his office did when Gerry’s teacher appealed for help.
On Wednesday NESA responded and said three sound clips breached copyright, and all students and teachers were aware of OnStage copyright requirements.
I replied with five questions about whether the current situation disadvantages the state’s best drama students, leaves them open to being bitterly disappointed as Mr Loadsman was, whether that was in students’ best interests, and whether they could be offered a chance to change music clips for OnStage? I sent them to Piccoli’s office as well.
On Thursday NESA reversed its decision. Piccoli’s office emailed to confirm I knew, but didn’t venture a comment.
I have no idea if NESA is going to change its processes based on this experience, and look at it from the students’ point of view. Probably not. It’s taxpayer funded, it’s a public service, but like many bureaucracies its focus does not appear to be on the “service” aspect of that term.
When bureaucracies are inflexible it’s elected representatives we’re supposed to be able to turn to. Increasingly though, as in this case, politicians appear reluctant to get involved. It’s one of the reasons why people turn to the media, vote for anti-politicians, and see governments as elites – the “them” who don’t know what it’s like for “us”.
