FEBRUARY 2013
Vol 188
Christchurch Earthquake-cam We are in Christchurch with Joe Morgan from Broadcast Media Limited and Mike Symes from AVA. Now there are two parts to this interview, because I know Joe was very involved in the Christchurch earthquake, mainly as a stringer for TV3, but also the everyday side of his business. Having a look around the premises here, there are lots of stories to be told I’m sure. Ed: Let’s start with the big one Joe, the February earthquake – what was the first you heard of it? Joe: I was actually in the city at the Convention Centre working for a client, a bunch of neurologists as a matter of fact, who later on became well known in New Zealand for helping with medical stuff. We were having lunch when the earthquake hit the Convention Centre. We were across from the Town Hall and a colleague and I headed out the door … Ed: You grabbed your camera I hope?
“Now if I’d been 2m to the left!!” thinks Joe.
Joe: No, the cameras had all gone. They’d fallen over in the Town Hall … but that didn’t matter so much, because I always keep a camera in my car anyway. It’s always in the vehicle and since September I’ve never parked the vehicle in parking buildings either. So I walked next door, grabbed my camera, tried to get on the radio to call my wife, but no-one was answering, the phones were hopeless – and just started walking with my camera. I figured the convention probably wouldn’t carry on, seeing as the earthquake had hit. Ed: And how was that emotionally? seen some pretty unpleasant sights?
You must have
Joe: Yes I did, I did. Not initially, there were just lots of people panicking and looking upset and crying and then
someone mentioned to me that the Cathedral had fallen down. At this stage, I was still on Kilmore, so I walked down Columbo Street and it was like a scene out of all the stuff that we’ve seen on television when the Twin Towers came down. That’s what it looked like to me; there were swarms of people coming towards me and I was heading in towards the central city. Ed: Did you meet any other cameramen doing what you were doing? Joe: Yes, there were a number of them … the TV3 crews were about; TVNZ crews. I ended up teaming up with Jeff Hampton from TV3 and we just walked around basically shooting what we could and interviewing and doing bits and pieces. I came across a camerawoman called “Becks” Rebecca O’Sullivan. She had teamed up
Go www.finnzed.co.nz and follow the link to NZVN for more news. P13 Decisions in Christchurch P16 Ken gets a Gong P28 4K and other things at DVT
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