Disgraced film exec hired for star Kiwi director’s ‘swansong’
Group speaks out after victim retraumatised by meeting abuser on Lee Tamahori movie set
A “concerned collective” of film industry figures have complained after it emerged an industry heavyweight convicted of sexual offences is being employed on the set of celebrated New Zealand director Lee Tamahori’s “swansong” film — alongside a woman he indecently assaulted.
The Weekend Herald understands the victim has been retraumatised by her “face-to-face” encounter with her abuser on the set of The Convert, starring Guy Pearce and Te Kohe Tuhaka.
It is understood the victim has taken steps to ensure the pair have no further interaction.
The owner of a multimillion-dollar horse-wrangling business, Wayne McCormack — who has been described as running a “monopoly” within the New Zealand film industry — was convicted in January 2020 of two charges of indecent assault against younger female employees.
In March, the Weekend Herald reported McCormack was still reaping the rewards of his former Aucklandbased horse wrangling/stunt business via a company set up in his wife’s name after his 2020 convictions.
Six months later, McCormack has been employed as horse master on the partially NZ Film Commissionfunded The Convert.
The director of the production — currently being filmed in Auckland — is Lee Tamahori, whose credits include Once Were Warriors and James Bond: Die Another Day.
Producer of The Convert Robin Scholes confirmed both she and Tamahori were aware of McCormack’s indecent assault convictions “and the decision to engage him on this production is not one we’ve taken lightly or in isolation”.
Scholes said, “to my knowledge, there are no victims working on set with Mr McCormack”.
Given McCormack’s victim has name suppression, it is possible producers of The Convert may not have been aware they were employing both on the same set.
On Wednesday this week, a letter on behalf of a “concerned collective of long-term film and screen industry contractors” was sent to The Convert producers, Actors Equity union and the Screen Guild.
It began: “This letter’s purpose is to voice our grave concerns over the current employment status of horse master Wayne McCormack on the production The Convert.
“This person has been before the New Zealand courts on historical sexual assault charges and found guilty. As a collective, we respectfully request an answer to the question we pose, Why? Why after being convicted was this man offered the position of privilege above those of his victims? We ask that our voices be heard, not just for ourselves but also on behalf of all his victims who have so bravely fought to bring their truth to light and at such huge costs.”
The letter goes on to say the “livelihoods and professional lives, not to mention their mental health” of McCormack’s two victims have been “severely affected and altered”.
“It is every crew member’s right to work in an environment that is safe and supported by the producers of each production and we feel this is not the case on The Convert . It is totally unbelievable and unacceptable . . . ” the letter says.
Actors Equity representative Katherine McAlpine told the Weekend Herald they have subsequently contacted the producers of The Convert asking that McCormack be removed from the set and producers apologise and offer counselling.
McAlpine said McCormack’s hire was contrary to years of industry progress instigated by Hollywood’s #MeToo movement.
“To hear that his victim has had to come face-to-face with him on set is extremely concerning and perplexing. We reiterated that all cast and crew deserve to have a safe, secure working environment,” she said.
“We reminded the producers that much work has been done in the last few years to create safe workspaces in the screen sector in New Zealand. Focus has been on changing a culture that has at times turned a blind eye to harassment, bullying, blacklisting and worse.”
The Weekend Herald has seen numerous photos of McCormack working on set, as well as a copy of a daily call sheet in which both he and one of his victims are listed.
There is also evidence of wardrobe items assigned to McCormack to appear in shots on film as a stuntman/ extra.
McCormack’s lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.
Some film industry workers connected with the production of The Convert said they were appalled by the situation.
“I’m disgusted that people are backing something like that — the producers. I don’t know, I’d walk on a job that he was on. Just supporting what’s right with these other poor girls. Their lives have been changed and then they’re just trying to get a job and then he’s on there with them. Like, who does that?” a film industry source said.
Producer Scholes confirmed one senior crew member expressed concerns in early pre-production for The Convert.
“These concerns were fully discussed and the crew member decided to accept our decision to have Wayne on set,” Scholes said.
“If someone had told us they didn’t want to work on set because of Wayne we would have arranged for that person to work elsewhere for that day.”
Scholes said McCormack has already “completed more than 60 per cent of his workload to date without issue” on The Convert. Entertainment news website Variety reported production for The Convert would begin on September 12 across several North Island locations.
“Anyone working on the production who has concerns has the opportunity to raise these concerns through appropriate channels including the onset crew representative or cast co-ordinator,” Scholes said.
“The wellbeing and safety of the cast and crew of our production is a priority for us and our production has stringent health and safety protocols, including harassment policies that align with New Zealand screen industry standards.”
A New Zealand Film Commission spokesperson said film projects it funded were contractually required to have a health and safety policy which all cast and crew were required to act in accordance with.
“NZFC became aware of this situation when [the Herald] contacted us,” the spokesperson said.
“As a result, we have been in contact with the production. We take this matter very seriously and are working closely with producers to understand the situation and ensure the wellbeing of the cast and crew.”
In March, the Weekend Herald reported on the enduring toll on one of McCormack’s two victims, Eve Ainscow, after a six-month process to have her name suppression lifted following the court case.
Ainscow is not the woman now employed alongside McCormack on The Convert movie set but has spoken about being blacklisted from the film industry and banished from the job that she “loved” after speaking out against her sexual abuser.
Ainscow was indecently assaulted by McCormack during the filming of Spartacus in New Zealand in 2013.
McCormack’s other victim — now employed on The Convert — was working for him on a production being filmed in Queenstown when she was groped repeatedly in front of other crew during a wrap party around a decade ago and left the room to get away from McCormack. He then tried to get into the woman’s hotel room that night.
Ainscow told the Weekend Herald she was sadly not surprised he had been openly employed again within the New Zealand film industry despite the past offending that was publicly exposed.
“I’m disgusted that that production company is allowing that. It’s the industry who’s allowing this. It makes me quite angry that I went through this massive journey and nothing at all changed.”