Disney puts NZ films on wish-list

By KARYN SCHERER

International media giant Disney is on the lookout for New Zealand-made films to boost its film and video distribution business.

During a visit to New Zealand this week, the Burbank-based president of Buena Vista International, Mark Zoradi, conceded that the company's distribution arm had not traditionally sought movies made here.

The company, which distributes all Disney films outside North America, was now striving to give its local managers more autonomy, he said.

The move comes as Hollywood studios are grappling with the rising cost of making and marketing successful movies, and are increasingly desperate for fresh ideas.

The studios remained optimistic about film's international pulling power despite intense competition for the entertainment dollar, said Mr Zoradi.

In New Zealand, the lowering of the drinking age was one factor which might be expected to reduce movie admissions, he noted. However, Disney remained pleased with its business here.

While attendances were down by about 5 per cent over the first half of the year, they were expected to rise in the second half of the year.

Increasing concern over piracy and a move towards global marketing are gradually forcing the studios to synchronise the release of more high-profile offerings - a move which Mr Zoradi confirmed would see more timely releases in this part of the world.

Both Dinosaur and Gone In 60 Seconds were released in New Zealand only a few weeks after United States audiences saw them, and the studios were now planning worldwide releases within a month or two of their US release, he said.

While the company is optimistic about a swag of movies it plans to release before the end of the year - including Shanghai Noon, Coyote Ugly, 102 Dalmatians, The Kid and Unbreakable - it is Disney's most expensive movie ever that has Mr Zoradi really excited.

Pearl Harbour is being filmed on location in Hawaii for what is estimated to be at least $300 million. It is due to hit New Zealand screens next June - just a couple of weeks after its American debut.

During his two-day visit, Mr Zoradi visited Auckland's Force Entertainment Centre, which he considered "as good a movie complex as any in the world."

But he also took a swipe at Village Force's decision to merge with its main rival, Hoyts - a move that now looks likely to be unravelled following threats of legal action from the Commerce Commission.

He was unaware of anywhere else in the world where a single player had such dominance in the market.

"Obviously we do business with both companies in various parts of the world and both are good operators.

"However, I don't think it's in the public's best interest or in the distributors' best interest to have a dominant player with 80 to 85 per cent market share."

He also defended Buena Vista International's decision not to screen the Imax version of Fantasia 2000 in New Zealand. The film is the fastest-grossing Imax film ever.

The Auckland cinema refused to screen the movie at all its sessions for a certain period, so New Zealand audiences will now get to see only the 35mm version.

His explanation? "We were able to negotiate that in 75 theatres around the world so it was hard to start makinge exceptions."