Film NZ needs more money to lure productions down under

By DITA DE BONI

A plan to enhance the ability of New Zealand to attract Hollywood blockbusters and other film projects to shoot in this country has drawn a mixed reaction from local industry figures.

The plan, set out in a report commissioned by Investment New Zealand, the Film Commission and the Film Unit, recommends a budgeting boost for Film NZ, the office that markets "studio New Zealand" to the world's filmmakers.

The report says Film NZ needs an urgent funding injection to attract new productions here as other major works such as Lord of the Rings and Xena leave, possibly taking skilled workers with them.

But others say Film NZ needs to focus on providing practical help to productions that decide to come to New Zealand and should not bother pumping money into attracting work that generally goes to other countries anyway.

The strategic review findings centre on the fact that the US "runaway" film industry - American filmed entertainment shot outside the US - is worth around $US10 billion ($24 billion) each year.

The bulk of that is used for US productions shot in Canadian cities, which look and feel like most American cities where many stories are set, but cost considerably less to shoot in.

But other countries, including Australia, pour money into setting up "commissions" around the world to entice producers and directors to consider basing projects outside North America.

Film NZ, by comparison, employs one staff member based in Wellington and runs on a budget of $200,000, funded in part by Trade NZ and the Film Commission and with the assistance of the Screen Producers and Directors Association (SPADA).

Despite a skeletal Film NZ office, the past eight years have been a boon for the 14,000-plus local film production industry. Last year, production financing totalled $497 million, $343 million of that from foreign sources.

Foreign financing of films shot in New Zealand increased by nearly 900 per cent between 1994 and last year, thanks mainly to projects such as Xena and Hercules, the Rings trilogy and snow-bound action movie Vertical Limit.

But Investment New Zealand manager for film Paul Voigt says there's a big threat of the infrastructure that has built up with the Rings and Xena productions being "gutted" as they wrap.

"The crews on these shows, who have become highly skilled over the course of these productions, are highly mobile and can easily dissipate to other parts of the world if we don't do anything," he says.

The Rings shoot, the largest film yet made, costing more than $US420 million, has attracted the attention of the world's filmmakers and financiers to NZ, says Mr Voigt.

"This country is an excellent choice for foreign productions for several reasons, including our exchange rate, a highly competitive labour force and a remarkable array of environments and locations - urban and rural, snowy cap and desert, tropical beaches through to deep fiords, all encased in a small bottle."

The strategic review recommends that Film NZ secure $1.5 million in funding from the Government and industry sources, boost its staff to at least three, and implement a new marketing plan.

An interim advisory group - made up of film industry practitioners as well as funders - met this week to kick start the recommendations, and Government officials are due to report back within three months.

But one leading industry figure who was not included in the advisory group says he is sceptical of some assumptions encased in the review.

John Barnett, head of South Pacific Pictures, maker of Shortland Street and the country's largest producer of film and TV works, says Film NZ would be wrong to focus on marketing New Zealand as a great location shoot.

He believes other factors are far more influential in bringing foreign production here.

"It is a complete misbelief that a lot of projects are suitable for shooting in New Zealand. Yes, we have managed to attract some large shoots such as Rings, Vertical Limit and Hercules, for example, but all of those had New Zealanders in [key decision-making positions] - Kiwi directors and in some cases, producers.

"There will not be a never-ending supply of 'swords and sandals' shows that can be shot here. Large projects come here because of key figures who are trusted by large studios, the rest is growing grass for cows."

Mr Barnett says Film NZ should concentrate on building an infrastructure that can properly service filmed projects that do come here, as well as building technological capability which can be used in large film projects by remote.

"The knowledge economy does not mean carrying lights for American directors. Film NZ should work to encourage an infrastructure of skilled production and post-production people."

The president of the NZ Film and Video Technicians Guild, David Madigan, says Mr Barnett is correct to a point but that across the ditch Australia is successfully pitching for and retaining projects which are keeping the industry work consistently, something which is urgently needed here as well.

"For the past three years Film NZ has been chronically underfunded - it's been a joke as far as keeping us internationally competitive. Every year we fall further behind and will continue to do so unless we address the critical issues."