Annie Murphy: NZ Film Commission CEO responds to James Cameron's calls to revisit the film rebate scheme

The Film Commission says bringing more film projects to New Zealand isn't as simple as hiking subsidies. 

Oscar-winning director James Cameron released his third instalment of the Avatar franchise over the weekend. 

However, Cameron says it may well be his last due to industry belt-tightening. 

He's called for the Government to revisit the rebate scheme. 

CEO of the Film Commission, Annie Murray says production opportunity isn't just about money. 

"Yes, they're looking for the best for their bottom line, but they're also looking, first and foremost, for a creative fit. And they're certainly finding that here."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Oscar winning director James Cameron says New Zealand needs to
get serious about attracting overseas film productions because the subsidies
aren't big enough. They reckon. Earlier this year, you'll know
we changed it the film rebate scheme, allowing more productions
to claim back up to twenty five percent of what
they spend here, Cameron says, still not enough.

Speaker 2 (00:18):
I think that the little incremental change to the rebate
scheme recently is it's an effort in the right direction,
but it's far from sufficient to do that.

Speaker 1 (00:29):
And he marries with us from the Film Commission Chief
Executive good evening, Good evening, Annie Sure to Ryan, Now,
is so twenty five to twenty five percent? How does
that compare with the rest of the world.

Speaker 3 (00:41):
Well, we're still sitting around about the middle of the pack,
which we have been for more than ten years, and
we have built an industry on that. It's not all
about that headline rate. There's so much more that New
Zealand brings to the table. That is the reason that
we've attracted such enormous production to New Zealand over all

(01:01):
this time. I have to say, though, that Jim Cameron
is right there are some territories in most noticeably Australia,
which is a lot more competitive than us. They went
from a sixteen percent rebate to thirty so they nearly doubled,
and then you can add state rebates on top of that.
So they are very very busy. And I think what

(01:23):
our industry is feeling is the comparison between us and there.

Speaker 1 (01:27):
And that's see. The problem is because all they've got
is dirt. I mean, and they read dirt and then
they've got a bigger subsidy. So I mean, we are
clearly the more beautiful country. If we up the subsidy,
we'd get more films, wouldn't we.

Speaker 3 (01:39):
Well it's not quite as simple as that. Yes, there
would be some more films, absolutely, But what they're coming
for too is our world class people who are very
very experienced at delivering at scale and at very very
high tech and also just being fantastic people to work with.
You'll see every interview that is done with those Hollywood producers,

(02:01):
they say that they love coming here, they love working
with New Zealanders. Yes, they are looking for the best
for their bottom line, but they're also looking first and
foremost for a creative fit. And they're certainly finding that here.

Speaker 1 (02:14):
Any is the risk that though, that if we don't
up the subsidies, that that talent is taken out from
underneath us by the Aussies.

Speaker 3 (02:22):
There's always that risk. And what we have done is
up to the subsidies about six weeks ago, so we
have yet to see the results of that.

Speaker 1 (02:30):
Not enough for Gym, not enough for well.

Speaker 3 (02:33):
You know, Gym's at the top end of town. He's
making the most expensive film in the world, and you
know he is the first to admit to that. So
that is a very challenged business model. We've got to
be realistic about that. You know, when you're making very
high budget films, you've got to bring in a massive
audience worldwide to make the revenue to justify that. So

(02:53):
you know, there is pressure on that model. There's no
denying that streamers have made an enormous difference to the
cinema attendance. We all know that everybody's happy to sit
at home and watch movies on the Telly rather than
go to the movies. So you know, things have to
change and.

Speaker 1 (03:11):
A whole new world. And I really appreciate you coming
on the show tonight. Thank you, Annie. Murray Film Commission
Chief Executive. For more from Heather Duplessy, Allen Drive, Listen
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