Screen production industry told to “go global”
11 March 2003
Screen production industry told to “go global”
The time has never been better for the New Zealand Screen Production Industry to go global, said Julie Christie, chair of the Screen Production Industry Taskforce, at today’s launch of the Taskforce’s report, “Taking on the world”.
“Our report has laid the foundations for breaking the cycle of dependence on Government funding and for a more focused and collaborative approach to lifting the economic growth of the New Zealand Screen Production Industry.
“This growth must be market led and based on entrepreneurship, independence and innovation. Private investment and the international market place are the only real sources of substantial increases in income.
“The Taskforce believes that reliance on public funding is constraining our industry, both financially and culturally. “
Mrs Christie said that the Taskforce members, by agreeing to take part, had all bought into the idea of a more focused and collaborative approach to the growth of the Screen Production Industry that did not involve increasing dependence on government funding.
For the past 10 months, the Taskforce which includes representatives of businesses from the feature films, television, commercials and post-production sectors has been working together to produce a growth strategy for the Screen Production Industry.
The Taskforce’s appointment by the Government arises from a change in Government thinking regarding the Screen Production Industry – it now considers the industry to be an economic force in its own right.
The Taskforce was charged with addressing key issues that impede commercial growth, setting goals and devising a growth strategy for the industry, all with a focus on increasing foreign exchange earnings.
Mrs Christie said the Taskforce was seeking
industry support for the growth targets contained in the
report, as well as its growth strategy. It had already
consulted with members of the industry while preparing the
report.
Members of the Screen Production Industry, and
other interested parties, are invited to respond to the
report by April 22. Responses will be collated by Industry
New Zealand for the taskforce and the Government.
The
report was formally presented to the Government at today’s
launch.
The Taskforce envisages a Screen Production
Industry with sustainable annual foreign exchange earnings
doubling to $400 million within five years and an
environment in which at least 10 companies achieve annual
turnover of more than $50 million and another 20 achieving
$10 million.
The Taskforce’s key recommendations are:
-
The establishment of a Screen Council to provide advice to
Government; a leadership voice for the industry; and to
oversee the implementation of the strategies outlined in the
Report
- A review of the relevant legislation and roles
of industry players and government agencies in the
exploitation of intellectual property rights in
productions
- An investigation into the removal of the
right to recoupment on investment in Ministry for Culture
and Heritage-funded projects with primarily a cultural
imperative
- The introduction of incentives to stimulate
and encourage private investment in our industry
- That
foreign productions are required to use and develop New
Zealand’s capability and infrastructure as a pre-requisite
for any future government incentives
- The creation of a
clear, stable and responsive taxation regime
- The
formation of a Screenmark Federation to oversee industry
training and upskilling.
More information on the
taskforce, and copies of the taskforce report, can be
downloaded from the industry taskforces website –
www.industrytaskforces.govt.nz
The Screen Production
Industry Taskforce
Chair Julie Christie, Founder,
Touchdown Television
Members John Barnett, Managing
Director, South Pacific Pictures
Grant Bradley, Founder,
Daybreak Pacific
Geoff Dixon, Founder,
Silverscreen/Oktobor
Ian Fraser, CEO, TVNZ
Rick
Friesen, Managing Director, TV3
Nigel Hutchinson,
Founder, Motion Pictures
Robin Laing, Co-Founder,
Preston Laing Production
Di Rowan, Founder, Diana Rowan
Casting
Don Selwyn, Founder, He Taonga
Films
Jeremy Speight, Director of Finance, Cloud 9
Michael Stedman, Managing Director, Natural History NZ
Ltd
Richard Taylor, Co-Founder, Weta
Sue Thompson,
CEO, The Film Unit Ltd
Taskforce convened by Hon Jim
Anderton, Minister for Industry and Regional
Development