Film-makers call for Govt help

Press, 30 August 1977, Page 2

Film-makers call for Govt help

PA' ~ Wellington Film-makers want an official interim committee to be set up before the end of this year to help them through an “emergency.” A meeting of more than 50 film producers, directors, script-writers and distributors in Wellington at the week-end originally considered pressing for a full film commission and financial support for the film industry this year. But it decided this was impractical, though it still called for the introduction of permanent machinery as soon as possible next year. One director, Mr Tony Williams, said that Australia) companies had offered to finance a package of telemovies with him, and only equivalent finance in New

Zealand would keep him in this country. The chairman of the Film Licensing Authority (Mr Bill Sheat) said there had been a burst of activity in New Zealand films this year. “Off the Edge,” a film about hang-gliding in the Southern Alps, was in its seventh week in Auckland, “Sleeping Dogs” would open in September, and Tony Williams’s “Solo” in February. “What worries me is that there will be a gap now when nothing will be made,” Mr Sheat said. “It would be disastrous if our proven film-makers were forced to pursue their craft in another country. Something must hippen in the next few months to get us through this period.” Mr Williams emphasised

that, apart from financial reasons, a commission was needed to control the industry. Many inexperienced people were trying to raise finance for New Zealand films, and if these flopped the industry would be set back 50 years. A film commission, staffed

by experienced people, could judge which films were worthy of financial backing. As in Australia, the fact that a commission believed a film to be worth while, would give business the confidence to invest in it, too, Mr Williams said.

The Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs (Mr Comber) said that his Minister, Mr Highet, would meet the Ministers of Trade and Industry, Broadcasting and Publicity this week to discuss the seminar's ideas.

He did not like a suggestion of a cinema ticket tax to finance the proposed commission because in the past specific taxes, such as the petrol tax for roads and the social security tax, had been found to tie Government’s hand too much.

Mr Comber emphasised that the Government did not want to help set up an “art film industry.” “Essentially, the New Zealand film industry will be an aspect of the entertainment industry. It will be in the commercial business of making money," he said.