Actor urges tax incentives to boost N.Z. films

Press, 26 February 1981, Page 17

Actor urges tax incentives to boost N.Z. films

Jack Thompson, the Australian actor who is in Hokitika at present playing the part of Stanley Graham in “Bad Blood,” hopes that New Zealand will follow the example of his country in developing its growing film industry. Thompson, who has appeared in 14 films since 1969, said that the Australian Government recently announced new tax incentives for the industry which were bound to further boost production. •The incentives would allow 150 per cent of capital expenditure in a new Australian film to be written off in the first 12 months, and a 50 per cent rebate if the film made a profit. “This meant that investors In any film that goes into profit will be eligible for a tax write-off of 200 per cent,” Thompson said. “New Zealand should follow this lead of the Australian tax incentive, and then the two countries would be able to work together and share their resources and talents.

“With this kind of cross pollination, we would be able to take advantage of each other for our common good. “But the first move is for the New Zealand Treasury to institute the same kind of tax concessions as available in Australia. “These carefully worded concessions are specific to the film industry, ,and will provide employment, a financial interest and a sense of national pride and self confidence. “This kind of incentive would act as a shot in the • arm for New Zealand, just as it has in Australia.” With his 1940 s short back and. sides haircut, Thompson looks quite different to his image in the Claytons commercial and his earlier film, and on the set he exudes the feeling of a highly strung, somewhat dangerous character. However, during a quiet interview back in Hokitika, he comes across as a relaxed, easy-going fellow. . Like most of the other actors, he remarks on the pleasant atmosphere on the set.

“This film and my previous one, ‘Breaker Morant,” are the only two on which I have ever worked where the feeling was so good,” Thompson said. “And in both cases it was the result of good production,, with the director and producer working closely together. “We have got a lot of higlily skilled people here and ’everything is running smoothly. Tt is very exciting when everything clicks because, otherwise, it does show on the film.” Thompson’s first role was in “Outback” and, since then, he has been seen in “Petersen,” “Sunday Too Far Away,” “Mad Dog Morgan.” “Because He’s My Friend” and “The Journalist.” In 1979, he starred with William Holden and Ricky Schroder in “The Earthling,” and with Edward Woodward in the . internationally acclaimed’ “Breaker Morant,” directed by Bruce Beresford, for which he won the Best Supporting Actor award at

last year’s Cannes Film Festival. “Breaker Morant” is due in Christchurch next month. Another film, “The Club,”, opened recently in Australia to enthusiastic reviews; and “Bad Blood” is his first film role outside his native land. On his return to Australia,. Thompson will start work on “The Man from Snowy River,” with himself as Clancy of the Overflow and Kirk Douglas as Patterson. “It is very exciting and important to work with people of his stature” he said, “It’s like playing tennis wife the top champions.” | The part of Dorothv Graham in “Bad Blood” is played by Carol Burns, another Australian with a vast range of theatre experience in both Australia and Great Britain. For her television work,' Miss Burns has won Logie and Penguin awards for her . performances in “Prisoner.” She had a leading role in “The Mango Tree,” and “Bad Blood” is her first feature starring role. .