Dave Gibson, chief executive of the New Zealand Film Commission. Photo / Dean Purcell
Dave Gibson, chief executive of the New Zealand Film Commission. Photo / Dean Purcell
Veterans lobbied to win support for film and TV.
Over the years, John Barnett and Dave Gibson have fought to get funding for their respective film and TV dramas.
But behind the scenes they have fought together for generous taxpayer and government support for the domestic film industry.
It's taken a long time, but many believe the domestic industry - or at least the industry that attracts foreign companies to use NZ facilities - is about to take off.
Barnett is the former owner of South Pacific Pictures, New Zealand's most successful screen production company outside the Peter Jackson empire.
Two years ago Wellington-based Gibson sold his firm, The Gibson Group, to become chief executive of the Film Commission.
He has since rubbed some industry players up the wrong way, with a focus on TV projects. But he has also won acclaim by bringing swift change to the screen business.
Both men have led the industry during the quarter century since deregulation of the broadcasting market gave a big boost to the independent sector.
This week they were at an Auckland function marking Barnett's departure as chairman of South Pacific Pictures (SPP), which is now ultimately owned by global players Discovery Communications and Liberty Global.
Barnett will continue with his own projects. But his departure from SPP is a milestone for the industry which he helped mould.
At the event, Gibson hailed Barnett's entrepreneurial style, which made him the face of the New Zealand industry at the international film festivals and TV markets where shows are sold and funded.
Behind the scenes the pair have lobbied in tandem and won generous incentives - extending taxpayer funding from the big US film companies to NZ producers and the television sector.
Sir Peter Jackson and Warner Bros secured cash for projects such as The Hobbit, and the Government even changed industrial laws to keep Warner Bros happy.
But Barnett and Gibson have been point men for the rest of the production industry.
Gibson worked closely with the funding institutions and maintained contact with politicians and the bureaucracy. Barnett, meanwhile, is close to international producers.
Auckland v Wgtn
John Barnett will continue with his own projects. But his departure from SPP is a milestone for the industry which he helped mould. Photo / Norrie Montgomery
In the past, Gibson and Barnett have represented the Wellington-Auckland split in the production world, but there are signs that is changing.
The Film Commission was backing a proposal from the Auckland Council's Ateed agency for a new film studio complex at Hobsonville, to attract foreign film and TV producers.
Officially, the project fell over because Ateed could not secure private sector partners, but the land had been set aside for housing and sources said it was politically contentious as well.
But regardless of the project's success so far, many Auckland producers see the commission's interest as a positive sign of its recognition that - for all Jackson's influence - Auckland still dominates the screen industry.
The commission is now backing Ateed efforts to find another site to boost screen industry infrastructure.
Movie memorabilia
Perhaps surprisingly, the Film Commission has said it is not part of a proposal unveiled this week for a "movie museum" attached to a new Wellington convention centre.
A company fronted by former Tourism NZ chief executive George Hickton has taken a 25-year lease on two floors of the three-level building opposite Te Papa, which would house film sets and memorabilia from the Hobbit movies and elsewhere.
Hickton confirmed the venture was more tourist attraction than museum, and would focus on output from Jackson and Weta Workshop, rather than the entire film industry.
On the face of it, the venture makes excellent financial sense.
The terms of the lease with Wellington Council are unclear. At this stage, the project does not appear to involve taxpayer funding, but in my opinion, given Jackson's lobbying power with politicians and his hero status in the capital, it would be surprising if taxpayers do not wind up contributing to the venture.
Putting on the gloss
This column revealed last week that TV3 is likely to pick up 100 per cent taxpayer funding for a new Maori current affairs programme - taking over the mantle of Maori TV's Native Affairs.
This week Maori TV announced it is halving Native Affairs' length to 30 minutes.
It may not have been done on purpose, but in effect Maori TV is making room for TV3 - and its former Native Affairs staff - to take the lead in debating Maori political issues.
Maori TV head of news and current affairs Maramena Roderick said there would be no staff cuts involved in moving to the 30-minute format, and that an external insights team found there was demand for a shorter, sharper show.
Roderick's upbeat response is understandable, as Maori TV tries to repair the damage done to its once prestigious show.
But in my opinion, the attempt to claim victory from the halving of Native Affairs is a case of putting the best gloss on a bad situation.
