Rules could stifle next blockbuster

By RUSSELL BAILLIE

It's not just tax breaks that international film-makers need to make more major productions in New Zealand, says the American producer of The Lord of the Rings.

The movie's director, Peter Jackson, has bemoaned the Government's closing of a tax loophole that acted as an incentive to the backers of his $650 million trilogy.

Now his producer, Barrie M. Osborne, has cited NZ's labour laws and the Department of Conservation's draft management plan for Mt Cook-Aoraki National Park as possible hindrances to further major productions.

He said the Employment Relations Act did not clearly define the difference between independent contractors and employed staff. Film productions needed to be able to terminate contractors who just weren't working out with minimum notice. If they were regarded as employees to be fired, that made it difficult.

"Most of the local industry and most of the local crew want to remain independent contractors because for them it's a big economic hit if they do otherwise.

"You have to clarify the right to terminate employment or contract with minimal notice, ie a week's notice. A film is made for limited length of time. It's imperative that you get along and try to build a team.

"You may have a great assistant director but that assistant director might not have the personality to work with Peter Jackson.

"You might have a great editor but that editor might not have the personality.

"You don't discover that until you start working. You need that flexibility. It's really important to maintain that and I think it's important to clarify that in the laws here."

In respect of the DoC draft plan, that proposes limits on the commercial filming of our highest mountain, Mr Osborne said that although indications were that the Government was backing off, the idea was "anti-film".

"Here you have this great film which shows up in New Zealand and you've got DoC - who have by the way been extremely helpful making the movie and really helpful to us - with a draft plan that basically says you can't film in parks, and that's a mistake.

"You need to protect the environment and you need measures to do that.

"But I think you need to do that in a sensible fashion."