Aussies take the lion's share of Paravel

By John Drinnan

Friday 12th March 2004

Australian film crews are working at bargain basement rates to cash in on Hollywood interest in this side of the Tasman. And taxpayers will end up subsidising their pay.

There is growing dissatisfaction in the local film industry that the top jobs on the $150 million The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe adaptation have gone to Australians.

Politicians have latched on to the movie, directed by expatriate New Zealander Andrew Adamson, saying that it proves the worth of its new film incentives. Called Paravel, the CS Lewis adaptation is in pre-production. Its base is the former Hobsonville air force buildings in west Auckland.

A senior film professional who approached The National Business Review said the Disney-backed Walden Media project had hired an Australian production designer to run the art department.

"A huge portion of the art department and other head of department positions are being filled by Australians. The jobs at the bottom end of the food chain are being offered to New Zealanders at much lower rates and they have been told that if they don't take them they will be offered to other Australians."

There is a lot of Australian interest because its film and TV industry is going through the doldrums many people are out of work.

The Technicians Guild confirmed there had been discussions about the level of New Zealand crew on the project, which would normally be about 90%. A spokesman, Dave Madigan, said the production company had been co-operating closely with the guild.

Approaches to New Zealand unit producer for the project, Tim Coddington, were all referred to the production offices of Walden Media in Los Angeles.

Local film-makers' gripes are to be expected and on international productions there is nothing to stop a Hollywood or foreign-based producer from importing all the key personnel.

One of the attractions of filming in New Zealand is the low cost.

But film-makers often operate through close and enduring relationships. Under the Large Budget Grants scheme projects over $50 million are automatically eligible for a 12.5% rebate. In the case of Paravel that might net the American producers $19 million. NBR inquiries have revealed that even if the crew or the contractors are from offshore the project would still be eligible for a 12.5% rebate on its productions spend.

Films budgeted at $15-$50 million have to spend at least 70% of their budgets in New Zealand.

But so long as local crew are paid in New Zealand and pay local tax, foreign crew are counted as local even if they send most of their money out of the country.

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