NZFC review: SPADA response

SPADA (the Screen Production and Development Association of New Zealand) is enthusiastic about the very considered Government Review of the New Zealand Film Commission released today by Sir Peter Jackson and David Court.
 
“We like the unreserved yes to the existence of the New Zealand Film Commission and the recognition of the pivotal role the Commission has played in the development of the New Zealand film industry,” says SPADA Chief Executive, Penelope Borland.
 
“The Review has been written in the spirit of constructive change and some of the recommendations have already been implemented by the NZFC such as changes to the decision making process so that staff greenlight projects rather than the board who have a policy and strategy role,” says SPADA CEO, Penelope Borland. This is partially a function of the time lag from commissioning of the report to its delivery. 
 
“The Review outlines the difficulty of the mandate for the NZFC in supporting the whole industry and SPADA agrees with the reviewers that it’s essential to have a long term game plan and every dollar spent and decision made should be aimed at achieving some aspect of it,” says Ms Borland.
 
SPADA is supportive of the overall direction of the Review with regard to the Commission’s role in spotting and investing in filmmaking talent and retaining that talent in New Zealand.
 
“As an organisation representing production companies and producers, we are very positive about the suggestions for incentivising filmmakers such as creating a box office incentive fund to reward success, a distribution fund to embolden distributors in their engagement with New Zealand films and connect them with audiences, and the recommendation that the NZFC should move further to a full equity partnership to a 50/50 recoupment split with production companies.
 
The proposal that the NZFC’s equity share in films reverts to the producer five years after delivery of the film will be welcomed by producers, says SPADA and many producers will agree with the observations on a potential shift in the Commission’s sales agency role to work with producers in securing the most appropriate sales agent for their film. 
 
“Overall the NZFC has already started to move towards information sharing and working in partnership with the industry and so the practical suggestions made by Sir Peter Jackson and David Court that build on that move towards partnership are very welcome,” says Ms Borland.