Media Fact Sheet
Screen Council
The Screen Council will provide a leadership voice for the industry, oversee the implementation of the recommendations
of the Screen Production Taskforce and provide ongoing advice to Ministers on ways to grow the sector.
Description
- Stand-alone industry organisation managed under an appropriate structure such as a Trust.
- Government funding for two years, thereafter funded from industry sources.
- Membership to be approved by the Ministers for Economic Development, Arts, Culture and Heritage, Broadcasting and
Mâori Affairs.
- Membership drawn from industry practitioners, providing the Council with expertise in: relationship building and
networking; leadership and building effective cooperation within the sector; strategy development; wide representation
of industry practice including, but not limited to production; post production; domestic and international marketing;
production financing; training and education
Issue/s Addressed
Mobilise industry ownership of and support for growth targets identified in the SPT report; and
Oversee the implementation of other SPT report recommendations relating to film financing, taxation, broadband and
industry training and education.
Agencies Involved
Ministry of Economic Development
Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Te Puni Kokiri
NZ Trade and Enterprise
Timeline
Commence in 2003/04.
Total Cost (over 2 years)
$0.9 million
Screen Production Industry Survey
Description
A detailed survey of the screen production sector to provide an understanding, in economic and human terms, of the size,
value and contribution to the New Zealand economy of this sector.
Recent studies of the sector have noted the severe limitations of existing data and the high costs of collecting primary
data about the screen industry in particular and the creative sector generally. Statistics NZ will undertake a
four-stage process to ensure that reliable and consistent statistics for the industry are collected. The first stage
will involve clarifying the range of questions to be answered and the set of statistics to be produced. An investigatory
stage will draw on existing data sources to develop preliminary statistics for the screen production industry. This will
identify gaps requiring development of supplementary surveys. The final stages will include implementation of the new
surveys and compilation of comprehensive and robust estimates of the size and contribution of the screen production
sector.
Issue/s Addressed
Gap in current statistical information.
Builds on knowledge gained in NZ Institute of Economic Research report to Industry New Zealand, March 2002.
Agencies Involved
Statistics New Zealand
NZ Trade and Enterprise
Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Timeline
2003/04 - development
2004/05 - development and some sub sector data collection
2005/06 - undertake first annual data collection
Total Cost (over 4 years)
$0.872 million
Film NZ
Description
Funding to support Film NZ to:
- continue to promote New Zealand as a location for overseas investment in film production;
- undertake the development and implementation of a marketing plan for the screen production sector;
- co-ordinate with regional film offices in undertaking this activity; and
- improve Film NZ’s responsiveness to overseas enquiries resulting from the large-budget screen production grant.
FilmNZ will be subject to the review of support mechanisms for screen production being led by the Ministry for Culture
and Heritage.
Issues to Be Addressed
Capability issues and short term funding problems for Film NZ.
Agencies Involved
Ministry of Economic Development
NZ Trade and Enterprise
New Zealand Film Commission
Timeline
2003/04 – $480,000
2004/05 – $480,000
Total Cost (over 2 years)
$0.960 million
Education and Training
Description
The Taskforce recommends changes to support the quality of tertiary education provision as it relates to the screen
production industry. Final details depend on the formation of the Screen Council but the initial response from
government agencies is that:
- Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) will work with the Screen Council to further develop the concept of an industry
Screenmark Federation to provide better connections between industry and tertiary education providers. The Screenmark
Federation could potentially provide a ‘qualmark-type’ standard for industry training.
- TEC will work with the sector to outline options to ensure that business skills become an integral part of tertiary
courses related to the industry .
- TEC will work with the Screenmark Federation to ensure full consideration is given to the interests of the screen
production industry in implementing the Tertiary Education Strategy (TES).
- TEC will work with the Screenmark Federation to develop ways of adapting the Modern Apprenticeship Scheme. Or
developing an alternative scheme tailored to the creative sector.
- NZ Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and TEC will work with the Screen Council on the introduction of initiatives to upskill
existing practitioners, particularly in special business training courses with an emphasis on a global perspective. NZTE
already funds a range of training courses for upskilling business people and is prepared to consider courses for
specific industries.
Agencies Involved
Ministry of Education
Department of Labour
Tertiary Education Commission
NZ Trade and Enterprise
Total Cost
Cabinet has already approved funding to support a number of these activities from the GIF contingency fund. These are
for TEC/TES related activities that are cross-sectoral. Specific funding for the screen production sector will be sought
from the GIF Sector Project Fund, once the Screen Council is established.
Review of Government Mechanisms for Supporting Screen Production
Description
A review of whether government’s existing funding arrangements continue to be appropriate and effective, and the scope
for enhancing these arrangements so they more effectively meet government’s objectives and the aspirations of the
sector.
Scope and Focus
- focuses on the roles and functions of the NZ Film Commission, the Film Production Fund, NZ On Air, and Te Mângai Pâho,
as the current core central government funding agencies for screen production activities;
- takes account of other government interventions in the screen production sector, including support for Film NZ and the
work of economic development agencies such as NZTE (including Investment New Zealand);
- aligns with the government’s programme of work in developing a broadcasting strategy and with the Mâori Broadcasting
Strategy.
The review team may recommend new policy, funding and institutional arrangements.
As a consequence of this Review it may be necessary to consider changes to the delivery of other functions of those
existing agencies.
Issues to Be Addressed
Concerns expressed by screen production industry practitioners about the nature and scope of government intervention in
the screen production sector.
Agencies Involved
Ministry for Culture and Heritage (lead), Te Puni Kokiri, Treasury, States Services Commission, Ministry of Economic
Development in consultation with other agencies as required.
TIMELINE
2003/04 – Review period
2004/05 – Development of policy and legislation
Total Cost (over 2 years)
$0.500 million
Contact:
Large Budget Screen Production Grant
Description
- The grant scheme is effective from 1 July 2003. It was developed to provide an additional financial incentive for the
production of both foreign and domestic large budget film and television projects in New Zealand. In establishing the
grant, the Government recognised the economic, employment and skills development opportunities large budget productions
contribute to New Zealand and to New Zealanders working in the screen industry.
- The LBSPG applies to screen productions that spend a minimum of $15 million on the production of the film or
television project;
- Where a project’s qualifying production expenditure is between $15 – 50 million, the project will be required to spend
a minimum of 70 percent of the projects total expenditure in New Zealand;
- Where expenditure is greater than $50 million no such percentage ratio applies.
- Eligible formats include feature films (including those shot direct to video), television movies, television drama
series and mini-series.
Agencies Involved
NZ Film Commission will administer the LBSPG with IRD providing an auditing/verification role.
TIMELINE
The LBSPG is effective from 1 July 2003. It is due for review before June 2006.
Total Cost
$40.000 million per annum appropriation.