The glitz, the glamour, the amalgam
As part of my pre-travel preparedness I decided to get a check up from the dentist. And probably well overdue, since the last time I had a check was in 2003.
Normally, this would be an opportunity to have a whine about how much it costs to see the dentist (and for the record, it was just under $400 for a check up, touch up of a filling and some work from the hygienist). But something other than the wallet-lightening really got my attention.
This particular dentist offers discounts for some groups, such as students and senior citizens. Nothing strange about that. But they also offer a discount for people who work at Weta Workshops. Huh? In case you don’t know, Weta is the special effects studio that does work for movies like the Lord of the Rings and Avatar. And apparently everyone in New Zealand is falling over themselves to suck up to these people.
Don’t get me wrong, this is a world-class facility, and they do amazing work. But what is so great about the movie industry that means they get all this special treatment? In case you don’t know, the NZ government gave a $45 million rebate to the makers of Avatar (which has now made more than $2 billion). These breaks are only available to movie-makers, and over the last few years we've paid out almost $200 million to movie makers. If you’re in the business of, say, researching a new cancer vaccine then you’re shit out of luck. Try working with movie stars next time, poindexter!
Now, the theory goes that these grants encourage more film making, tourism and so forth, and therefore makes a lot more money for the country, in the long term, than the grant itself. While some of this may be true, although I can’t see how Avatar would encourage tourism to New Zealand, it doesn’t justify why one industry gets special treatment over others.
The industry representative defending the scheme even says that Avatar had come to New Zealand "purely for the technological filmmaking knowledge built up here”. You know, it sounds like it’s not the rebate at all, but the quality of the work that secures Weta’s role in the industry.
Meanwhile, Fox Studios gets a $45m bonus and the staff at Weta get cheap dental work. Too bad I’m in the decidedly un-sexy public sector and have to pay full price for a polish.
Normally, this would be an opportunity to have a whine about how much it costs to see the dentist (and for the record, it was just under $400 for a check up, touch up of a filling and some work from the hygienist). But something other than the wallet-lightening really got my attention.
This particular dentist offers discounts for some groups, such as students and senior citizens. Nothing strange about that. But they also offer a discount for people who work at Weta Workshops. Huh? In case you don’t know, Weta is the special effects studio that does work for movies like the Lord of the Rings and Avatar. And apparently everyone in New Zealand is falling over themselves to suck up to these people.
Don’t get me wrong, this is a world-class facility, and they do amazing work. But what is so great about the movie industry that means they get all this special treatment? In case you don’t know, the NZ government gave a $45 million rebate to the makers of Avatar (which has now made more than $2 billion). These breaks are only available to movie-makers, and over the last few years we've paid out almost $200 million to movie makers. If you’re in the business of, say, researching a new cancer vaccine then you’re shit out of luck. Try working with movie stars next time, poindexter!
Now, the theory goes that these grants encourage more film making, tourism and so forth, and therefore makes a lot more money for the country, in the long term, than the grant itself. While some of this may be true, although I can’t see how Avatar would encourage tourism to New Zealand, it doesn’t justify why one industry gets special treatment over others.
The industry representative defending the scheme even says that Avatar had come to New Zealand "purely for the technological filmmaking knowledge built up here”. You know, it sounds like it’s not the rebate at all, but the quality of the work that secures Weta’s role in the industry.
Meanwhile, Fox Studios gets a $45m bonus and the staff at Weta get cheap dental work. Too bad I’m in the decidedly un-sexy public sector and have to pay full price for a polish.
posted by Richard @ 3:02 PM
1 Comments:
It seems that NZ Government (both the previous Labor Govt and now National) will only give grants to companies/industries where real competition (that the money goes to other countries) exists. That or its something to do with agriculture.
For example - you do some tech R+D in NZ (creating jobs, IPR etc). Do you get any direct financial help? Not really. If you are unprofitable you can do some stuff with tax credits when you finally get profitable.
Present a credible threat that your company is going to move R+D to Singapore (Singapore gives large R+D credits) ... and now you might get somewhere.
I suppose making films in NZ is more competitive so the Govt sees more reason to need to chip in.
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