James Cameron Thinks Welly’s Film Sector is in a Slump

Fergus Goodall Smith (he/him)

Last Wednesday, James ‘Jim’ Cameron, director of Avatar and Titanic, took to the stage at the Michael Fowler Centre to let everyone what Wellington needs to do to become a world class city. Cameron claims to be a Wellingtonian, and highly aware of the city’s needs. That being said, he mainly resides on a massive enviro-farm in the Wairarapa, popping into his more central Roseneath property when necessary. 

The event was organised by Vision for Wellington, a group of powerful Wellingtonians who aren’t happy with the current direction of the council. They say council decision making is ideology-fuelled, that the cities leadership is drifting, and their exorbitant spending habits need to be reined in. 

The panel covered a range of topics. Headlines stirred mainly when James mentioned the lack of carparks in the city, or a brief throwaway line about cycle lanes being annoying, but what was most important was the discussion about Wellingtons film sector, or according to Jim, lack thereof. 

Cameron listed a few ways he thinks the industry could improve on its current path. More government subsidies and more film courses at universities. As the panel was all about making Wellington in a better city, we can assume Cameron is pointing the finger at Victoria’s film faculty. 

Mayor Tory Whanau told Salient that she disagrees with Vision for Wellington’s assessment of the council’s direction and performance, but that she’d love to work with James on a forum specific to the screen industry. 

In an interview following the panel with Paddy Gower, Cameron listed several more reasons why Wellywood is in an apparent slump. One; there is a lack of vigour here in Te Whanganui a Tara, and two; Wellingtonians have forgotten how good they are at making movies. 

Speaking to Salient, Tanya Black, Manager of Screen Wellington, argued that Wellingtons screen industry is thriving, and punching well above its weight. Black points to the ‘creative tech’ sub industry that exists in Wellington, made up of ex-Wētā employees who have founded their own VFX, animation, and game development studios. These are all world-class firms concentrated into one, reasonably small city. 

Tanya also highlighted Wellingtons status as a UNESCO Creative City of Film, and the unique opportunities this allows. Some of these include screen industry internships for underrepresented communities, workshops between tertiary students and visiting international directors, and the Māoriland Film Festival in Ōtaki, the world’s largest indigenous film festival.

Black also presented statistics showing screen workers in the Wellington region are earning up to 30% more than those in other film centres in Aotearoa according to MBIE data. Wellingtons film sector also makes up 40% of the industries national GDP, equal to $1.2 billion dollars. 

‘We don’t have Jason Mamoa or Brad Pitt, but we do have the future of filmmaking’ says Black. 

Salient also reached out to Sarah Ross, head of film at VUW, regarding Cameron’s claim that more courses were needed at university. Salient asked Ross if the school was growing or shrinking. ‘We’re delighted that the film programme is growing,’ said Ross. ‘It has been one of the most successful majors in the faculty’. 

Ross told Salient that the film major was at max capacity last year, and mentioned the universities Miramar Creative Centre, which was named in the top 15 film schools of the world by the Hollywood Reporter last year. 

So, it seems that Wellington’s film industry is actually doing quite well, contradictory to Cameron’s assertions, and the film school here at Te Herenga Waka is going rather nicely. Of course, Jim’s investment in the region is appreciated, but Wellingtonians don’t seem to have forgotten their talent for cinema.