Foreign film tariffs ‘absolutely devastating' for industry
A Dunedin-born film-maker says it would be ''absolutely devastating'' to the country's film industry if Donald Trump gets his way.
The United States President announced in a post on his Truth Social platform on Monday he was authorising the Department of Commerce and the country's trade representative to ''immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% tariff on any and all movies coming into our country that are produced in foreign lands''.
''We want movies made in America, again!''
Shares in some US streaming and production companies, including Netflix, fell following the announcement, but the White House later said ''no final decisions'' on foreign film tariffs had been made.
Dunedin-born film-maker Rob Sarkies - director of Scarfies, Out of the Blue and the upcoming drama based on the 2010 tragedy Pike River - said yesterday he was ''very concerned'' by Mr Trump's comments.
''If it came in as it's been proposed, not that the detail is particularly clear, but as I understand it, it would be absolutely devastating for New Zealand and specifically the New Zealand film industry.
''We're talking millions and millions of dollars simply wouldn't come here and a large number of people would be out of work.
''I think companies like Weta, for example, would probably be forced to relocate to survive.''
It would ''simply be unaffordable'' for such companies doing high-end work for big Hollywood productions to get hired unless they relocated aspects of their business to the United States - which he believed was exactly what Mr Trump wanted.
The announcement should be taken seriously and he expected the New Zealand film industry and the government in the interim to lobby against such a policy, but believed Hollywood was likely to push back and the announcement could be back-tracked.
Areas of Otago recently played host to Hollywood actors and crews filming the seven-episode Netflix adaptation of John Steinbeck's 1952 novel East of Eden.
While the source material is mainly set in the Salinas Valley, California, it appeared to have been ''clearly more cost effective'' to use the Otago landscape as a stand-in, Mr Sarkies said.
Because film production in Otago was ''more sporadic'' than in Auckland and Wellington, such a tariff would have relatively less of an effect among regional industries.
''The circus won't come to town as often and that will have an effect, but it won't be as devastating as it will be in the major centres.''
tim.scott@odt.co.nz
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
an hour ago
- NZ Herald
Scots make their feelings about the visiting US President known with humour thrown in
When Trump arrived, if he had glanced at the Scottish newspaper the National, he might have noticed its not-so-subtle front page: 'Convicted US felon to arrive in Scotland'. Hundreds of anti-Trump protesters poured onto the streets of Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Dumfries. Further protests are planned in Aberdeenshire tomorrow. During the rallies, several signs carried messages with unmistakable Scottish flair. One protester, who was playing bagpipes, carried a sign that read: 'Pipe down Donald'. Several people held up signs proclaiming, 'Nae Trump' - a Scots phrase that simply means 'No Trump' - or that referred to Trump as a 'radge', local slang for a wild, crazy or violent person. Several signs spoofed pop culture or paid homage to Scottish icons. Some children were photographed with signs that read, 'Keep orange fizzy, not fascist', with a logo of Irn-Bru, a popular Scottish soft drink. Many referenced the late Scottish comedian Janey Godley, who famously held up an anti-Trump sign with a not-quite-rhyming expletive. 'Janey was right,' read more than one sign. Those blocked from accessing Trump's Turnberry course took their creativity to the coast, where they wrote messages in the sand, including 'Get Trump Out' and 'Free Palestine'. 'We are creative with our protests, but there is really a deeply felt kind of revulsion to the politics of Trump,' said Alena Ivanova, 37, a lead organiser at a rally in Aberdeen, which was co-ordinated by a group called the Stop Trump Coalition. The group advocates on issues such as climate change, migrants' rights, and Palestinian solidarity. More than 1000 protesters gathered outside the US Consulate in Edinburgh to let Trump know he was not welcome. Jack Nevin, who organised the Edinburgh event, said that the nation's thorny relationship with the President was summed up in a sign that said: 'Scotland hated Trump before it was cool'. The Trump organisation has stirred controversy in Scotland over its golf courses for more than a decade, and this weekend's visit rekindled those tensions. Some staples of Trump protests were visible amid the local colour. Some demonstrators waved pictures of Trump with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in prison, and at least one woman wore a Handmaid's Tale costume, which women have donned to protest against Republican positions on abortion and other reproductive issues. Trump was similarly greeted with demonstrations when he came to Scotland during his first term. Then, thousands marched through the streets of Edinburgh and the now-famous 'Trump baby blimp' floated around the city. This past weekend the crowds have been far smaller, and there were no giant inflatables. Trump does have support in parts of Scotland, including in Turnberry on the west coast, where he is seen to have helped the local economy. According to the Scotsman newspaper, Trump was seen blowing kisses to a handful of fans who shouted, 'We love you, Trump'. But other locals, including those in Aberdeenshire, in the east, are bitter over what they say are broken promises and environmental degradation. Activists placed a 'twinned with Epstein island' sign next to the main welcome sign at the course. Overall, Scots remain cool on Trump. An Ipsos survey published in March found that 71% of Scots hold an unfavourable opinion of him. Scotland is a Trump ancestral home. His mother, who married Fred Trump in 1936, was born on the Isle of Lewis. During this trip, the President was expected to open a new golf course in her honour. Even on Lewis, views are mixed. A banner reading 'Shame on you, Donald John' is currently make its away around the island, displayed at homes and private properties. 'Donald John' is a common name on the island, according to the banner's creator, Sarah Grussing. In an email, Grussing explained that the wording was chosen 'as the sort of admonishment a family member would give a child that was not living up to community values'. Asked what the people on Lewis think of Trump, Alasdair Allan, a member of the Scottish Parliament who represents the region, gave a characteristically Scottish reply. 'I can't speak for everyone in Lewis, and there will be a mixture of views here, as everywhere,' Allan said. 'However, I personally suspect that most people here will see in Mr Trump a distinct lack of those characteristics which people in Scotland's islands value particularly highly: modesty, self-deprecation, compassion, a hesitation in which to allow thinking before speaking, neighbourliness, self-awareness and a sense of humour.'
NZ Herald
3 hours ago
- NZ Herald
US farmers fear Trump immigration crackdown threatens food security
'There's a whole food chain involved,' from field workers to truck drivers to people working in packing houses and in sales. 'It's just, everybody's scared,' she said - even a multi-generational American like her. 'I'm nervous and I'm scared, because we're feeling like we're being attacked.' Other farmers contacted by AFP declined to speak to the media, saying they feared potential reprisals from the Trump administration. Worker shortages The agricultural sector has for years been trying to find permanent solutions for its perennial labour shortages, beyond issuing temporary permits for migrant workers. 'Some of the work we have is seasonal,' Tate says. 'But really, around here, we need workers that are year-round.' The number of government-certified positions for temporary agricultural workers practically tripled between 2014 and 2024, Department of Labour statistics show, underlining just how much American agriculture depends on foreign workers. On top of that, some 42% of farm workers are not authorised to work in the United States, according to a 2022 study by the Department of Agriculture. Those numbers line up with the struggles many farmers go through to find labour. They say US citizens are not interested in the physically demanding work, with its long days under extreme temperatures, rain and sun. Against that backdrop, Tate warns that removing people who are actually doing the work will cause immeasurable damage. Not only will it harm farms and ranches, which could take years to recover, it will also send food prices soaring, and even endanger US food security, possibly requiring the country to start importing provisions that may previously have been grown at home, she says. 'What we really need is some legislation that has the type of programme that we need, and that works for both the workers, that ensures their safety, it ensures a fair playing field when it comes to international trade, as well as domestic needs,' Tate said. 'Everyone loses' Some farmworkers agreed to speak to AFP on condition of not being fully identified, for fear of being arrested. 'All we do is work,' a worker named Silvia told AFP. She saw several friends arrested in a raid in Oxnard, about 16km west of Ventura. The 32-year-old Mexican lives in constant fear that she will be the next one picked up and, in the end, separated from her two US-born daughters. 'We're between a rock and a hard place. 'If we don't work, how will we pay our bills? 'And if we go out, we run the risk of running into them,' she said, referring to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. 'The way the government is working right now, everybody loses,' said Miguel, who has been working in the fields of southern California for three decades. The 54-year-old said that workers are losing jobs, farm owners are losing their labour, and as a result, the United States is losing its food. Miguel has worked in various agriculture sector jobs, including during the Covid-19 pandemic. All of them were 'very hard jobs,' he said. Now he feels like he has a target on his back. 'They should do a little research so they understand. The food they eat comes from the fields, right?' he said. 'So it would be good if they were more aware, and gave us an opportunity to contribute positively, and not send us into hiding.' - Agence France-Presse
NZ Herald
5 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Role the former adviser took in stoking the controversy shows he's still a political risk for Trump
And even if Musk's goal was merely to stoke the controversy without necessarily settling it, his mission has been accomplished - and then some. Right-wing influencers and conspiracy theorists have alleged without evidence for years that the federal government suppressed information to protect famous associates of Epstein, who they assert may have participated in his sex crimes. The controversy boiled over earlier this month, when Trump's Justice Department announced it would disclose no more documents related to the case. Perhaps most damning of all was a Wall Street Journal report last week that Attorney-General Pam Bondi informed Trump in May that his name appeared in the files multiple times. 'Elon was right,' tweeted financier Anthony Scaramucci, who briefly served as communications director during the first Trump White House. 'He knew it!' Late Show host Stephen Colbert joked. 'I always said. I always said that he's a good guy who's right about everything.' The uncontained controversy threatens to further fray Musk and Trump's torn relationship. And it reveals how Musk remains a potent political risk for Trump months after he publicly left the White House, where he enjoyed unprecedented access and insight into the President's life as the so-called 'first buddy', rarely leaving his side during the transition and early months of his second term. Neither the White House nor Musk immediately responded to a request for comment. White House communications director Steven Cheung called the Wall Street Journal report on the Bondi meeting 'another fake news story'. The Trump Administration also sued the Journal after the outlet reported that Trump submitted a sketch of a naked woman bearing his name as part of a bawdy birthday gift for Epstein. Epstein was found dead in his jail cell before he faced trial on sex-trafficking charges. Officials ruled his death a suicide. Musk has not commented on the Wall Street Journal report, and he deleted the original tweet that claimed Trump appeared in the Epstein files. But he has fanned outrage over Trump's decision to not release the files in posts on X, using his megaphone on a platform he owns to keep the issue in the social media feeds of his 223 million followers, even as Trump unsuccessfully tried to convince his supporters to move on from the case. This month, Musk accused the Trump Administration of engaging in 'a cover up (obviously)'. 'So many powerful people want that list suppressed,' he wrote in a separate post. Musk has also asked Grok, the artificial intelligence chatbot built by his start-up xAI, to weigh in on the matter several times. 'Please make a thorough list of all those who should be investigated for possible rape of underage girls provided by Epstein,' Musk wrote. 'Think hard and research thoroughly. Order by probable severity and frequency of their crimes.' X has become more popular among conservative users after Musk purchased it in 2022 and unravelled many of the company's defences against disinformation. Some of the most high-profile skirmishes over the Epstein files got their start on the social media platform, originating from Maga influencers such as Laura Loomer, who had been banned from the site but was later restored by Musk. Trending topics on X have included the hashtag '#TrumpIsAPedoRapist'. At some moments, Musk has paused his taunts to defend the President. Following the Journal report on the naked sketch, Musk said: 'It really doesn't sound like something Trump would say tbh'. Yet Musk stoked tensions with the White House as Trump rolled out a raft of AI executive orders and appeared at a conference on Thursday hosted by some of Musk's longtime friends and business partners who co-host the 'All-In' podcast, including AI and crypto tsar David Sacks. Musk had previously acted as a bridge between Trump and the tech world, and his absence was palpable at the event. Allies of Musk serving in the Trump Administration have had to tread carefully, largely declining to comment on the feud between the President and one of the world's most powerful business leaders. In a sign of the awkwardness, the 'All-In' show opted not to discuss the public feud between Musk and Trump in June. The Trump-Musk relationship has long been marked by contradictions and inconsistencies, and that has not changed. Trump signed an executive order that bars federal agencies from using 'woke AI', which appeared to be a boon to Grok, as xAI instructs the agent to prioritise 'truth-seeking' over political correctness. But when asked whether Trump wanted xAI to receive contracts, Leavitt responded, 'I don't think so, no'. Trump on Truth Social appeared to walk back previous threats against Musk's companies and wrote that he would not take away large subsidies from the billionaire's businesses, which include SpaceX and Tesla. 'I want Elon, and all businesses within our Country, to THRIVE, in fact, THRIVE like never before!,' Trump wrote. 'The better they do, the better the USA does, and that's good for all of us.' Musk did not accept the olive branch, responding that the 'subsidies' Trump was referring to do not exist. He criticised Trump for slashing tax credits for electric vehicle companies in the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' while retaining subsidies for the oil and gas industries. He also warned that it would be impossible for the federal Government to cut its ties with SpaceX. 'SpaceX won the Nasa contracts by doing a better job for less money,' Musk wrote. 'Moving those contracts to other aerospace companies would leave astronauts stranded and taxpayers on the hook for twice as much!'
