Australian Film Lags Nz : Miller

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday November 17, 2003

Garry Maddox

For influential director George Miller, the Australian film industry is like the Fijian and Samoan rugby teams some brilliant one-off talents, but not enough support and training to match the world's best.

The writer-director-producer whose credits include the Mad Max films was reflecting on the industry's health ahead of the Australian Film Institute awards on Friday. He will present the 20th Byron Kennedy award for excellence and innovation.

``Now that the rugby is in town, it feels like Australia is like the Fijian and Samoan rugby teams," Miller said. ``Lots of talent but the infrastructure is slight. We think it's there but it's not." He said New Zealand was succeeding in film where Australia was not.

Tapping their resourcefulness, the Kiwis were producing international-scale films such as The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Yet they were also making powerful depictions of their culture such as Whale Rider.

``In New Zealand, there is a real can-do attitude. It feels like it was in Australia 20 years ago . . . just telling good stories and basically expressing their culture through moving image."

Miller confirmed that he still intends to make a fourth Mad Max film, Fury Road. The film, again starring Mel Gibson, was postponed earlier this year.

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