By Christine Chen and Jorge Nieto
Australia’s film sector wants actor Mel Gibson to do what he does in his action films and save the day, convincing the president of the states, Donald Trump, to remove his rates on movies, which could devastate his $ 1 billion ($ 650 million) business in Hollywood.
Sector leaders said rates would cause a major loss of jobs in local film production and increase ticket prices. They asked Gibson, born in the US and began his career in Australia, use his role as Trump’s advisor to urge the president to reconsider.
In January, Trump hired Gibson as Hollywood’s “Special Ambassador”, although he did not detail his function.
“We hope Mel Gibson, as one of Trump’s counselors in this space, is saying to the president that this is a stupid idea,” Kate Meatall, president of the Screen Producers Australia industry, said in an interview.
Gibson plans to play a movie in Italy this year, according to the industry media, which could be affected by US tariffs.
“For Mel Gibson to make his movie in Italy and then have a 100% rate to be screened in the US is simply absurd,” said Caroll.
Trump announced on Sunday a 100% rate on films produced outside the US, saying that the US film industry is dying a “very fast death” due to the incentives that other countries are offering to attract filmmakers.
The announcement has perplexed studio executives that have been overvating productions on various continents for decades and cannot understand how it would work. It also caused a shock in abroad film industries, where Hollywood produces lower production costs.
Australian cinema at risk
Since the first sequences of “Star Wars” and “Matrix” were filmed in Sydney in the early 2000s, with the Australian dollar near a low record compared to the US dollar, Australia’s film sector involved with Hollywood.
International spending on film and television productions in Australia responded for about half of the sector’s total spending of at $ 1.7 billion in 2024, according to Screen Australia, a government agency. Screen Australia noted that the overall number fell 29% over the previous year, in part due to the strike of Hollywood writers.
“100% rates would be devastating to the Australian film sector … We are talking about many (lost) jobs, it is difficult to quantify,” said Carolll, adding that Australia’s film business is worth about $ 1 billion. “People are saying, ‘How could they do that? It’s so stupid.’
Carroll said that if Hollywood studios spend more to shoot all the US movies, “their costs would increase, and so consumers costs, for people watching movies would also increase.”
Kate Marks, Ausfilm’s executive president, which connects international studios with Australia, said the US has a “long and mutually beneficial history” of collaboration in films with Australia.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and awaiting more details. We will continue to work with our industry and government partners,” he said.
Trump says countries have until July to close agreement on tariffs
This content was originally published in Australian cinema asks Mel Gibson for help against Trump tariffs on CNN Brazil.
Source: CNN Brasil
I’m Robert Neff, a professional writer and editor. I specialize in the entertainment section, providing up-to-date coverage on the latest developments in film, television and music. My work has been featured on World Stock Market and other prominent publications.
