Still with life after Covid, a leading Australian screen industry figure says New Zealand's Covid-free status gives it a huge advantage when it comes to enticing high-value overseas film and TV productions. The high-profile production of the Avatar sequels has been getting all the headlines - not all favourable - but according to producer and film-maker Tony Ayres that's just scraping the surface. There's untapped money to be made from worldwide film and television projects currently in desperate need of safe and versatile locations, with experienced crew available. Tony Ayres is a screenwriter and director, as well as showrunner on several TV series including The Slap. He's also the Executive Producer on a yet-to-be announced project to be filmed here. Script to Screen recently invited him to confer with Kiwi film makers about the logistical challenges they face at the moment. Tony tells Lynn Freeman that the New Zealand government should invest more in the screen industry here as part of its economic recovery plan...