Note to Jackson: Disney is not avoiding Australia

Rich Ross, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, dismissed claims by New Zealand director Peter Jackson that Disney is avoiding bringing its productions to Australia due to problems with unions, but admitted that it is “challenging” due to the exchange rate.

“It’s not the case [that Disney is not bringing productions due to the MEAA], and I’m not sure why anybody would talk about somebody else’s company. I’m not sure why he said it; we go where it makes sense,” Ross told Encore.

In one of his public statements (dated September 28), Jackson said: “I’ve been told that Disney are no longer bring movies to Australia because of their frustration with the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance”.

Ross said that choosing Australia as a shooting location would happen “when we have the right film and it makes sense for us to come here”, from a creative and financial point of view.