McCann resurrects mPICS
Former Film New Zealand CEO Judith McCann has re-launched her consulting firm mPICS, now based in Wellington.
Cautious, McCann said she was already working with clients in South America, New Zealand and Australia, but declined to reveal further details about these projects.
A firm believer in ‘organisational renewal’, McCann left Film New Zealand in August 2009 after a five year stint – according to her, the average in her career cycle since the late 1980s – when she thought she had achieved what she had set out to do: secure Film NZ’s long-term funding.
McCann told Encore that the greatest challenge moving from Film New Zealand back to the private sector had been adjusting to self-sufficiency without staff assistance, especially in the technology domain.
“But it was definitely an easier transition this time than in 1999 moving back to Canada with Y2K looming!” she said.
A former CEO of the South Australian Film Corporation, McCann said that the agency’s development has been ‘satisfying’ to see.
“They’ve continued to build with McLeod’s Daughters – to which SAFC was assisting when I was there – having such a long run, Scott Hicks returning with The Boys are Back and now finally solid plans for new purpose-built studio facilities,” she said.
“Though I will admit to a soft spot for Hendon’s smoking patio and chats with Rolf de Heer, Paul Cox, David Lightfoot, Mark Patterson, Julie Ryan and many others. Just hope they have given up smoking, as I haven’t!”
The executive said that her time at Film New Zealand had made her understand the value proposition that incentives offer, from what used to be an added value to what is now an essential financial component for most productions.
“As they say, ‘incentives are the new equity’.”
According to McCann, other than the geographical location, the new mPICS now has a relationship with Nordicity (an international consulting firm specializing in economic and financial analysis, business strategy solutions, and public policy and regulatory affairs), which gives them the ability to offer more complex economic analysis.
