In 1975 Australia was producing things like Picnic at Hanging Rock, in other words films that I would consider still some of the finest products to come out of Australia. I think that our quality now is less than it was then.

Most independent filmmakers in Britain and North America work for commercial crews and then have their own projects when they've got enough money saved up to do so.

Ten years ago I was not heavily involved in the film world but on reflection it was a boom time with the mineral boom happening, so there was immense growth for industrial training films, documentaries to do with the mining, and the outback world.

Any new producer starting up is to get investors' confidence. Investors are still very very wary of anything to do with the arts world.

The dichotomy between art and industry is totally dysfunctional in terms of film.

You have always had individual directors who begin in the advertising or commercial world, but they are probably exceptions rather than the traditional pattern.

We are here predominantly to support independent filmmakers and their needs. We are also here to assist people actually in their production, non-commercial people in their production.