Aussiewood asks Mel Gibson to save industry from tariffs

Australia’s film industry wants actor Mel Gibson to do what he does in his action-hero movies and save the day, by convincing US President Donald Trump to drop his film tariffs which could devastate its A$1 billion (21.21 billion baht) Hollywood business.

- CHRISTINE CHEN JORGE NIETO

Industry leaders said the tariffs would cause a large number of job losses in the local film production sector, drive up ticket prices, and called for US-born Gibson, who launched his career in Australia, to use his role as a Trump adviser to urge the president to reconsider.

In January, Trump hired Gibson as a “special ambassador” to Hollywood although he didn’t elaborate on his role.

“Hopefully Mel Gibson, as one of Trump's advisers in this space, is telling the President that this is a dumb idea,” Kate Carnell, chair of industry body Screen Producers Australia, said in an interview.

Gibson plans to shoot a movie in Italy this year, according to industry media, which could be impacted by the US tariffs.

“For Mel Gibson to make his movie in Italy and then to have a 100% tariff for it to be shown in America is just nonsensical,” said Carnell.