Obviously Jane Campion is an exception, but Roger Donaldson's and Geoff Murphy's American work is rather impersonal. Again I think it's up to the individual. There never seems to be an established base of experienced directors who stay in the country, making better and better movies, which is what should happen. After all, while The Piano is a hit, Sweetie hasn't recouped its budget. You're absolutely right.
People do expect too much from first time filmmakers.
There are a lot of very exciting young directors in New Zealand - particularly of short films. The New Zealand film industry will ultimately be great when all these young directors get to make three, four or five movies in New Zealand. The pattern that is so entrenched is that people will cut their teeth here by making their first movie, with all its mistakes, then making a second film, which will be kind of good and a moderate success, and then, wham, leaving for overseas to make art films in America. We are then back to square one. That's the pattern and I do not know what we can do about it.