The New Zealand screen industry has broken the NZ$3 billion barrier for the primary time due to earnings from an increased collection of feature films made within the country over the past financial year.
At a time when the movie world is concentrating on New Zealand as Middle-earth with the making of The Hobbit Trilogy, Statistics New Zealand reports that the screen industry has grown 10% to succeed in revenue of $3.29 billion.
A total of 40 feature films were completed in New Zealand last year and revenue from these rose almost 50% to top $1 billion for the primary time.
Film New Zealand Chief Executive Gisella Carr says the newest results could never were dreamed of some years ago and to attain such figures within the face of intense international competition was an actual testimony to the standard and resourcefulness of the recent Zealand industry.
“The screen business is a tender, 21st-century form of industry. Most other countries want an industry like this. New Zealand has it, and we will be very pleased with it,” Carr said.
Film centre of excellence
As well as creative flair and ground-breaking technology, it’s far New Zealand’s easily accessible, stunning scenery that make it attractive to international film-makers plus the country’s reputation for being this type of desirable place to live and work.
New Zealand is recognised as a centre of excellence for the art of film-making, largely resulting from Sir Peter Jackson and the creative teams of ‘Wellywood’ in Wellington.
New Zealand’s rapidly growing screen industry is supported by greater than 2800 businesses – up from 2739 in 2011 – and production is spread within the country with important hubs in Auckland and the Queenstown / Otago region, in addition to Wellington.
Survey results
The latest survey tracks revenue and other indicators in film and tv production and post-production, film distribution and tv broadcasting inside the year to one April 2012.
It shows income from production and post-production for the 1st time made up slightly greater than 1/2 the whole, at $1.67 billion.
“This is vital because it is the world that’s creating growth, particularly from feature films,” Carr said.
She said government investment within the sector was bringing a very good return.
“The outlay is inconspicuous in comparison to total revenue, but it surely is admittedly vital in bringing screen work to New Zealand. The revenue figures underline the significance of the us as our major partner.”
Film revenue increased by 47% to $1.04 billion and tv broadcasting revenue grew 4% to $1.30 billion.
More than 500 one-off or stand-alone television programmes were made in New Zealand.
International attention
New Zealand Film Commission chief executive Graeme Mason said it was “fantastic” to look films being made that created revenue and employment.
International attention was being attracted to the local industry and New Zealand as an area to go to and do business, he said.
The commission was currently all for greater than 20 local feature films in various stages of pre-production, production, post-production.
“I also desire to take my hat off to the independent films being made accessible – together these efforts are having a huge effect on a screen sector going from strength to strength,” Mason said.
Wellywood’s role
Statistics New Zealand said “the continuing success of Wellywood” played a large role within the sector’s growth.
Revenue from film in Wellington generated $828 million in 2012, up 67% from $495 million.
“In 2012, Wellington was home to 60% of all post-production businesses in New Zealand, compared with 31% for Auckland and 10% for the remainder of New Zealand,” Statistics NZ reported.
“More specifically, Wellington is a pacesetter in digital graphics, animation, and effects.”
Kiwi-made feature films released last year include Sione’s 2: Unfinished Business, The Hobbit, The Red House and Essentially the most Fun That you could Have Dying.
Evil Dead
And the growing Auckland film industry has hit the spotlight with the discharge of Evil Dead – a movie shot entirely within the Auckland region which reached number 1 on the US Box Office in its opening weekend, grossing US$26 million.
The remake of the 1981 cult horror classic have been dubbed “the most terrifying movie you can actually ever experience” and was filmed on location in Auckland’s Woodhill Forest in addition to the Riverhead and East Tamaki areas.
Producer Rob Tapert of Pacific Renaissance Pictures has helped to position Auckland at the world stage as a movie location with television series resembling Hercules, Xena, and Spartacus.
Auckland’s screen industry employs over 6000 people in additional than 1400 local businesses and grosses about $2.2 billion every year.
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