Written by on Apr 3, 2012. Posted in On Location

Location filming swells New Zealand’s screen industries by 4% in 2011

New Zealand’s screen industries grew by 4% in 2011 on the previous year, generating nearly NZD3 billion in revenue. The figures from Statistics NZ show that feature work in the country increased by 15%, with nearly 25% of revenue coming from feature production.

Hamish Hill is manager of Screen Industry Statistics in New Zealand: “While not every film made is a blockbuster, they are often major works that can take years to complete and can have a big impact on the industry.

Over a thousand businesses, both big and small, contracted services to producers of feature film projects. Thirty-five feature films were completed in New Zealand in 2011.

Hamish Hill, Screen Industry Statistics

“Over a thousand businesses, both big and small, contracted services to producers of feature film projects. Thirty-five feature films were completed in New Zealand in 2011.”

Peter Jackson’s twin Hobbit films remain the biggest feature projects currently shooting in the country with a total production budget of some USD500 million. James Cameron’s Avatar sequels are also rumoured to be planning shoots partly in New Zealand.

The report doesn’t specify figures for commercial shoots, but the country sustains a thriving commercials industry, with Carlsberg and Toyota among the brands to have filmed there recently.