Written by on Jan 9, 2014. Posted in Incentive News

Film New Zealand boss reiterates importance of high-end TV productions

Film New Zealand Chief Executive Gisella Carr has reiterated the importance of attracting high-end TV productions. Under new rules, TV series on the scale of Game of Thrones will be able to access New Zealand’s filming incentives with much lower production budgets.

Television productions spending NZD4 million will be eligible for support, a big reduction from the previous NZD15 million figure.

New Zealand is hoping the change will broaden the country’s international appeal.

“[TV series are] substantial economic vehicles,” Carr told Fairfax Media, “so if you get a production like Game of Thrones you're not just getting one concentrated spend over a period of months - you're getting years of production. American television is an incredible machine. It doesn't just do one season. They might do seven years.

“Already [our incentive improvements have] got the attention of people who to some extent had started to write New Zealand off simply because they knew without the numbers it wouldn't work.”

Production industries around the world have been inspired by the international success of Game of Thrones, which has been instrumental in transforming the film industry in Northern Ireland. Audience appetites for high-end TV have grown and the world's production hubs are in fierce competition to offer the best location filming deals.

If you get a production like Game of Thrones you're not just getting one concentrated spend over a period of months - you're getting years of production.

Gisella Carr, Film New Zealand

New Zealand hosted location filming for the big-budget TV drama Spartacus but since the series came to an end the country has had trouble attracting productions on a similar scale. Now that New Zealand’s filming incentives have been improved, this may change.

“A country can choose not to have [filming incentives], but you won't get the international production without it. We're dealing here with the realities of global screen production,” Carr added.

To read The Location Guide's report on the international growth of high-end TV click here.

(Game of Thrones photos: HBO)