NZ | Movie + TV News

[SYDNEY]

Filmmaker Scoops Doco Award:

08/12/2005
Christchurch filmmaker Aaron Keown has picked up the Best Director award for his documentary Pop, at the International Independent Film Festival in New York.

It is the second award for the film, which in October won Best International Documentary in Los Angeles.

Mr Keown hopes the latest accolade will open some doors for him. He admits his film is nowhere in the league of Peter Jackson or Andrew Adamson, but says it is a start.

Pop is now being looked at by a number of international distributors

[SYDNEY]

I went to the premiere of Narnia at The Civic Theatre in Auckland .. I literally bumped into Don Brash and I was lucky to see a couple of other NZ celebrities but my feet were killing me waiting for the big stars to arrive, so I missed them

[flyin_higher]

Damn brash, you should have 'culled' him lol

[atkinson1]

Awesome pictures!

[SYDNEY]

^ why thank you .. I thought that the str8 boys would like a pretty face

@ flyin .... LOL - the thing that amazed me about him is the fact that he is such a small man. His wife is even smaller. I was waiting for Helen because I wanted to shout out to her ... I love you Girlfriend .. needless to say that my bf was very relieved that we didn't see her

[SYDNEY]

Film-friendly Auckland City
3 February 2006

Auckland is strengthening its reputation as a film-friendly city, with a record number of films, television programmes, music videos and ads shot here in recent months. Auckland City issued 23 film permits during November and December, compared to a usual average of about eight permits during that time of year. Following the blockbuster hit The Chronicles of Narnia - which used Hillsborough's Monte Cecilia Park as a location - Walt Disney Pictures will start filming The Bridge to Terabithia at the Auckland Domain later this month, while the Disney Channel's Wendy Woo – Homecoming Warrior plans to recreate scenes from ancient China at Bastion Point.

"It's possible for film-makers to produce anything here - we've had werewolves at the top of Mt Eden, kayaking in Myers Park and pyrotechnics in public spaces," says Annabel Lush, Auckland City's manager, events promotion. Auckland City was one of the first councils granted "film-friendly" status by Local Government New Zealand, as it provides a one-stop shop for quickly obtaining film permits, road closures and booking public venues. The council can also provide expert advice on traffic management, building temporary structures and liaising with key stakeholders.

Auckland City works closely with the other councils in the region and the industry to support filming activity through regular meetings of the Film Auckland local authorities and industry group. "We have a team dedicated to supporting the screen production industry as much as we can, because it brings significant economic benefits to the city," says Ms Lush.

About 48 per cent of New Zealand's screen production workforce is based in Auckland city, contributing about $491 million a year in GDP, and this is the city's fastest-growing creative sector (source: Snapshot: Auckland's creative industries report). Ms Lush says, "One of Auckland City's roles, is to provide operational and logistical support. On any day, we might get a call from Singapore saying they really want to get in touch with a great editing suite or they need some coastal shots, so we refer them to Film Auckland, but then we might help them with closing a road.

"Every time an international company comes here they grow the local industry by employing local crew and talent, and using local hotels, restaurants and other services, so it has a major economic impact." Auckland City's manager, creative industries and a Film Auckland board member, Tara Pradhan adds, "Auckland City is a long standing supporter of the screen production industry and recognises the contribution it makes to Auckland's economy. With the international recognition New Zealand's screen production industry has received, there has been increasing interest in filming in Auckland."

From shots of our sparkling harbour to leafy parks and volcanic cones, Auckland city's diverse locations have provided a backdrop for films such as Toa Fraser's No. 2 (shot in Mt Roskill, in cinemas from 16 February); which scooped an audience's choice award at the Sundance Film Festival. Other recent Kiwi-directed films include Stephen T. Kay's horror flick Boogeyman (filmed in Albert Park at night) and Peter Jackson's King Kong (which used the Civic Theatre on Queen Street).

[aucklandman]

thats good, cos auckland has some very versatile film locations all rolled into one, old building areas, harbour, new areas, surburbia etc

beautiful city

[Tina From Taihape]

Originally Posted by aucklandman

thats good, cos auckland has some very versatile film locations all rolled into one, old building areas, harbour, new areas, surburbia etc

beautiful city

Does Auckland have huge film studios ?

[Tina From Taihape]

Hollywood and Miami are to return to Christchurch
13 February 2006

Auckland has had “North Country”, Wanganui “River Queen”, Wellington “Lord of the Rings” and now Christchurch is set to have its own movie premiere.The New Zealand red carpet charity gala premiere for “Meet me in Miami” has been confirmed for 22nd March this year.

Christchurch based producer, Lisa Abbott, says she is looking forward to the film opening in New Zealand and premiering in her hometown. “An illness and the subsequent death of my father last month meant we had to postpone the opening until March,” she says. VIP’s from central and local Government, the film and production industry as well as cast and crew will attend the gala premiere and the list is understood to include senior politicians and people prominent in the film industry.

The charity red carpet event will benefit the “John Britten Centre”, an initiative of the Cookie Munchers Charitable Trust, and which supports and helps dyslexic children throughout New Zealand. Kirsteen Britten will be the spokesperson on the night. Trust details available available at www.cookiemuncherstrust.org.nz

“Meet me in Miami” was one of the hits late last year at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, in which it was invited to show. The LALIFF board includes industry notables Andy Garcia and Angelica Houston. International media coverage was intense at the festival with reporters also interested in special taonga (greenstone pendants) from local iwi, Ngai Tahu, which were presented to members of the American MMIM cast. “Meet me in Miami” was shot in Christchurch and California with the majority of locations in the Garden City and local craftspeople in the cast and crew.

[KIWIKAAS]

Kong gong gives Weta boss entry to exclusive Oscar club
07.03.06


Weta Workshop boss Richard Taylor admitted he had "incredible butterflies" before being announced the Oscar winner for best visual effects in Los Angeles yesterday.

He now stands alongside Hollywood greats Clint Eastwood, Bob Hope and Francis Ford Coppola, as well as dozens of technicians with five Academy Awards.

"I had incredible butterflies in my stomach. Even as they read out the names it didn't sink in," Mr Taylor said from Los Angeles.

"It was a tough field this year - so many incredible movies. The quality of work was amazing. I'm just delighted we have been so honoured."

The Oscar went to Mr Taylor as well as Weta Digital's Joe Letteri, Brian Van't Hul and Christian Rivers for King Kong.

Actor Ben Stiller presented the effects award, dressed in a green jumpsuit to mimic those worn by set crews and actors working on sets with visual effects.

While Mr Taylor and his co-winners went to the Governor's Ball to celebrate, it was work as usual for Weta Workshop in Miramar.

Mr Taylor said the staff had enjoyed a special lunch yesterday, but then went back to work as there was a pressing deadline to meet.

His previous four Oscars have been for The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Oscars were a mixed bag for all major movies at the Academy Awards this year, with New Zealand once again starring prominently.

Peter Jackson's King Kong, and Crash, Memoirs of a Geisha and Brokeback Mountain all snared three apiece.

Crash took the best picture award.

The other film made in New Zealand, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, directed by Andrew Adamson, scored one award for best makeup.

Sound mixers Christopher Boyes, Michael Semanick, Michael Hedges and Hammon Peek accepted their Oscars for King Kong with Mr Peek commenting: "Go Kiwis!"

Mr Hedges said: "I'd like to thank our tremendously talented crew back at Park Road Post in Wellington, New Zealand. What a great job everyone."

Mr Boyes also thanked "the amazing film-maker Peter Jackson, Carol Cunningham, Jan Blenkin, Fran Walsh and my mom, Katherine".

The four men won in 2003 for The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King for sound mixing.

Sound editors Michael Hopkins and Ethan Ven der Ryn won King Kong's third Oscar. The pair won an Oscar for The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers in 2003.

They saluted Jackson for his vision in creating King Kong, and paid tribute to actor Andy Serkis who played Kong.

Jackson's US$207 million ($315 million) blockbuster earned four nominations - for best art direction, achievement in sound editing, sound mixing and visual effects.

Kong art director Grant Major lost to Memoirs of a Geisha's John Myhre.

Americans Howard Berger and Tami Lane won the Oscar for best makeup for the New Zealand-filmed Narnia. Berger and Lane have worked extensively in New Zealand, first with the television series Xena: Warrior Princess, starring Lucy Lawless, and later on The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Charlize Theron was nominated for best actress and Frances McDormand for best supporting actress for North Country, directed by New Zealander Niki Caro.


Top Oscar winners

26 Walt Disney
11 Cedric Gibbons
11 Iain Neil
10 Farciot Edouart
9 Dennis Muren
9 Alfred ******
9 Douglas Shearer
8 Edith Head
8 Alan Menken
8 Edward H. Reichard
8 Loren L. Ryder
8 Edwin B. Willis
7 Richard Day
7 Richard Edlund
7 Gordon Hollingshead
7 Fred Quimby
7 Gary Rydstrom
7 Billy Wilder
6 Rick Baker
6 Carl Hauge
6 Thomas Little
6 Manfred G. Michelson
6 Glen Robinson
6 Walter M. Scott
5 RICHARD TAYLOR
5 John Barry
5 Glenn M. Berggren
5 Daniel J. Bloomberg
5 Francis Ford Coppola
5 Charles R. Daily
5 David J. Degenkolb
5 Clint Eastwood
5 Bob Hope

- NZPA

[KIWIKAAS]

Peter Jackson reportedly working on Dam Busters remake


08.05.06 1.00pm


New Zealand film director Peter Jackson is set to film a remake of the World War 2 film The Dam Busters, with a budget of almost $300 million dollars, according to a British Sunday newspaper.

The Mail on Sunday yesterday reported Jackson would work on the estimated £100 million movie ($293.5 million) alongside Sir David Frost - who last year bought the rights to Paul Brickhill's 1951 book about 617 Squadron's daring low-level bombing of German dams.

The newspaper said Jackson was a self-confessed war buff who had a lifelong interest in British military history after being inspired by a childhood visit to London's Imperial War Museum.

Jackson owns replicas of two World War 1 fighters and a tank and spent £50,000 ($146,700) of his own money restoring the only film of Anzac troops at Gallipoli, the newspaper reported.

Jackson recently spent a day filming one of the last surviving Lancaster bombers in preparation for the remake of the much-loved 1954 black-and-white film, which starred Richard Todd as Wing Commander Guy Gibson and Michael Redgrave as Barnes Wallis, who invented the bouncing bomb.

A source quoted in the paper said Jackson, 44, had met a group of RAF veterans in New Zealand who restored the plane.

"It was clear just how much he knew about warplanes. We believe the footage is to help his special effects team.

"Peter has been in contact with the old crewmen, who are well into their 80s. I believe he is helping to create a memorial to the New Zealand airmen who flew bombers, including those who died in the Dam Busters mission," the unnamed source was quoted in the newspaper.

Codenamed Operation Chastise, the 1943 raid is one of the most famous military operations. Gibson hand-picked crews from other Lancaster squadrons to fly at low level to destroy three heavily protected dams in the industrial Ruhr Valley.

The Mohne and Eder dams were breached using Wallis's extraordinary bouncing bomb. To be effective, the revolving mine had to be released while flying at precisely 220mph, 60ft above the water and 425 yards from a dam.

Jackson was reported to be sending his assistant Matt Dravitski to the annual Dam Busters reunion this month at Petwood Hotel, near Lincoln, which had been 617 Squadron's wartime mess.

Of the 19 Lancasters that took off from nearby RAF Scampton on May 16, 1943, eight failed to return and 56 airmen were killed.

The newspaper said one question remained - What to call Gibson's beloved but now controversially-named dog, ******.

Sir David Frost said "The word ****** is not ideal for the modern world. But the real challenge is to make the film as good as, or better than, the original."

The famous theme music by Eric Coates would stay. Sir David said it would be crazy to change it.

- NZPA

[KingKong1]

what was the dog called lol

[KIWIKAAS]

******

N-I-G-G-E-R

lol.ssc's word censore got in there.

[Davee]

Originally Posted by Tina From Taihape

Does Auckland have huge film studios ?

Wow Tina - where have you been? - make sure you're on Kiwi Count!

[Davee]

There is serious talk of developing a film studio in the Heathcote Valley (one of the hill suburbs in Christchurch). With CHC having direct links to LA and Europe via Asia and America - and the SI landscape - movies are a real potential for the economy.

Mind you - Wellywood seems to have the upper hand for the country - perhaps it would be best to leave it to them.

Man - Peter Jacksons lost some serious weight!!!!!

[KingKong1]

they should call the dog Nig, i know someone who used to have a dog called Nig and it didn't seem to mind lol

[KingKong1]

$70m vampire movie to be filmed in Auckland

11.05.06 1.00pm


Auckland is set to double for Alaska in yet another big-budget Hollywood film to be shot in New Zealand.

Filming for the vampire movie, 30 Days of Night, produced by Spiderman director Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert (the husband of New Zealand actor Lucy Lawless), is expected to begin in July, The Dominion Post reported today.

Auditions were held in Wellington yesterday.

The movie, set in a small Alaskan town, where it is completely dark for one month a year, is reputed to have a budget of up to $70 million.

It is scheduled for release in October 2007.

Film New Zealand chairman David Madigan told the paper that the organisation had yet to receive "definitive information" but filming was expected to begin in Auckland this year.

Other films being made in New Zealand this year include Hard Drive and 10,000 BC (both to be filmed in Queenstown this month) and The Waterhorse, parts of which will be shot in Wellington.

[KIWIKAAS]

Originally Posted by KingKong1

they should call the dog Nig, i know someone who used to have a dog called Nig and it didn't seem to mind lol

No way! Ni-GG-ER was the name of the dog. If youre making a historical movie about a well documented event you cant go changing names. The dog N-gger was the squadron mascot and died the day before the mission. The death of N-gger was kept secret from the crews so as not to destroy moral.

[SYDNEY]

'Strong' Interest in NZ from Film Companies

Government says 12.5 per cent rebate for large productions has been effective. There has been strong interest in New Zealand from international film companies according to Economic Development Minister Trevor Mallard. "This winter has been one of the busiest for the New Zealand film industry since the filming of The Lord of the Rings trilogy," Mr Mallard says.

The minister lists a number of films which have either recently completed production in the country or are about to start - including the Warner Bros. Film, '10,000 BC', directed by Roland Emmerich, which completed a six week shoot in the Wanaka region last month, and 'Thirty Days of Night', produced by Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi which will commence shooting at the end of this month in Auckland and later in Central Otago

Mr Mallard says that the government's large budget screen production grant is an important part of the package that makes New Zealand an attractive place to make both feature films and television, but he also lauded the "magnificent and diverse locations and highly skilled production crews" in New Zealand.

The grant provides a 12.5 per cent rebate on production expenditure of more than $15 million within New Zealand as long as total expenditure in the country is greater than 70 per cent of the total production budget. Where production expenditure in New Zealand exceeds $50 million, the 70 per cent threshold is waived.

Qualifying expenditure includes salaries, editing, music, sound, catering, construction and set design, travel and post-production and visual effects. Final grant payments were recently made to King Kong and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

In the case of King Kong, the production received $48.65 million based on qualifying expenditure of $389,221,032 and The Chronicles of Narnia received $16,728,465, based on qualifying expenditure of $133,827,724.

A recent independent economic evaluation of the impacts of large budget screen productions such as the Chronicles of Narnia and the Hercules mini-series over the last two years showed they had generated a $363 million direct cash injection into the New Zealand economy; additional economic activity of $119 to $227 million; and indirect benefits ranging from $10 million to $34 million.

[NZGSR]

Originally Posted by DavidEugene

There is serious talk of developing a film studio in the Heathcote Valley (one of the hill suburbs in Christchurch). With CHC having direct links to LA and Europe via Asia and America - and the SI landscape - movies are a real potential for the economy.

Mind you - Wellywood seems to have the upper hand for the country - perhaps it would be best to leave it to them.

Man - Peter Jacksons lost some serious weight!!!!!

I actually heard dave that there was talk for the movie studios to be built out near orana park???

Anyway bout NZ films I watched the fastest indian a couple of nights ago that was a good one prob my fav nz film so far

I also heard that peter jackson could be directing the movie Halo???