New Zealand is a hothouse of creativity, talent and experience.

Some of the largest and most impressive films of the past two decades are a result of collaborations with New Zealanders. Multiple Emmy and Academy Award®- winners call New Zealand home and many internationals say working alongside our people is an inspiring and rewarding experience. From new camera formats, the latest sound mixing technologies, to higher frame-rate productions, New Zealanders have a reputation for ingenuity and innovation. 

The Hobbit

48FPS 3D Peter Jackson's team pioneered the world's first 3D 48fps (High Frame Rate) technology for the Hobbit Trilogy. © Warner Bros

HODs and Crew

Our award-winning HOD’s and crew are sought after by some of the world’s best filmmakers. We can help connect you with the people and resources you need for a successful shoot.

Grant Major

Ngila Dickson - Oscar-winning costume designer

Stuart Dryburgh - Oscar-nominated cinematographer

Talk to us

For key credits and contacts.

Line Production

Offering practical advice and in-depth knowledge of how things work here, to help ensure an efficient and successful shoot, we strongly recommend contracting an experienced New Zealand line producer. 

Sound Stages

New Zealand offers a variety of sound stage, studio and warehouse options for shooting your next project. You can view them here.

Cast

New Zealand’s superb actors portray diverse looks and ethnicities and every year more of them are offered high profile roles.

Memorable characters are seen in some of audience favourites including Thor: Raganarok, Avatar, The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, Live Free or Die Hard, Top of the Lake, Grey’s Anatomy, Peaky Blinders, Fear the Walking Dead, Flight of the Conchords, Riverdale, Hawaii Five-O, The Shannara Chronicles, Power Rangers and many more.

Contact us for leading casting agent introductions or connect with the Actor’s Agents Association

Spartacus: Vengeance

Cast and crew at work on the set of Spartacus: Vengeance ©2011 Starz Entertainment, LLC.

Post Production

New Zealand companies work with the major US studios and high-profile international producers and directors.

Your project will benefit from the creation of bespoke workflows and a commitment to quality throughout the delivery of sound and picture post, music scoring, animation and the visual effects created here.

Delivery of digital and post production progress is seamless for dailies, remote sound, online and colour grade reviews through to final international delivery. You’ll also find:

  • Ultra-fast connectivity
  • Innovative technologies
  • Integrated communications hubs
  • Live reviewing systems

Blade Runner 2049

Blade Runner 2049 © 20th Century Fox

Post, Digital and Special Effects Rebate

Check out our 20% incentives support for PDV.  

VFX

Digital hubs in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin with complementary skill sets regularly collaborate.  All types of projects from high-end commercials to VFX intensive blockbusters like Blade Runner, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Jungle Book and War for the Planet of the Apes.

Wētā FX - This world-leading visual effects studio has won six Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects and ten Academy Science & Technology Awards.

In addition to Sir Peter Jackson’s films, Wētā FX was the lead visual effects house on Avatar, and both Rise and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and contributed substantially to blockbusters like The Avengers and Prometheus. Its pioneering virtual production workflows, performance capture and virtual camera use are leading the industry forward, combining traditional and digital production into seamless filmmaking. 

The work of New Zealand companies is showcased in productions such as:

Physical Effects

New Zealanders excel at creating imaginary and intensely detailed worlds.

Expertise in conceptual and digital design extends into special effects, prosthetics, makeup, costume and weaponry design with an emphasis on attention to detail and quality in their physical manufacturing. 

Blade Runner 2049 BTS

Blade Runner 2049 miniature by the team at WETA workshop. © 2017 Alcon Entertainment, LLC.

Contact us

For design companies.

Animation

New Zealand has well established expertise in animation with a track record in international co-productions, fee for service, and the capacity to cater for any production size.

The Adventures of Tintin

Tintin © 2011 Paramount Pictures

Pipelines include motion capture (in Wellington and Auckland), CGI animation, mixed media, 2D digital (Toon Boom) and traditional 2D.

Hoops & Yoyo - Flux Animation

Thunderbirds Are Go

The Penguins of Madagascar - Oktobor Animation

Companies offering a range of services are spread throughout the North and South Island:

A = Animation, S = Sound, PP = Full Post Production, VFX = Visual Effects

TVCs

New Zealand is the location of choice for some of the world's most high-profile brands to create their campaigns.

Built on more than three decades of international expertise (and a domestic industry that stretches back to the 1960s) our television commercial production (TVC) companies regularly work on ads for clients from around the globe.

Our reverse seasons (the opposite of Europe and the US), diversity of locations, and highly regarded crews with their problem-solving attitude make a compelling case for shooting in New Zealand. State-of-the-art post production and VFX complete the picture.

 

Advertising Producers Aotearoa APA

Our creatives are regularly recognised by international awards, and full production and line production services are available. Contact NZAPG to find out more.

 

 

Production Showcases

Check out our production showcases to see examples of international productions in New Zealand.

Equipment 

Local companies deliver on complex productions of scale from production bases around the country providing camera, lighting and grip equipment as well as specialist vehicles.

800 Words

800 Words © 2016 South Pacific Pictures

New Zealand Data Book

You can view equipment supplier listings in the New Zealand Data Book.