People and Infrastructure

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. 

We had such a good experience here with respect to the craftmanship, the spirit, the work ethic and all of that, there was absolutely no dearth of trained experienced people at all levels of production, we just look forward to doing it all again.

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.

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

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:

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Wonder Woman

© 2015 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and Ratpac-Dune Entertainment LLC

War for the Planet of the Apes

© 2017 Twentieth Century Fox

Avatar

©20th Century Fox

Ghost in the Shell

Ghost in the Shell ©Paramount Pictures 2017

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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.

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.

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.

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Urtekram

Milka

Samsung "Charge"

Toyota Camry

Jameson Whiskey

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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