In the December issue of P3 Update, New Zealand was ranked among the “Top 10 Locations Worldwide” to shoot a film. P3 Update’s Debra Kaufman explained, “Producers choose where to shoot based on a laundry list of factors: specific locations, incentives, deep crew base, great infrastructure and even where the director or leading actor lives or likes to work.”
For fans of “The Lord of the Rings” and the anxiously anticipated “Hobbit” films, the reason New Zealand made the list may come down to one person—Peter Jackson. But another big draw for movie producers is the Weta facility. A Hollywood film executive explained that New Zealand “can handle big movies,” adding, “Weta can make intricate costumes and great visual effects.”
But the perks don’t stop there. Location Manager Gisella Carr said, “The good thing about New Zealand is that it’s a small country but has almost every terrain and climate you could ask for […] and good infrastructure.”
And it’s easier on a studio’s bottom line. The New Zealand Film Office estimates that after all tax incentives and rebates are accounted for, the country’s production costs are 20 percent cheaper than Australia’s and 32 percent cheaper than Canada’s.
2012 will be a banner year for New Zealand. In addition to other large films shooting in the country, production will continue on “The Hobbit” and the world premiere of the first installment, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” will take place in Wellington in November. Carr said, “Given the current economic climate, it’s especially pleasing to see that New Zealand is an economically viable and desirable location for large budget international productions.”
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