1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:04,080 Speaker 1: Here's a very good story, mega blockbuster filmmaking. James Cameron, White, 2 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:06,440 Speaker 1: Little up a Farmer is bringing the bulk of his 3 00:00:06,559 --> 00:00:10,719 Speaker 1: visual effects work from Hollywood to Wellington. Active recruitment is 4 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: underway for visual effects grow for Avatar sequels Water It 5 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:17,120 Speaker 1: is so busy, so there is a possibility that James 6 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:20,599 Speaker 1: Cameron will set up his own separate production operation. So 7 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:23,200 Speaker 1: we've got the head of attraction at Screen Wellington on 8 00:00:23,239 --> 00:00:25,200 Speaker 1: the phone, Mark Westerby, Hello. 9 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 2: Fory, good morning Andrew. 10 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 1: How good is this? 11 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:33,280 Speaker 2: Oh, it's fantastic news for Wellington. Look, first, I just 12 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 2: wanted to acknowledge the passing of John Mandar of The 13 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 2: Weekend Too, was James Cameron's production partner for twenty seven 14 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:44,400 Speaker 2: years since Titanic. So that was a huge loss for 15 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 2: the industry. And he was such a lovely, beautiful man 16 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 2: and he contributed a lot to the film industry, including 17 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:54,840 Speaker 2: here in New Zealand. So he'll be missing. 18 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 1: He will be missing visited regularly actually, and what sixty 19 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 1: three in the Cancer got him? So why would Jay 20 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:00,960 Speaker 1: move a team here? 21 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:06,560 Speaker 2: Well, James has been made no secretive the fact that 22 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:09,000 Speaker 2: for a while now he likes living in New Zealand 23 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:11,400 Speaker 2: and that he's going to make all his films here, 24 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:15,840 Speaker 2: so you know, we're happy to have him. He You know, 25 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 2: most production companies, with big production companies have their own 26 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 2: in house THEFX team, so this is what he's setting up. 27 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:23,759 Speaker 2: By the looks of it, departments has. 28 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:25,840 Speaker 1: Ian Taylor's proved you can do your effects wherever you've 29 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 1: got a computer, so he doesn't have to bring the 30 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 1: team here. 31 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 2: No, you're quite right, he doesn't like in these days 32 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:36,640 Speaker 2: of remote working, you can have the effects all around 33 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 2: the world. So the fact that he's chosen New Zealand 34 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 2: and in Wellington in particular is a good stamp of 35 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 2: approval for the sort of work we do, the level 36 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 2: of quality of people that we hire, so you know 37 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 2: that's all good news for us. 38 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 1: Do we have the people that can be employed by mister. 39 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 2: Cameron Lo, We absolutely do. There's a number of people 40 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:02,040 Speaker 2: who are not only work in wetter effects and in 41 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 2: the effects, but we seem to be tuning out amazing 42 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:09,359 Speaker 2: graduates at a high rate of knots from the various 43 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:13,520 Speaker 2: schools around and there's some fantastic colleges that are teaching 44 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 2: the effects at a very high level. 45 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:18,359 Speaker 1: So do you have any idea of his plans, like 46 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:20,360 Speaker 1: where would he base himself? Would he be a Mirm 47 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:24,160 Speaker 1: based operation, would he be you know, a Cardton based operation? 48 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 1: Do you know anything like that? 49 00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 2: Uncertain of exactly where the base would be and the 50 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 2: intent for that, but I imagine that we're based in Wellington. 51 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 2: It seems to be the most central options. 52 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:40,840 Speaker 1: And are they asking Screen Wellington to help? 53 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:46,000 Speaker 2: I don't think they need our help, but certainly we've 54 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 2: been spreading the word in terms of the jobs that 55 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:51,919 Speaker 2: are available. They've got a LinkedIn page where are actively 56 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 2: recruiting from? So we've been sharing that with lots of 57 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:56,959 Speaker 2: people who are looking for visual effects work. 58 00:02:57,600 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 1: We've seen, of course the industry taking a lot of hits, 59 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 1: particularly at the television side of the business. How about 60 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:05,480 Speaker 1: the film side of the business. You know, is Wellington 61 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:06,800 Speaker 1: still a successful story? 62 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 2: Oh? Look, it's no secret that we've we've been doing 63 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 2: it tough since the actors and writers strikes last year 64 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 2: in LA But since those strikes have broken, it's been 65 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 2: quite busy for us. You know, We've had Blumbhouses, Wolfman 66 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 2: Rach Just recently, we've got Red Rocks TV series that 67 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 2: are shooting in Wellington. Obviously that's a small release recently 68 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 2: of the new Lord of the Rings films coming next year. 69 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:38,160 Speaker 2: So and you know, Avatar obviously providing a lot of employment, 70 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 2: and not just here in Wellington, but there's there seems 71 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 2: to be a good deal of activity right around the country, 72 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:44,840 Speaker 2: so that is good for our industry. 73 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 1: Sounds good. Mark Westerbik, head of Attraction at Screen Wellington, 74 00:03:47,880 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 1: thank you for your time today. For more from the 75 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 1: Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to news talks it'd be 76 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 1: from six am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.