1 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 1: Jelder. 2 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:09,200 Speaker 2: I'm Chelsea Daniels and this is the Front Page, a 3 00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:16,120 Speaker 2: daily podcast presented by the New Zealand Herald. You meet 4 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:19,280 Speaker 2: anyone overseas and say New Zealand. The first thing they 5 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:21,800 Speaker 2: bring up is Hobbits. Lord of the Rings was a 6 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:26,680 Speaker 2: crowning achievement for film production in Altieroa and opened the 7 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:29,160 Speaker 2: door for more movies to be filmed here. 8 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:33,159 Speaker 3: A Minecraft movie is just the latest. 9 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:36,120 Speaker 2: Overseas blockbuster to be produced on our shores, and that's 10 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:39,640 Speaker 2: hitting cinemas around the world this weekend, while local film 11 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:40,960 Speaker 2: Tina has been. 12 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:42,640 Speaker 3: A box office sensation. 13 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:47,560 Speaker 2: But as the cost of film production saws around the world, 14 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:50,959 Speaker 2: what does the future hold for New Zealand and can 15 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 2: we break out of the shadow of Middle Earth? Today 16 00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 2: on the front Page, we're off to the movies with 17 00:00:56,680 --> 00:01:04,320 Speaker 2: the Chief Executive of the Enzed Film Commission, Annie Murray. Annie, 18 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 2: can we start with what exactly the Film Commission is? 19 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:11,759 Speaker 2: Where does it set in the production, commissioning, promotion side 20 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 2: of our local film industry. 21 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 1: The New Zealand Film Commission does all of those things 22 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 1: in relation to film. So we fund New Zealand film 23 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:22,119 Speaker 1: on the cultural side of our mandate and we are 24 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 1: funded by the Lottery's Commission and the Ministry for Culture 25 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:29,960 Speaker 1: inherited to fund film, promote it and participate in its production. 26 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:33,120 Speaker 1: So that's wonderful. New Zealand films like Tina are which 27 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:35,920 Speaker 1: is out at the moment. And then on the economic side, 28 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:39,480 Speaker 1: we administer the New Zealand screen Production Rebate and we 29 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:44,360 Speaker 1: attract production into New Zealand. And that's the likes of Minecraft, 30 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 1: which just came out this week, or Sweet Tooth or 31 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:50,200 Speaker 1: the Brad Pitt movie that's shooting in the South Island soon. 32 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 1: So we do both the economic and the cultural. 33 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 2: So there are two big things to celebrate with local 34 00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 2: movies at the moment. Hey, you mentioned Tina as being 35 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 2: a box office sensation. 36 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:05,280 Speaker 1: Basically, when you walked in, I thought, here's someone that 37 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 1: can offer my kids something different. 38 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:10,359 Speaker 3: The other schools say, we're to Ridget. 39 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 4: You're probably the first Polynesian woman we've ever had, though. 40 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 1: Congrats. 41 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:21,639 Speaker 2: According to Flex, it has made four point two million 42 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:24,800 Speaker 2: dollars since it came out in February. What do you 43 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:26,680 Speaker 2: think has led to that success. 44 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:31,680 Speaker 1: Tina is a beautiful story. It's an authentically told story. 45 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:36,240 Speaker 1: It's really wonderfully acted. It's well written. It's just a 46 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 1: premium film and it has really resonated with a broad audience. 47 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:46,560 Speaker 1: It is about a Sarmon mum who loses her daughter 48 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:50,959 Speaker 1: in the christ Church earthquakes and burries herself in her work, 49 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 1: which is to be the mum of a school choir. 50 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:58,359 Speaker 1: And it's a really beautiful emotional story. But it's also 51 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:02,919 Speaker 1: a coral film, so the music in it is fantastic. 52 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:06,919 Speaker 1: It's really hard to watch Tina without crying. I think 53 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:09,720 Speaker 1: everybody who's seen it has had a cry but also 54 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 1: a laugh. And it's just a really fantastically warm New 55 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 1: Zealand film. So it's currently sitting at number six of 56 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 1: all time New Zealand films. So it's taken a four 57 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:25,400 Speaker 1: point two million at the box office, which means two 58 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:28,520 Speaker 1: hundred and seventy five thousand people have been to see 59 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:30,639 Speaker 1: it so far in its first month, so I think 60 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 1: we're just into week five now. What that means is 61 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 1: that that has filled Eden Park more than five times 62 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 1: over with people who've gone to see Tina. Not even 63 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 1: Coldplay did that. So this is an incredible success and 64 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 1: it's the biggest New Zealand film since Hunt for the 65 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 1: Wilder People. Back in twenty sixteen. We're absolutely delighted with 66 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:55,360 Speaker 1: the team who've put this together and we're asking them, 67 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 1: what are you doing next? 68 00:03:57,080 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 2: You mentioned Times for the World of People and Tina 69 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 2: is the highest grossing local movie since then. We seem 70 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 2: to have a box office hit every few years. But 71 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:07,800 Speaker 2: it's a little irregular, isn't it. So why do you 72 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 2: think we are kind of reluctant to celebrate our own movies. 73 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:14,120 Speaker 1: I don't think we are reluctant to celebrate them. I 74 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 1: think New Zealanders really do love New Zealand stories, and 75 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 1: you know, you can see it in ten r. The difference, 76 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 1: I think is that, you know, if we look back 77 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:25,640 Speaker 1: over the history of New Zealand film, going to the 78 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 1: cinema to see it was everything back in the day, 79 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 1: So Hunt for the Wilder People was probably coming in 80 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 1: at the tail end of that kind of golden age 81 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:37,960 Speaker 1: of cinema going ben COVID hit, and we've had a 82 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 1: complete change in behavior, not only as a result of 83 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 1: COVID but also the rise of the streamers. So there's 84 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 1: so many more ways in which to see films. So 85 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 1: the box office is just the beginning of the story. 86 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:52,280 Speaker 1: And I really want to emphasize that it's while TENR 87 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 1: has been a fantastic hit, we haven't yet seen how 88 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 1: it's going to play around the world, how it will 89 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 1: sell into various platforms around the world, as all of 90 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:03,599 Speaker 1: our films do. So we need to stop being so 91 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 1: focused on that first two, three, four weeks at the 92 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 1: box office and focus more on the long life cycle 93 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 1: of films, which means, you know, there might be a 94 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:16,360 Speaker 1: film that is a quiet release locally, doesn't you know, 95 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:18,880 Speaker 1: make a big noise at the box office, but sells 96 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:23,160 Speaker 1: fantastically well around the world and is seen by an 97 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:26,359 Speaker 1: awfully large number of people, and that's also a success. 98 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:28,919 Speaker 1: So we need to look at how we judge the 99 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 1: success in a different way. 100 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 2: And of course the other thing we can celebrate is 101 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:37,160 Speaker 2: that Minecraft is hitting cinemas after being filmed here last year. 102 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 3: Who are you I am, Steve. 103 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:48,360 Speaker 5: Ok? 104 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:51,440 Speaker 2: What does it mean for our local film economy that 105 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 2: these big blockbusters are still coming to shoot in New Zealand. 106 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 1: It's everything to our local industry. They are coming in 107 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:03,479 Speaker 1: spend big money, so Minecraft will spend by the time 108 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 1: it's finished well over one hundred and fifty million dollars 109 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 1: in New Zealand's economy. So that is benefiting businesses accommodation 110 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:13,320 Speaker 1: what calls all the crew who work on it. It's 111 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:17,719 Speaker 1: fantastic for developing careers. So the experience that our crew 112 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:21,800 Speaker 1: gain on a project like Minecraft is phenomenal and they 113 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:24,160 Speaker 1: get a credit like that on their CV and they 114 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:27,119 Speaker 1: go on to bigger and better things. Also, the work 115 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:31,240 Speaker 1: for our post production industry, so Wetter Affects did a 116 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 1: lot of the visual effects for Minecraft. It's fantastic work 117 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 1: for them. And we're talking highly skilled, very well paid jobs. 118 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:44,599 Speaker 1: These are jobs that set up our people for a 119 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:50,240 Speaker 1: career in a creative, rewarding, fantastic industry that actually will 120 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:54,440 Speaker 1: pay them quite well. 121 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:57,440 Speaker 6: I understand that this is a risk averse industry. I 122 00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:00,240 Speaker 6: get it, But at two hundred million dollar movie are 123 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:03,719 Speaker 6: also a risk, you know, and it doesn't always work out, 124 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 6: but you take the risk anyway, and instead of making 125 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:08,640 Speaker 6: one two hundred million dollar movie, try making twenty ten 126 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 6: million dollar movies or fifty fifty right, fifty four million 127 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 6: dollar movies. 128 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:24,560 Speaker 2: There have been global concerns around the rising cost of 129 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:28,080 Speaker 2: film production. It's been a topic of conversation at CinemaCon 130 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 2: in Las Vegas just this week with President of Warner 131 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 2: Brothers Global Distribution Jeff Goldstein, raising concerns around production, marketing 132 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 2: and turning a profit. Are we seeing those same concerns 133 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 2: impact New Zealand. 134 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:45,440 Speaker 1: I think rising costs are a concern across the board, 135 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 1: not just for the film industry. Inflation has affected every 136 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 1: facet of our economy, so film is no exception to that. 137 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 1: What we are doing here at the Film Commission about 138 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 1: that is we are taking a fewer and bigger mantra 139 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 1: to the way that wes. We're seeing a similar mindset 140 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 1: out of Hollywood two. So there has been a global 141 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:10,720 Speaker 1: reduction in the number of new titles being commissioned, so 142 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:14,920 Speaker 1: a bit more money being spent on fewer titles. What 143 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:18,800 Speaker 1: that means is that we're able to focus on fewer 144 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:22,160 Speaker 1: things doing them really, really well. What I see there 145 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 1: is a real uplift and quality. So rather than sprinkling money, 146 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:28,280 Speaker 1: you know, a little bit across a lot of things, 147 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 1: consolidating into spending more money on fewer things. 148 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 2: Our our tax credits enough to entice studios to come 149 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 2: make their movies at the bottom of the world. I 150 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:52,320 Speaker 2: know a lot of horror movies like ex Perl and 151 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:56,160 Speaker 2: Meghan filmed here during COVID and Universal did return here 152 00:08:56,240 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 2: to film Megan two point oh as well, Hey, exactly. 153 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 1: Now, I just want to correct one thing. It's not 154 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:06,439 Speaker 1: a tax credit. It's a common misconception. The rebate has 155 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:09,400 Speaker 1: nothing to do with tax It's a cash rebate. So 156 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:12,200 Speaker 1: if a production comes in and spends one hundred dollars, 157 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:14,960 Speaker 1: they get a twenty dollars rebate on the spend that 158 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:18,880 Speaker 1: qualifies in New Zealand. So it's a very efficient and 159 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:22,720 Speaker 1: fast system. So we are world renowned for having an accurate, 160 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 1: fast and efficient rebate system and one that has integrity. 161 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 1: So that is a real selling point for New Zealand 162 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:33,800 Speaker 1: and I'm very proud of my team that administers the rebate. 163 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 1: So the rebate, in terms of the amount that's offered, 164 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:39,880 Speaker 1: the percentage sits around the middle of the pack. There's 165 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 1: about one hundred places around the world as places, because 166 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:45,280 Speaker 1: they're not countries. Some countries have several, but there's one 167 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 1: hundred odd places around the world that offer rebates ours. 168 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:51,600 Speaker 1: It's around about the middle and it's part of the 169 00:09:51,679 --> 00:09:56,600 Speaker 1: offering that we have for international production. We've also got 170 00:09:57,040 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 1: a very flexible labor market. We've got incredible creative crew. 171 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:04,080 Speaker 1: We've got you know, Oscar winners up the Wazoo in 172 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:07,199 Speaker 1: New Zealand that we should be incredibly proud of. So 173 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:12,480 Speaker 1: they come here for premium production, really strong creative, a 174 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:15,760 Speaker 1: favorable exchange rate. If you're coming this way from America, 175 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:18,920 Speaker 1: of course, you get very good value on screen, and 176 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 1: the American companies that we deal with are very quick 177 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:24,840 Speaker 1: to say that they get the best value for money 178 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:28,480 Speaker 1: in New Zealand. We're not looking to attract everything to 179 00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 1: New Zealand. We are a premium filmmaking destination. We are 180 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:36,000 Speaker 1: very very good at it here in New Zealand. I 181 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:39,200 Speaker 1: think I'd really love New Zealanders to understand that this 182 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:42,240 Speaker 1: is something that we are incredibly good at and we 183 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:44,640 Speaker 1: don't want everyone in the world coming here. We want 184 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:47,560 Speaker 1: the best, so that's what we get with things like 185 00:10:47,760 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 1: a Minecraft movie, Sweet Tooth, East of Eden, fantastic series 186 00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:55,040 Speaker 1: that Netflix have been shooting here, Heart of the Beast, 187 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 1: which is Brad pittsfilm being shot around Queenstown quite soon. 188 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:02,520 Speaker 1: So we're premium. We do it well. 189 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:05,600 Speaker 2: What is the process of trying to get studios to 190 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 2: film in New Zealand. I can imagine that it just 191 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:11,160 Speaker 2: takes years. I mean, do you know something that's going 192 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:13,839 Speaker 2: to be filmed here saying five years time, Well. 193 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:17,160 Speaker 1: We've had Avatar shooting here for a number of years 194 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 1: and a few more years to come. So Avatar three, 195 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 1: which I think is called Fire and Ash, will release 196 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:26,079 Speaker 1: later this year. The Avatar has put about a billion 197 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 1: dollars into our economy. The wonderful thing about those longer 198 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:33,319 Speaker 1: running titles is that somebody can come in in terms 199 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:35,840 Speaker 1: of career development. They can come into the first one 200 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:38,040 Speaker 1: or series one, whatever you want to call it, as 201 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:40,319 Speaker 1: a runner or an intern and they can come out 202 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:42,880 Speaker 1: at the other end of the fifth title in five, six, 203 00:11:42,960 --> 00:11:46,000 Speaker 1: seven years as a head of department. So they're fantastic 204 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:49,960 Speaker 1: for career development. Wonderful four putting a spotlight on New 205 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:53,559 Speaker 1: Zealand internationally. So to have a filmmaker of the caliber 206 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:56,360 Speaker 1: of Jim Cameron now I think almost now a New 207 00:11:56,440 --> 00:12:00,360 Speaker 1: Zealand citizen. He's been very vocal about saying he loves 208 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:02,720 Speaker 1: New Zealand, he wants to make all his movies here. 209 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:05,640 Speaker 1: I mean, this is one of the biggest best filmmakers 210 00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:08,360 Speaker 1: of all time, who's chosen to live in Wellington and 211 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:11,360 Speaker 1: make all his stuff there, So you know, we do 212 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:16,600 Speaker 1: an incredibly good job. The attraction work starts years earlier, 213 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:21,720 Speaker 1: and it starts with very strong relationships that my international 214 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:25,960 Speaker 1: attraction team have built with the decision makers, mostly in 215 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:28,360 Speaker 1: Los Angeles because that is where the bulk of this 216 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:31,840 Speaker 1: work comes from. So we have a team who are 217 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:35,439 Speaker 1: frequently in the LA market. Our head of international Attraction, 218 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:38,040 Speaker 1: Philippo Mossman, is up there right now. She'll be there 219 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 1: for a good month or so. She's gathering intel constantly, 220 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 1: whether she's there or here, and figuring out who to 221 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:48,000 Speaker 1: talk to, what are they doing next, where are they considering, 222 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:51,199 Speaker 1: How can we help? And we have a very quick 223 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 1: responsive attraction team who will provide information to the decision makers, 224 00:12:56,080 --> 00:12:58,320 Speaker 1: whether they want locations, whether they want to look at 225 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:01,840 Speaker 1: their budgeting, they need to talk to a local line producer, 226 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:04,719 Speaker 1: what's the crew availability. We help with all of that. 227 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:12,719 Speaker 5: The one thing I left New Zealand remembering is how 228 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 5: warm the people were, and how generous and kind and 229 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:20,480 Speaker 5: welcoming they are. Just they just are very happy people, 230 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 5: and of course they're happy they live in New Zealand. 231 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:26,439 Speaker 4: It's an interesting industry because it has a lot of 232 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:29,480 Speaker 4: offshoots outside of the actual movie that you're making, and 233 00:13:29,520 --> 00:13:32,760 Speaker 4: it has a lot of benefits for the economy, for 234 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:37,560 Speaker 4: local economies, and especially with something like these movies, they 235 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:41,000 Speaker 4: generate tourism. You know, there's you know, I can't really 236 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:44,680 Speaker 4: think of any other industry, in any industry that has 237 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:47,600 Speaker 4: the reach and the depth. 238 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:52,199 Speaker 2: I mean, you go overseas, you speak to anyone, they 239 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 2: find out you live in New Zealand and they ask 240 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:58,000 Speaker 2: you about Hobbits in terms of the behemoth that the 241 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:01,040 Speaker 2: Lord of the Rings franchise is to New Zealand and 242 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:03,720 Speaker 2: how important it is to our tourism. Do you think 243 00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:06,840 Speaker 2: that we're ever going to see something like that replicated? 244 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:07,160 Speaker 3: Again? 245 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:11,160 Speaker 1: Absolutely so. Lord of the Rings has been an incredible 246 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:14,600 Speaker 1: boom to New Zealand tourism and to New Zealand generally 247 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:17,320 Speaker 1: in terms of putting us on the map. So we're 248 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:19,680 Speaker 1: more than the all Blacks now and we have been 249 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 1: for a very long time, and we have to acknowledge 250 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:25,720 Speaker 1: the incredible work of Sir Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa 251 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 1: Boyans and others in creating that phenomenon. They're now busy 252 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:33,040 Speaker 1: making the Hobbit. So the Hobbit film is the next 253 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 1: in that dynasty, and it will be out in the 254 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 1: next few years, and just see what an impact that 255 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:43,920 Speaker 1: has on New Zealand tourism all over again. While you know, 256 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:46,880 Speaker 1: it's been a while between drinks, though some of you 257 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:49,760 Speaker 1: may have seen The War of Rahrem, which was the 258 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:54,000 Speaker 1: really beautiful anime Hobbit story that came out late last year. 259 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 1: There will be another big boom around the Hobbit film, 260 00:14:58,040 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 1: but there also is around Minecraft. You know, the work 261 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 1: that was done to create a Minecraft game that has 262 00:15:04,680 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 1: specific New Zealand downloadable content. So these locations like White 263 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:15,640 Speaker 1: or More Caves, the able Tasma, National Techapal, Doubtful Sound, Kapit, 264 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 1: the Island, those are all locations in a Minecraft game now, 265 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:24,680 Speaker 1: so any Minecraft player can download those locations and play 266 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:27,960 Speaker 1: in them. So the benefit to New Zealand tourrism of 267 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:31,520 Speaker 1: that sort of creative content is really hard to put 268 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:33,640 Speaker 1: a value on. It's just enormous. 269 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:36,160 Speaker 2: I don't know if you've ever sat through a Marvel 270 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:39,320 Speaker 2: movie to watch the post credits scene Annie, but it 271 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:42,320 Speaker 2: can be a surprise sometimes to see the New Zealand 272 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:45,560 Speaker 2: government logo show up there near the end, and it's 273 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:48,240 Speaker 2: usually for things like post production or visual effects work 274 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:50,920 Speaker 2: that's been done here. Is it right though, that we're 275 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:55,440 Speaker 2: offering those rebates to these multinational studios to make their 276 00:15:55,520 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 2: movies here when they've got insane. New Zealand can't even 277 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:01,480 Speaker 2: comprehend the money behind these studios, right. 278 00:16:01,840 --> 00:16:04,920 Speaker 1: So the thing with that, the rebate, which we call 279 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:09,160 Speaker 1: it the PDV the post production and Digital visual effects rebate, 280 00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:12,640 Speaker 1: that's all about creating New Zealand jobs. So there are 281 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 1: jobs behind every one of those names that you see 282 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:18,440 Speaker 1: up there in the New Zealand section of the credits. 283 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:22,560 Speaker 1: And for every one hundred dollars that Disney or you know, 284 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:26,480 Speaker 1: Universal or whoever spends in New Zealand, they get twenty 285 00:16:26,520 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 1: dollars back. We get eighty dollars spent in our economy 286 00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:32,960 Speaker 1: that we would not get otherwise. It's a really simple equation. 287 00:16:33,560 --> 00:16:36,880 Speaker 1: If that company doesn't get the rebate, they go elsewhere. 288 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:39,200 Speaker 1: They go to Australia, they go to Canada, they go 289 00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:42,840 Speaker 1: to the UK and Europe. We must offer the rebate 290 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:46,360 Speaker 1: in order for our economy to benefit from that eighty 291 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:47,560 Speaker 1: percent of their spend. 292 00:16:47,760 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 3: Any are you optimistic for the future of New Zealand film. 293 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 1: Oh. Absolutely, We've got fantastic projects coming through. I mean, 294 00:16:55,320 --> 00:16:58,240 Speaker 1: just if we talk for a minute about the international side. 295 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:01,840 Speaker 1: On the inbound production side, we've got Avatar, Fire and Ash. 296 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:04,400 Speaker 1: We've got Meghan two, which you mentioned. The cool thing 297 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:06,800 Speaker 1: about that is that it's directed by a New Zealander 298 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:09,320 Speaker 1: did a fantastic job with the first one. He's going 299 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:12,479 Speaker 1: again on Megan two. We've got Spartacus, House of Asher. 300 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:15,280 Speaker 1: So those are some of the inbound productions that will 301 00:17:15,320 --> 00:17:17,679 Speaker 1: release this year. But on the cultural side, on the 302 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:21,000 Speaker 1: New Zealand film side, we've got a couple that I'm 303 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:24,680 Speaker 1: super proud of. So the Marlon Williams documentary, which will 304 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:28,359 Speaker 1: release in time for Music Month at the beginning of May. 305 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:33,679 Speaker 1: Really beautiful story, Marlon's story of recording his new album 306 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:37,879 Speaker 1: interil Maldi, where he's really vulnerable about how he found 307 00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:41,120 Speaker 1: that his anxiety around being a second language learner. It's 308 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:43,800 Speaker 1: a really lovely story. Then later in the year, we've 309 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:47,960 Speaker 1: got Pike River, profoundly powerful story with Robin Malcolm and 310 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:51,800 Speaker 1: Melanie Lynsky starring as two of the women who lost 311 00:17:51,840 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 1: their men in the Pike River. Mine tragedy. So, you know, 312 00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:59,919 Speaker 1: very diverse and interesting and powerful stories coming out of 313 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:02,240 Speaker 1: New Zealand and I'm really super proud of them. 314 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:03,880 Speaker 3: Thanks for joining us, Annie. 315 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:05,000 Speaker 1: You're welcome. Thank you, Chelsea. 316 00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:11,960 Speaker 2: That's it for this episode of the Front Page. You 317 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:15,800 Speaker 2: can read more about today's stories and extensive news coverage 318 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:19,840 Speaker 2: at enzdhrald dot co dot nz. The Front Page is 319 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:23,639 Speaker 2: produced by Ethan Sills and Richard Martin, who is also 320 00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:24,879 Speaker 2: our sound engineer. 321 00:18:25,359 --> 00:18:26,840 Speaker 3: I'm Chelsea Daniels. 322 00:18:27,440 --> 00:18:30,600 Speaker 2: Subscribe to the Front Page on iHeartRadio or wherever you 323 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:34,520 Speaker 2: get your podcasts, and tune in on Monday for another 324 00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:36,200 Speaker 2: look behind the headlines.