Canterbury's Film Industry Resilience
It feels like we are all taking a deep sigh of relief now that we are allowed back to work. We have - yet again - shown how resilient we are as an industry.
Our economic ecosystem may have taken a beating due to Covid-19, but it has been great to see our industry guilds offering a great deal of support and getting stuck into working out the safety protocols infrastructure which enabled many of us to get back to work quickly and safely. Slowly, productions are getting back up and running, and international and domestic projects are being put on the table to quote.
The Christchurch Branch met over zoom meetings during lockdown but have had our first face-to-face meetup hosted by Screen Canterbury NZ and Cat House Films. It was a great night of catching up on the latest news while enjoying food, wine, and beer. Another meetup is planned at Lumiere Cinema on July 6th, where we’ll be celebrating the premiere of guild members Scott Flyger & Fiona Mackenzie’s short film Peninsula and Director Nick Mclean’s satire Don’t be Frank.
Most of us are waiting to see what happens next while we continue to navigate through this ‘new normal,’ especially as our borders are still closed. The NZAPG, SIGNZ, NZFC, and SPADA have been working really hard at negotiating with immigration to open communication channels with producers from overseas. We currently have interest from Japan, Germany, France, the US, Korea, and Australia. Domestic work is beginning to line up as well, as New Zealand-based businesses are realising they need to invest in advertising even more than before.
A current Crew List is being put together for those based in the South Island, as well as the suppliers who are key collaborators in the production space.
In the meantime, Canterbury ski season is in full swing with Mt Hutt and the regional clubs boasting impressive openings with heaps of fresh powder and plenty of people heading up the slopes.
Overall, the vibe here in Canterbury is a positive one. Our capable people are ready to embrace the opportunities that have already begun to present.
