Film Industry Growth and Challenges
This update coming to you from the Northern Hemisphere - a long way from home but visual reminders of the deep south of NZ appear often enough on the screens here to make me feel at home!
The UK film business has developed into one of the most rapidly growing sectors of the British economy. Now a $3bn-a-year business (bigger than pharmaceuticals now in the UK in terms of employment and the revenues generated)
Its growth has been attributed to a few factors including:
- Successive governments maintaining tax incentives to encourage companies to make films in Britain.
- The making of blockbusters such as James Bond, Harry Potter and Star Wars in the UK encouraging the growth of a skilled workforce and cutting-edge technology.
- And finally the advantage of the English language, a great attraction for many American production companies.
The looming Brexit however is causing real concern, amongst other things what this will mean for the industry’s small army of skilled foreign workers?
Food for thought, and another reason for us to continue to lobby NZ Government regarding incentives and immigration...
Back home spring has well and truly sprung, the days down south have been warm and the snow is disappearing from our hills. Just time for one last snow-car job then!
The work has been ticking along with a couple of Aussie car TVCs coming thru early in the season and a steady selection of other jobs from Japan, US, Korea and NZ all keeping us busy.
A large chunk of Art Dept have been away prepping sets and sorting locations on the Chinese film Mulan in the Waitaki district - the local Hardware shop manager up there has been heard to say how great it was to be getting the extra business.
The regional film office for the lower half of the South Island – Film Otago Southland – recently launched a new website, with an improved Industry Directory tailored for local crew and businesses. Drop them a line if you’d like to set up a listing – www.filmotagosouthland.com
See you out there.
