Kumeu Film Studio
As many of you may have heard in February, the new Kumeu Film Studios in West Auckland are greenlit and open for business. We are very happy to re-run the fantastic news – for the entire New Zealand industry – here.
The Studios have been secured through the New Zealand Government Screen Production Grant’s 5% uplift and a partnership between the NZFC, ATEED, Warner Bros. Pictures and Gravity Pictures and the owner of the Studio’s 27-hectare site.
The site was initially used for the filming of director Jon Turteltaub’s MEG, an upcoming science fiction action thriller slated for worldwide release beginning March 2, 2018, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Gravity Pictures.
ATEED has signed a long-term lease on the site, and will initially operate the studio complex. The lease includes a clause for the construction of a purpose-built soundstage to be undertaken by the private owner.
The privately owned site already includes the first two film-studio water tanks ever built in NZ: an indoor 5m deep, 1.3 million litre dive tank with pure heated water; and an outdoor 3m deep, 2.5 million litre ocean horizon tank backed by an 864m² green screen wall.
The studio also has a 4,036m² stage, production offices, a workshop and manufacturing space, and a sought-after forested back lot.
This landmark partnership signals an exciting new era for screen production in Auckland and strengthens NZ’s screen production offering in the global arena.
While Auckland currently has a strong slate of local and international production, its full potential has been hampered to a degree by the lack of a large-scale studio complex… Kumeu Film Studio changes this.
This announcement is the culmination of several years of really hard work, and I would like to acknowledge all the key players including our own staff and Harry Harrison from ATEED… his energy and enthusiasm has been a major factor in securing this film studio which has the potential to significantly increase the economic impact of the screen industry in NZ.
If you would like to receive more information about Kumeu Film Studio, please email harry.harrison@aucklandnz.com
