One Year On, the Film Industry Is Back

March 25, 2021, marked the one-year anniversary of New Zealand’s Level 4 COVID-19 lockdown.

One year later, local feature, Cousins, has just passed the $1M dollar mark at the box office - the second film in the last 12 months to do so, and the third to reach over 50,000 admissions. Production levels across the country are high, with both local and international productions keeping New Zealand’s skilled screen professionals employed.

None of these things felt even remotely possible in March 2020.

In earlier issues, Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) has shared how we re-allocated funding to programmes that could benefit the screen sector during this period and assisted in the development of the Screen Sector Health and Safety Protocols. Further support came through new programmes via the New Zealand Government’s support with the Screen Sector Recovery Package announced in July 2020.

When we went into Level 4, there were 47 New Zealand productions at various stages of production, and thousands of New Zealand crew working on local and international productions, all of which were put into hiatus. To date, 42 of these have reached completion or are no longer held up by COVID, with the additional funding provided by the Government playing an important role.

The Screen Production Recovery Fund launched in August 2020 with $13.4M to support those productions that were shut down, delayed, or otherwise impacted by COVID-19 restrictions. As of the last week of March, just over $5M has been allocated to 27 narrative feature films, series, documentary features, and short films. Another 14 applications are currently being processed, and the fund managers hope to receive at least another ten applications before the final application deadline of 30 April. The fund is scheduled to close on 30 June.

To further support production, temporary provisions were made to the New Zealand Screen Production Grant (NZSPG) in July 2020 to allow for where criteria may have been impractical or impossible to meet under COVID-19. These temporary adjustments include: NZSPG Panel discretion around application deadlines, expenditure thresholds, flexibility around market attachment, non-government funding, and distribution. Applicants also have the option to submit an interim application.

24 NZSPG-NZ provisional certificates have been issued since the 25 March lockdown, with an estimated spend of over $91M. 20 of these projects have since started production.

Other recovery funds include The Screen Sector Capability Fund launched in September 2020 to support New Zealand’s screen sector to develop its business and technical capability to meet the challenges of a COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 environment. $550,000 has been allocated for the 2020/21 financial year to support screen sector organisations and sector-wide skills and industry development programmes.

Funding has been awarded to assist organisations with resilience and recovery as they continue to nourish the ecosystem of the industry and to maintain at least 85% of their membership or core function. Capability Funding sits alongside our regular industry development funding.

To date, organisations that have received Capability Funding support include smaller film festivals that had to reschedule or move their operations online in 2020, screen organisations that lost funding as a result of COVID-19, and programmes that support diversity and representation in underrepresented communities.

Funding has been allocated to programmes addressing identified areas of need within the screen sector. The Cinematographers’ Society was funded to run a programme designed to increase gender diversity in the camera department, and eight women were selected for practical placements. DEGNZ and Ngā Aho Whakaari have partnered to run two training workshops for Māori editors. SPADA and the Writers’ Guild partnered on a programme to help writers and producers build strong creative partnerships. Also funded have been courses for location managers and locations assistants.

The Screen Sector Capability Fund is currently closed to applications but will reopen shortly for programmes and organisations requiring support in the 2021/22 financial year.

As well as delivering these new funds, the NZFC has continued to run all its existing programmes. Since 1 July 2020, the NZFC has awarded over $500,000 in development funding, and a record $16M of production financing for New Zealand films has been committed.

The great thing is that production is happening throughout the country, not just in the main centres. We also have significant activity for international projects. At the time of writing, two international television series and one feature film have recently wrapped. Five feature films and two television series are in pre-production from A24, Amazon, 20th Century, Blumhouse, and NBC Universal. One feature and two television series, including a new series of Power Rangers, are filming in Auckland. There are three productions underway in the lower South Island, feature film The Royal Treatment about to wrap in Dunedin, and television series One Lane Bridge and Under the Vines elsewhere in Otago.

This period of peak production is obviously putting pressure on crew availability but is also creating opportunities for a new wave of filmmakers with New Zealand cast and crew gaining extensive on-the-job experience and the ability to move up and across to match the needs of the sector.

Balancing the level of incoming production with the demand for crews is a key consideration, but with both local and international productions working to their own timelines, it is not always possible to manage. The cyclical nature of film production has long led to periods of feast and famine for screen sectors all over the world. The increase in series drama being made in New Zealand will contribute to more consistent and sustainable employment.

The economic value of having such high levels of production is also worth noting. It is anticipated that between 1 July 2020 and 30 June 2021, international productions alone will trigger a spend of NZ$730 million. Nearly 4,000 people will be employed on international productions, with the Avatar sequels alone employing over 1,000 New Zealanders. In addition, international productions working with New Zealand post-production, digital and visual effects suppliers are estimated to trigger a spend of NZ$79 million. All this is good news for the businesses outside the screen sector – hospitality, accommodation, transport, etc. – that, according to research, receive 60% or more of screen production spend in New Zealand.

With screen content very much in demand globally, New Zealand is in a good position to deliver it. The NZFC remains committed to supporting the sector to thrive and for screen practitioners and businesses to maintain sustainable careers.

As you have probably already heard, I will be leaving the NZFC towards the end of May. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in New Zealand and I would like to take the opportunity, in my last contribution to this publication, to thank you all for everything you have done, and continue to do, to support this industry and the people working in it.

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