South Island Perspectives
The South Island has so much to offer those looking to film content here. The capabilities we boast are world class as reflected back by the level of work that our considerably diverse talent has been engaging in.
We have a full range of experienced practitioners starting with above the line talent through to highly skilled technicians from every department including production, camera and lighting, sound, art department, stunts, post-production, special effects, animation, and music.
Our people have experience in everything from feature films, television series, and commercials right through to short films and online marketing content.
With every successfully completed project, we prove we have the knowledge and experience to make any kind of project happen.
Te Wai Pounamu has its own brand of star quality. The stunning landscapes of the south island are breathtaking and simply unparalleled around the globe but do come at a cost. Our South Island crews are well-versed at showing grit and resilience in the face of ever-changing environmental considerations including looking out for and occasionally filming in the extreme weather conditions that can catch the inexperienced unawares.
Our location scouts and line producers are being kept especially busy with many overseas companies wanting to film here, especially now as New Zealand is heading back to a semblance of ‘business as usual’.
We decided to round up a few South Islanders to find out what they’ve been up to so here’s a few words from the movers and shakers who are out there working and making their mark.
PICTON
VICTORIA DABBS – Line-Producer, Feature Films
https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm2102925
Mobile: 021 208 1141
Victoria began working as a PA for BBC1 in the UK. She began line-producing in 2012 and in 2014 was brought onto an adaptation of Sunset Song, directed by Terence Davies. They were looking for locations that could pass as Scotland in the summer and ended up filming in Canterbury for four days. This was her introduction to filming in New Zealand and she loved it so much she has made her home here. She has worked on several projects since, one of her favourites being The Changeover, filmed in Christchurch in 2016.
In 2019 she established ‘Share the Knowledge’ with Producer Emma Slade which is an ongoing professional development series with the ethos of ‘by practitioners, for practitioners’. It has proved incredibly popular. In addition, she is collaborating with a number of NZ Line-Producers in order to promote the South Island as a destination for international productions.
Victoria is also developing a feature that is a co-production between Scotland and New Zealand which will hopefully be shooting in Christchurch and on the West Coast this November. Victoria has been collaborating with Christchurch Line-Producer Amanda Jenkins on the development of scripts and projects that focus on New Zealand stories with a strong cultural voice and sense of place that manages to connect with an international audience.
She feels that the screen industry here currently has many exciting opportunities for growth ahead of us as we all work towards taking a more collaborative approach.
KINA SCOLLAY – Underwater DOP
http://www.kinascollay.com, Mobile: 027 233 8884
Kina Scollay is an award-winning filmmaker with extensive experience as a cameraman, DOP, and Producer. He specialises in shooting underwater footage for documentaries, dramas, and feature films and he also manages water operations for large productions working with the likes of Discovery, BBC, Netflix, Warner Bros, Dreamworks, Wingnut, New Line, National Geographic, TVNZ, Greenstone, and South Pacific Pictures.
His company has the most extensive camera and production kit which allows them to take Arri and RED technology underwater. His work tends to take him away from Picton but the Marlborough Sounds is still one of his favourite places to shoot. Other locations he loves are Fiordland, and the far reaches of Stewart Island.
He feels the industry is full of opportunities at the moment. He is busier than he ever expected to be considering the global impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. He feels this is 100% down to New Zealand’s handling of the crisis and after initially seeing shoots disappear, they are now full steam ahead.
CHRISTCHURCH
CHRIS SINCLAIR - Sound Recordist Engineer
https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm0801588
Mobile: 027 865 1545
Chris Sinclair is a Christchurch-based sound mixer who started his impressive career 30 years ago with the record label Deepgrooves, in Auckland. He moved into feature films in Scotland and was heavily involved in building the first Dolby Premier room in Great Britain.
In 2010, he moved to Christchurch and has built an impressive portfolio of work which includes Westside, Demolition NZ, Changing South, The Sounds, and the TVNZ and BBC co-production The Luminaries. He has recently worked on three short films Milk, Peninsula, and The Meek as well as a feature with Canterbury-based Producer, Nadia Maxwell called Reunion.
He feels that the floodgates are now open, with many rushing to meet original schedules for feature films. International commercials are starting up again keeping things continuously busy. The capabilities of those located in the south island are more than up to the task of meeting the increasing levels of demand.
CLAYTON TIKAO – Location Scout/Manager/Supervisor
Mobile: 027 293 7308
Clayton Tikao is a vastly experienced location manager and scout who has worked on numerous high-budget films including The Hobbit, Pete’s Dragon, A Wrinkle in Time, and Adrift. He was also the supervising location manager for the feature documentary Dinosaurs of Antarctica. He just finished working on Only Cloud Knows, a Chinese movie filmed near Aoraki Mount Cook and Kaikoura.
He believes that decision-makers overseas are no longer being put off filming in NZ due to distance, thanks to our government’s pandemic management. There is also an abundance of space and different kinds of landscapes which are located within close proximity to each other making the South Island an incredibly valuable resource for more complex and high-budget shoots.
“Our Screen Industry has gone from gloom to boom. We now have a unique opportunity to leverage ourselves as being one of the key filmmaking hubs in the world.”
ZAC BECKETT-KNIGHT – Camera Assist, Remote Streaming
Mobile: 027 427 8252
Zac started as a camera assistant straight out of university and then spent a lot of time overseas on adventure travel videography jobs. He has gone to some crazy places and pulled crazy hours for very little money but he has had a great deal of fun and learned invaluable skills about how to go the extra mile to get the best shot.
The last few years have seen Zac settle in Christchurch where he has built a small Grip and Gaff combo truck to service commercials in the Canterbury region. His skills are highly sought after and he now offers Setlink satellite remote streaming services in addition to the rest.
He loves gear and enjoys working across all technical aspects of a production.
He thinks that the industry is in a pretty interesting place at the moment. He has seen the vast majority of professionals here look to see the opportunity rather than bemoan the upheaval. “The South Island is a hotbed of innovation and is burning for the chance to grow.”
QUEENSTOWN
ROGER FEENSTRA – Aerial Camera Operator, 1st AC
Roger Feenstra is well known as a 1st AC focus puller and Aerial DOP/Operator. He has been in the film industry for over 35 years, starting off as a grip for the National Film Unit, then going freelance as a Grip, and Clapper-Loader (2nd AC), and focus-Puller. His love of camera work and the South Island have kept his feet firmly in place here.
Over the past six years, he has been working as an Aerial cinematographer/operator for Mulan, The Letter for the King, Adrift, The Skypiercer, Pork Pie, Wrinkle in Time, Pete’s Dragon and Richie McCaw’s biopic, Chasing Great. He is currently shooting aerial footage for Amazon’s Lord of the Rings series when required, which is one of his most rewarding projects to date.
Roger believes that as the industry changes due to Covid, budgets will fluctuate and need to rely on crews to provide cost-efficient workflow solutions that ensure that projects will be able to continue. Adaptability and flexibility will be key, something South Islanders are known for having in spades.
MIKE PUGH – Caterer
Mobile: 027 203 2891
Mike’s foray into the film industry as a chef began in 1999 working for Colin Sutherland on Vertical Limit. The conditions were incredible and he found he had to adapt to a constantly changing environment. This left him with a robust skill set that he then transferred onto other projects such as The Lord of the Rings, Kong, and The Last Samurai. The adaptability he’s learned on set has left him in good stead as he navigates through the issues and challenges presented by Covid-19.
He and his business partner, Harriet Fyfe, will continue to work hard to keep film crews well nourished and happy - these are the primary objectives of Forte Food. They are looking forward to seeing what opportunities will come up for them next.
JOHN ALLAN – Art Director
Mobile: 0274 301 604
John is an Art Director and Production Designer with over 25 years of experience working on feature films, TV dramas, and commercials both internationally and here in NZ. He has worked on projects such as The Matrix trilogy and Wolverine.
He first got a job as a swing driver on Brotherhood of the Rose but it wasn’t until 1992, when he was hired to work with the greens department on Muriel’s Wedding in Sydney, that he went full-time in the industry.
He’d always wanted to design and build his own house and after 18 months of work on The Matrix, he moved back to Queenstown in 2002 to do just that. This is where he still resides.
Although international TVC’s are not coming through at the moment, he is sure there will be a burst of work once the borders reopen. He also feels we have an opportunity like never before to get some of the longer format, episodic work. “We have vacant buildings that can be used to build sets. We have highly capable crew and gear.” He’s looking forward to seeing what opportunities will begin to open up.
STACY DUNN – Makeup/Wardrobe
https://www.facebook.com/MADEUPQUEENSTOWN
Mobile: 021 827 773
Stacy is a freelance stylist and make-up artist who has worked in the industry for over 16 years. She also owns a business called Made Up, where they hire out a fit-for-purpose costume and make-up vehicle, make-up mirrors, costume racks, steamers, and lots of other goodies for small shoots based locally.
She was hit pretty hard by the Covid-19 lockdown but is staying positive in her outlook. She believes that the industry will make a strong comeback due to the quality of crew available and of course the wealth of breathtaking locations.
“I love this insane industry and adore all the creatives I get to work alongside. I cannot wait to get stuck back in!”
DUNEDIN
REBECCA ROWE – Production Coordinator
Mobile: 021 944 288
Rebecca likes to keep her working world diverse so in the past 16 years she’s worked in a variety of different departments including Production, Art Department, Casting, Post Production, Publicity, and now as a Production Coordinator.
One of her favourite stories is working on Z for Zachariah in Port Levy while 6 ½ months pregnant; this is also where she got married in a church that the Art Department had built.
She feels that right now is a golden opportunity to showcase the South Island as a destination that is safe, skilled, and stunning. She also believes it’s a great time to generate domestic content that can cater to international audiences.
CINDY DIVER – Casting Director
Mobile: 0274 314 025
Cindy Diver is a casting director and acting coach based in Dunedin at Theatreworks Ltd. She started her casting career assisting the phenomenal Di Rowan in 1990 on the films Jurassic Park 2 and Peter Pan. Di’s way of working with actors, especially child actors, was instrumental in the development of Cindy’s own style as a casting director and acting teacher.
She is passionate about working in Te Wai Pounamu and for the past five years has noticed a steadily increasing demand for actor-required work. Pre-covid, the amount of work coming in was looking to reach a sustainable level for local crew.
Dunedin has an amazing, diverse landscape, from mountains, waterfalls, and rolling countryside to stark hills, rocks, and big sky. In addition to this, she feels that there is a strong, robust community of creative professionals who are always willing to collaborate on projects.
Cindy is currently working on casting some very exciting locally based film and TV projects. She is excited to see what opportunities will come up next.
HOKITIKA
DAVE KWANT – DOP, Drone & Camera Operator
Dave is a cinematographer and drone operator based on the West Coast and runs a company that produces documentaries and commercials. When larger productions come to town, his team often help with locations, camera, and drone operations. His company has a blanket DOC concession which is a big time saver.
In the last couple of years, he has been lucky to work on a few Screentime NZ shows and as a drone operator on The Luminaries. One of his favourite jobs was as a DOP on a concept trailer for an action thriller called Quandary. The American director was blown away by the variety of locations on the West Coast. They were able to shoot in areas that included rainforest, rivers, and glaciers in just over 3 days. The director was impressed with what they were able to achieve with a small crew in very little time.
Dave has noticed that things are starting to move again. He has had a lot of inquiries post-Covid from businesses wanting to renew their focus on marketing, which is great news for anyone in commercial production. He also feels there is a greater sense of urgency from clients to get things moving a bit quicker than usual. He feels that if you can offer a fresh and nimble approach, you’ll do well.
INVERCARGILL
MEI LING AU – On-set PA, Chinese Translator
Mobile: +64 21173 5259
Originally hailed from Malaysia, Mei has been calling Southland home since 2009. Over the past six years she has had a diverse range of roles come her way including Location PA, Driver, Runner, Production Assistant, Set PA, Interpreter/Translator, and Assistant Production Coordinator. Working on Mulan was a highlight and she enjoyed working with a great AD team as an on-set PA for the 2nd Unit.
Thanks in large part to the support of her employer, The Southern Institute of Technology, she has had many opportunities for professional growth alongside working in her role as a Video Editor at the SIT Production Unit. Her ability to speak Mandarin and Cantonese has come in very handy when productions have needed translation services.
Mei thinks the industry is going to make a rapid comeback as many larger projects have already started back. She believes the ecosystem will continue to grow and that this will have a flow-on effect for everyone. The fact that New Zealand has done so much to eliminate the Covid-19 virus might be the point of difference needed to bring in overseas investment opportunities and to expand further onto the international scene.
She believes that the South Island is blessed with skilled crew, innovators, creators, and talented content makers. She thinks that with the talent we have and the beautiful locations, these new opportunities will see us flying ahead.
