'Wolverine' crew backed green guide

From: Otago Daily Times.
By James Beech

Hollywood star Hugh Jackman has thrown his support behind a "how-to zero waste" initiative launched this week by the Queenstown Lakes District Council in association with Film Queenstown.

The Sydney-born actor starred in and co-produced X-Men Origins: Wolverine, filmed on location around the Wakatipu earlier this year.

The producers volunteered to participate in the trial that has become the council's "Green Screen Guide and Directory".

"It's great to be a part of a project that benefits the local economy while looking after the environment," Jackman said in a statement.

"The cast and crew really got behind this initiative, and we are proud to be a part of the new generation of sustainable film makers."

Film Queenstown manager Kevin Jennings said the appeal of shooting international movies in the district was its pristine environment.

The council had produced a "first-class insurance policy" to keep it that way.

"Wolverine was enthusiastic to be involved. They were willingly audited and the results were outstanding.

"The outcome is you can watch the new movie in the knowledge that it comes with a significantly reduced carbon footprint.

"The production made 670 tonnes of waste - 615 tonnes, or 92%, of which was diverted from the landfill, saving the film company an estimated $55,000."

Film production companies spent $38.7 million in Otago-Southland in the 2007 financial year, Statistics New Zealand said.

There were up to four television commercial and still photography crews operating in the district last month.

Wolverine, Peter Jackson's Lovely Bones and a Dutch drama, Bride Flight, were among the film projects to visit in the past 12 months.

The guide, which included information about how to recycle in the various departments of a film production, will be supplied to all future productions in the area and is on the council's website.

Shooting for Wolverine set to commence in South Island

From:

[VIDEO]

Shooting is about to get underway in the South Island, for the highly anticipated X-Men movie, Wolverine.
Filming will take place around Queenstown and Dunedin over the next six weeks, but it seems it is taking more than just impressive scenery to attract movie producers down under.
The Queenstown film office is joining together with other regions to offer producers more than just mountains and lakes.
“It sort of makes it a one-stop through Queenstown,” Kevin Jennings from Film Queenstown said. “And then we can put them onto some of the other regions which might have a coastline, or barren hillsides, tussocks, clay cliffs or small towns.”
Last year’s vampire flick Perfect Creature chose Oamaru and Dunedin to achieve its dark gothic look.
Dutch film Bride Flight also shot in the two southern cities late last year, after struggling to find period locations further north.
International filmmakers also employ many local workers and say shooting down under is like a bit of a holiday.
But while films are perceived as the glamour projects, the Queenstown chairman of the Film Technican’s Guild says it is the overseas advertisements that often appeal to crew.
“The commercials are for me, more of the glamour shots,” Joshua Dunn from the Film Technician’s Guild said. “More helicopters, more rushing around, more crazy hours, more unpredictable locations. But film once it’s cranking along, is a bit more of a big machine.”
A machine that is expected to continue to grow, with at least three more film projects rumoured to be heading south over the coming year.