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.
Showing posts with label the lovely bones. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the lovely bones. Show all posts
Saturday, 16 August 2008
Sunday, 30 March 2008
X-Men producer praises subsidy for blockbusters
From: Stuff.co.nz
By DAVID WILLIAMS
Government grants are essential for hooking big budget movies into coming back, the producer of the latest Hollywood blockbuster to film in New Zealand says.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine producer Ralph Winter, who cut his teeth on the Star Trek films and has produced the other three X-Men movies, told The Press from Sydney that the New Zealand Government's grant of 15 per cent made a huge difference.
"Particularly when the US dollar is taking a beating around the world and you're spending $15 million to $20m in New Zealand.
"We keep track of those things very, very carefully in our accounting department because those are big dollars."
Economic Development Minister Pete Hodgson said the Large Budget Screen Production Grant ensured New Zealand remained internationally competitive in the film sector.
"Since 2003 the Government has paid out just over $100m, which means that an additional $800m has been brought into the New Zealand economy."
Film New Zealand chief executive Judith McCann said the grants, introduced at 12.5 per cent in 2003 and lifted to 15 per cent last July, were crucial and had been hugely effective.
"Essentially it's to attract production here which generates more than 15 per cent of expenditures - it means you're attracting 85 per cent you wouldn't have had anyway."
McCann said the X-Men blockbuster was the first to be based out of Fox Studios in Sydney and filmed on both sides of the Tasman.
Location shooting in New Zealand for Wolverine finished at Easter. Filming will continue in Sydney until June, when post-production will move to Los Angeles.
Winter said he would love to work in New Zealand again.
Before filming, he talked to Wellington-based visual effects companies Weta Digital and Weta Workshop, co-owned by Peter Jackson, about working on Wolverine after using them on Fantastic Four and Rise of the Silver Surfer.
However, the companies were busy making Avatar and The Lovely Bones.
The producer said he could tell why the Narnia movies and Lord of the Rings were shot in Kiwi landscapes.
"The stuff in New Zealand is just extraordinary - it is unlike any other place on the Earth," he said.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine will be released in May 2009.
By DAVID WILLIAMS
Government grants are essential for hooking big budget movies into coming back, the producer of the latest Hollywood blockbuster to film in New Zealand says.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine producer Ralph Winter, who cut his teeth on the Star Trek films and has produced the other three X-Men movies, told The Press from Sydney that the New Zealand Government's grant of 15 per cent made a huge difference.
"Particularly when the US dollar is taking a beating around the world and you're spending $15 million to $20m in New Zealand.
"We keep track of those things very, very carefully in our accounting department because those are big dollars."
Economic Development Minister Pete Hodgson said the Large Budget Screen Production Grant ensured New Zealand remained internationally competitive in the film sector.
"Since 2003 the Government has paid out just over $100m, which means that an additional $800m has been brought into the New Zealand economy."
Film New Zealand chief executive Judith McCann said the grants, introduced at 12.5 per cent in 2003 and lifted to 15 per cent last July, were crucial and had been hugely effective.
"Essentially it's to attract production here which generates more than 15 per cent of expenditures - it means you're attracting 85 per cent you wouldn't have had anyway."
McCann said the X-Men blockbuster was the first to be based out of Fox Studios in Sydney and filmed on both sides of the Tasman.
Location shooting in New Zealand for Wolverine finished at Easter. Filming will continue in Sydney until June, when post-production will move to Los Angeles.
Winter said he would love to work in New Zealand again.
Before filming, he talked to Wellington-based visual effects companies Weta Digital and Weta Workshop, co-owned by Peter Jackson, about working on Wolverine after using them on Fantastic Four and Rise of the Silver Surfer.
However, the companies were busy making Avatar and The Lovely Bones.
The producer said he could tell why the Narnia movies and Lord of the Rings were shot in Kiwi landscapes.
"The stuff in New Zealand is just extraordinary - it is unlike any other place on the Earth," he said.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine will be released in May 2009.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
