Following hot on the heels of the Co-Production Treaty signed on Wednesday in China, between New Zealand’s Prime Minister, John Key, and the Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao, Film Auckland hosted the Head of Hengdian Film Studios, Mr Liu Zhijiang. The Studio is a substantial player in Chinese production and boasts a 1:1 scale set of the very impressive Forbidden City. In addition to infrastructure the Hengdian Studios has creative talent, such as directors, and writers, under contract.

Film Auckland with the support of Waitakere City, and the Mayor Bob Harvey, led a delegation in 2007 that first established relationships with Chinese film officials. The delegation was organised by Waitakere City Council, and Mr Jim He, of the Pacific Culture and Arts Exchange Centre, with support from Film Auckland. It was at that time that Film Auckland realised the enormous potential of co-productions with China and began to lobby the New Zealand government for a Co-production Treaty with China.

Film Auckland has built up close relationships with Chinese producers and film officials supported by the bi-annual New Zealand film festivals in China, and Chinese film festivals in New Zealand. The festivals provide a high level diplomacy with China and have connected the industry with senior Chinese film officials who have appreciated the reciprocal arrangement.

From 2008 – 2009 the Chinese box office grew by a massive 42% and in the first quarter of this year continued to climb again by another 80%. Film Auckland recognises that this massive growth is unmatched anywhere else in the World and is supported by a Chinese government determined to exceed the US box office within a decade or less.

Film Auckland Board member, Pete Rive, and Waitakere City Mayor Bob Harvey, recently led another delegation to China in June to prepare for the eagerly anticipated Co-production Treaty. Pete Rive said, “This is very exciting for the New Zealand film industry and there are a number of co-production projects already in development. This is precisely the sort of support we need from our government to underpin our existing work for APN, (the Asia Pacific Producer’s Network) that we will host in Auckland in 2011.”

Michael Brook, the Executive Manager of Film Auckland said, “It is great that this visit from Hengdian has come about from the recent trade delegation. We are forging strong links with key industry players in China and they are all genuinely interested in doing business with New Zealand.”

ENDS

Film Auckland markets Auckland as a film production and post-production location to international film and television producers, providing contact with local facilities, services and personnel, as well as facilitating liaison with relevant local body and government organizations and developing industry infrastructure. Established and governed by a board of film industry practitioners, Film Auckland is operated by executive manager Michael Brook.

Film Auckland is sponsored by: Auckland City Council, Waitakere Enterprise, Ernst & Young, Heletranz/Tony Monk Films, Minter Ellison Rudd Watts, Pieter Holl & associates, Onfilm/The Databook, Sony, The Hilton, Digipost, Panavision.

For more information

Michael Brook
Executive Manager – Film Auckland
michael@filmauckland.com
Ph 0275 303 343

< Back to news page

TVC | Feature Film | TV Series | Games | Post Production

Email
info@filmauckland.com

Physical address
Level 8, 139 Quay Street, Auckland, New Zealand

Postal address
PO Box 5561, Wellesley Street, Auckland 1141, New Zealand

All content © Film Auckland 2008. Website by Gravitate