NHNZ Inks First Korean Co Production Deal

Media Release
NHNZ
Wednesday August 19th 2009

NHNZ Inks First Korean Co Production Deal

Dunedin based television production company NHNZ has teamed up with Korean broadcaster MBC to produce a one hour special on the wildlife of Korea’s demilitarised zone (DMZ) – the no go area separating North and South Korea.

Created in 1953, the DMZ is one of the last remnants of the Cold War as well as one of the world’s most heavily guarded borders.

NHNZ executive vice president of development and marketing Neil Harraway said the partnership presented a filmmaking opportunity that was “simply too fascinating to pass up”.

“The DMZ is one of the most militaristic yet stunningly beautiful places in the world. The program will showcase the wonderful creatures that flourish in this bizarre environment as well as the effects on the wildlife of living in close quarters with one of the world’s toughest military regimes”

The one hour special is believed to be the first program featuring the DMZ’s wildlife to be broadcast outside Korea.

For the New Zealand based production company, the partnership with MBC is part of an ongoing expansion into Asia.  Already NHNZ is the largest Western producer of documentaries made in China, has operated an office in Beijing since 2002, is a major co producer with Japanese broadcaster NHK and owns a production company in Singapore.

“Korea was an obvious area to grow our operations into. Koreans have been dealing with the West for years so they offer an interesting perspective on Asian stories and events that we are keen to tap into,” Mr Harrraway said.

Last year NHNZ signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Korean based ETRI an internationally renowned research and development institute specialising in information and communication technologies (ICT). Development is underway on several new high end technologies for integration into NHNZ programs in the future.

Mr Harraway said NHNZ was keen to partner with companies that had the capacity to enhance its story telling capabilities.

“Capturing the DMZ on film is a once in a lifetime opportunity. We’re thrilled to be able to craft this rare footage into a story that will lift the veil on what is usually a highly inaccessible location and the animals that live there.”
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