Disney’s Pete’s Dragon Lands in Wellington

Disney’s Pete’s Dragon Lands in Wellington

Wellington’s screen industry will receive a further boost over the next six months from Disney’s production of the film Pete’s Dragon.

The big-budget feature film production will create approximately 400 jobs for Wellington-based cast and crew. Another 400 New Zealanders will relocate to the region during the production.

Filming will take place in Wellington, Wairarapa and Rotorua from January to April next year. Pre-production work starts in November this year.

Gerard Quinn, Chief Executive of economic development agency Grow Wellington, welcomed the production and crew to the region.

“Pete’s Dragon joins an impressive list of screen productions filmed here and reflects the strength of Wellington’s screen sector. Last year the Wellington region earned $700 million from films – 81 percent of all film revenue in New Zealand. “

Film Wellington, Grow Wellington’s screen programme, worked closely with the producers to understand their needs and attract the production to the region. They provided location suggestions, scouting services and liaised with councils. Film Wellington, together with other New Zealand screen agencies, will continue to help source locations, talent and facilities for the production.

Producer Barrie Osborne said New Zealand’s screen incentives and the service provided by Film Wellington made Wellington an appealing location.

“Film Wellington is an important resource for filmmaking in New Zealand,” said Mr. Osborne. “They can assist with any aspect of a shoot, from location scouting to helping secure the right crew, and have always been a strong source of support for our productions.”

Mr Quinn said all screen activity had considerable benefits to the region.

“From jobs for cast and crew, to new business for transport companies, hotels, restaurants and suppliers of food and building materials and world leading technical innovation - all this revenue flows into the regional economy. Films of this calibre also provide another great opportunity to showcase the Wellington region as the screen destination that it has become,” says Mr Quinn.

Background
Film Wellington promotes the Wellington region as a screen production destination. It is focused on keeping the Wellington region ‘film friendly’ and provides a free support service for local and international screen production – film, television, commercials and digital content production. Film Wellington assists productions to source locations, facilitates and issues film permits on behalf of each Council and provides support, connections and information to the screen sector.

The most recent Statistics New Zealand’s 2012/2013 Screen Industry Survey showed:
• revenue from digital graphics, animation or effects revenue was $450 million in 2013 (up 5% on last year) representing 84% of New Zealand’s total.
• post-production screen revenue out of Wellington was $495 million in 2013 (up 9% on last year) representing 75% of New Zealand’s total.
• Wellington earned $700 million from feature films (as distinct from total screen production) in 2013 – 81% of total New Zealand film revenue.

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