MEDIA RELEASE
1 OCTOBER, 2012

PM to visit Los Angeles

Film New Zealand says the Prime Minister’s visit to meet the heads of film and television production houses in Los Angeles this month, underscores the growing importance of the industry to the New Zealand economy.

Film New Zealand’s Chief Executive Gisella Carr says the industry body is delighted that the Prime Minister has accepted its invitation to talk to Hollywood decision-makers.

“The fact that the Prime Minister of New Zealand is taking the time to make this visit underlines the importance of the New Zealand screen industry,” she says.

While in Los Angeles the Prime Minister will visit three studio lots, Sony Pictures Studios, The Walt Disney Studios, and Warner Bros. Studios.

An industry function will bring senior executives from Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox, The Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros. Entertainment, and Universal Pictures, as well as representatives of US film and television production companies, and clients of New Zealand business to meet the Prime Minister.

Film makers James Cameron and Jon Landau, in conjunction with Film New Zealand, will also host a private dinner with studio heads, CEOs, and other senior US screen industry representatives.

Film New Zealand CEO Gisella Carr says there is intense international competition in attracting screen productions, and the industry must be nurtured.

“Screen production in New Zealand is growing and it plays a significant part in our economy. New Zealand's film and TV industry has risen to become one of our most lucrative - bringing in just shy of $3billion in revenue last year.”

North America contributes between 80 and 90 percent of all international screen revenue in New Zealand. Last year it represented an investment in the NZ economy of $387 million.

“American screen production in New Zealand is a crucial part of this growth. The industry is international and we have created partnerships with many of the overseas companies working here. This visit by the Prime Minister reinforces that importance,” says Gisella Carr.

The US is our most important market, and the US screen industry has been working in New Zealand and partnering with New Zealand businesses for the past 20 years. It has developed ongoing relationships with New Zealand companies, and it could be said the New Zealand international industry has been built in partnership with the US screen industry.

“These partnerships span a diverse range of film, television, documentary, animation, post-production and visual effects.”

Productions are being made here because of our talented and creative companies and people as well as our fabulous scenery. More than 1000 New Zealand businesses contracted services to the feature film industry in 2011.

“Competition is tough, but we are seen as a nation that supports and understands the value of screen production, as a talented and safe pair of hands to handle international production of scale and a country where major filmmakers want to live and work.”

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