Christchurch's Film Momentum

Spring is in the air and the temperate Nor-Westers have begun, reminding us to ‘block up early on set. Domestic commercial work has resumed its normal pace with projects for Audi, and the All Blacks passing through town.

The international market is a bit slower to return as most of the travel exemptions are for crew on large and long form productions. That being said there are a few major car companies sniffing around and wanting to bring projects back to the region in the later half of the year.

A Scottish NZ co-pro feature called the The Unloving is looking to kick off in the new year. Manaaki Films Producer Lynette Shingleton teams up with Luscious director Richard Gibson, Line producer Amanda Jenkins and DOP Simon Waterhouse for a TV Travel show for the international market, shooting around the Banks Peninsula in October.

Kyan Krumdiecks’ loveably endearing comedy short Working Class, filmed and crewed locally, has been selected for Show Me Shorts this year. Definitely worth a watch.

Producer Scott Flyger had a successful double header premiere recently at the gorgeous Lumiere Cinemas. The first was a short drama penned and directed by Fiona MacKenzie titled Peninsula. The second was next instalment of the comedy-of-errors film-shoot-from-hell web series, Don’t be Frank.

These productions are on the back of the continued momentum the Christchurch film community as a whole has had over the last year. Despite Covid there has been a great deal of co-operation and planning to help drive up the profile of the region. Several hui’s between local industry and local council have resulted in greater cooperation between both; an updating of location permitting processes and amendments to the building consenting process specifically for developing film studios. Watch this space….

The Christchurch Branch of SIGANZ turns 1 and the membership continues to grow, as does the capacity of the region.

All in all, things are on the upswing. Looking forward to a cracker summer.