Growing productions, fresh talent, and a steady influx of professionals energize Canterbury’s film industry.

Paul Verrall, SPFX technician, industry tribute, tragic accident, family, loved partner, adored father, grandparent, best mate, brother, uncle, life celebration, industry loss, remembrance, special effects, legacy, loved ones, February 2021.

screen industry, New Zealand, crew shortages, training gaps, sound recordists, grip department, 2nd Assistant Camera, on-set safety, electrical equipment, appliance testing, portable appliance tester, CV reviews, young talent, equipment standards, workplace safety, crew member injury, Sioux Macdonald, Guild vice president, international productions, industry growth, mentorship, technical safety.

Wellington film industry, production boom, Project X, A24 shoot, Avatar, Wellington Paranormal, TVCs, crew shortages, location scouts, Avalon studios, film projects, night shoots, regional productions, Otaki, Whanganui, winter filming, Crew Wellington, industry workload, busy season, Loren Taylor, sequel, prequel, GT.

Paul Richards, documentary cinematographer, industry mentor, film industry, tribute, legacy, friendship, humor, fatherhood, wilderness lover, tramper, golf, whiskey enthusiast, industry giant, farewell, Te Rerenga Wairu, spirit of the North Raki, industry loss, Stich, cinematography.

insurance coverage, long work hours, film industry, crew fatigue, negligence clause, reasonable care, Health & Safety Act, production risks, insurance disputes, extended hours, accident liability, car insurance, income protection insurance, Crombie Lockwood, AA Insurance, Sovereign Assurance, production companies, risk management, legal implications, film crew safety, workplace fatigue, policy reviews, liability insurance, production managers, Jennifer Butcher.

screen industry, New Zealand, LONO process, Letter of Non-Objection, local crew, offshore workers, NZ film guild, production hiring, transparency, fairness, crew shortages, studio space, industry resilience, MIQ essential workers, CER agreement, local availability, production roles, SIGANZ website, guild members, hiring concerns, process review, Brendon Durey

Kimberley Hikaka, Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF, humanitarian aid, film production, Downton Abbey, project management, cholera response, Malawi, Yemen, Libya, Papua New Guinea, teamwork, logistics, storytelling, filmmaking, medical aid, emergency response, production skills, resilience, global communities, Doctors Without Borders, empathy, humanitarian careers, balancing careers, disaster zones.

New Zealand screen sector, NZFC, COVID-19 recovery, Screen Production Recovery Fund, local productions, international productions, capability funding, NZSPG, Avatar sequels, Power Rangers, feature films, television series, production boom, crew shortages, economic impact, hospitality support, sustainability, gender diversity, Māori editors, diversity programs, film production grants, screen industry growth, Annabelle Sheehan, NZ Film Commission.

screen industry, New Zealand, Aotearoa, film apprenticeship, crew training, production boom, global jobs, NZFC, Annabelle Sheehan, Paul Richards, Paul Verrall, Melanoma awareness, skin cancer, outdoor workers, SPFX legend, Wellington film sets, TVCs, industry safety, production capacity, screen industry resilience, studio growth

screen industry, New Zealand, film guild, international crew, Letters of Non-Objection, ScreenSafe, Working with Children guidelines, Set Ready Go, Screen Skills workshops, Professional Respect Training, sexual harassment prevention, workplace bullying, rate card review, Crew Reps, production communication, Vista Foundation, film crew counseling, mental health, workplace culture, industry marathon, Paul Richards, Paul Verrall

New Zealand screen industry, film school, Lowdown Dirty Criminals, film career, television career, behind the scenes, social media publicity, cross-departmental work, resourcefulness, crew teamwork, Guild membership, upskilling, industry growth, local crew, sustainable industry, new studios, 2021 opportunities, production challenges, Kiwi adaptability, career reflections.

Annie Weston, Queenstown film industry, Auckland relocation, film advocacy, crew fairness, production management, Blue Book update, crew conditions, Queenstown Cheerleader, film knowledge, film safety, crew overtime, Queenstown projects, Auckland projects, Guild president, film legacy, Mountain Scene, Shoot NZ, partner Phil, film community, film industry transition, Queenstown tribute.

Canterbury film industry, summer filming, Screen CanterburyNZ, commercial sector, corporate filming, crew demand, remote filming, China productions, European productions, locations database, Michael Paletta, Justin Rypma, Rob Sarkies, directors workshop, lighting workshop, camera assisting workshop, WIFT, legal workshop, Hudson Gavin Martin, IP contracts, Chain of title, regional growth, sun safety, long days, film crew, Christmas break.

Bay of Plenty, film production, Muru, Vegas TV series, Māori cinema, regional economy, crew internships, local employment, extras, White Street Studios, Film Bay of Plenty, regional growth, 2021 production, crew upskilling, infrastructure development, filming permits, summer moments, Aotearoa screen industry, Whakaari eruption, tourism recovery, Anton Steel, Jade.

New Zealand film industry, 2020 reflection, pandemic impact, Crew Wellington, industry growth, production boom, crew training, young talent, work-life balance, screen industry resilience, 2021 outlook, film production, post-pandemic recovery, FC queries, international productions, Godzone, busy schedules, film crew, industry adaptation, film community, future planning.