Big rises in the number of screen projects on the boil, film skills workshops, location libraries and city showreels – it’s exciting times for film in Dunedin and the South.

High and ongoing interest in conducting screen projects in Dunedin continues, with 99 enquiries for filming in the city in the six months to 31 December 2020, compared to 47 enquiries in the same period in 2019.

Dunedin director/screenwriter/actor Jan Oliver (Ollie) Lucks had international success this month, with his biographical documentary There is no I in Threesome purchased by Warner Media for their streaming service ‘HBOmax’ in time for Valentine’s Day. The feature was filmed in Dunedin, Central Otago and Auckland, largely using iphones. Its Premiere screening was at Sundance Festival in January. Ollie has several feature projects in development. (See the Q&A article with Ollie in this issue of Toi Oho.)

Excitingly, productions including television commercials, documentary production, music videos and TV episodes are ongoing. Projects include NETFLIX, Channel 5 and CCTV international productions working remotely using NZ crew and talent:

• The Netflix movie The Royal Treatment has established a base in Dunedin and will begin filming shortly, using locations in and around Dunedin and Oamaru. The production has hired crew and talent in the city, with 65 of the 135-strong crew from Dunedin or the South Island and a further 30 New Zealand-based actors. NETFLIX is only bringing two producers and two actors into New Zealand via MIQ. There will be 1000 days of filming for local extras. An estimated 1,200 bed nights will be generated for the accommodation sector.
• 14 days of filming took place for World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys, which filmed the Hindon to Waitati trip for Channel 5 in the United Kingdom
• CCTV (Beijing) spent four days filming for a documentary about Dunedin Chinese community preparations for Chinese New Year celebrations.

Film Writers in Residence

Film Otago Southland is currently supporting Writers in Residence projects for Ollie Lucks and also Punakaiki Productions.  Support is available for further such projects; enquire to the DCC Film Dunedin Coordinator Anthony Deaker.

Location libraries

Film Otago Southland is developing a regional library of film locations, while Film Dunedin is creating show-reel of the city for the international market. These initiatives help location scouts to remotely assess the region for future productions.

Workshops for film crew and creatives

Film Dunedin works regionally with Film Queenstown Lakes and Film Otago Southland. Together they are hosting a series of workshops for crew and creatives. Search ‘Direct South Short Film Workshops’ to register. There’s an option for online participation, too. Workshops include:

• Outlook for Someday – young filmmakers film making and sustainability workshop, 2 March, Dunedin
• Script to Screen – Directing with David Stubbs, 20 March, Queenstown
• Screen Industry Guild - ScreenSafe/SWAG Professional Respect Training, 16 April, Dunedin
• DEGNZ – workshop for short film directors with Michelle Savill, 30 May, Dunedin
• New Zealand Cinematographers Society – camera operator training. (details to be confirmed enquiries to antony.deaker@dcc.govt.nz)

Film Otago Southland offers travel assistance for participants to attend these workshops from across the region and see this as a way of building community and networks as well as an opportunity to upskill. There’s an option for online participation, too.

Details for the workshops, registration and travel assistance are in the links for each event above.

Film Writers in Residence