Film crews a welcome boost
Screen production crews are finishing work in the Queenstown area after a warmer than usual welcome from the resort town.
The tourism hot spot has had its economic base destroyed by the closure of borders as Covid-19 spread across the globe.
However, two series produced in the area over the past three months have brought new work for the film sector.
The second season of New Zealand series One Lane Bridge has been filmed in the Queenstown area, while Under the Vines – a six-part romantic comedy – has been filmed around Central Otago.
Queenstown Lakes District Council economic development manager Peter Harris said the work was appreciated.
‘‘There’s been a whole lot of crew that previous to these shoots coming to town had to base themselves in Auckland to get work, so they’re back home.’’
It has also meant crew spending money on accommodation, food and materials for filming.
Any business in the time of a crisis was good business, Harris said.
One Lane Bridge producer Lisa Chatfield said it was clear times were tough in Queenstown. However, the townspeople were generous and willing to put up with inconveniences, such as filming taking over the lakefront area outside Eichardt’s Private Hotel.
‘‘I’m sure that would be possible pre-Covid, but much harder to organise.’’
Harris said the film crew had worked more closely with the council than previous productions because of its requirement to film in the community, block roads and work on council reserves.
‘‘It’s a credit to both sides. They’ve been a pleasure to work with,’’ he said.
Chatfield said the result of the collaboration between crew and the community made the series a ‘‘really cool fantastic local production’’.
Locals watching the film would have memories to share and might laugh at some of the geographical changes.
It would also attract interest from people outside the region, she said.
‘‘The bridge is at the end of a long, incredibly beautiful journey. Tourists from out of town will discover that also.’’ She hoped to return to make a third series.
Editing would start next week on the second season, which was likely to screen on New Zealand televisions during winter, Chatfield said.
Under the Vines actress and executive producer Rebecca Gibney was joined by The Crown actor Charles Edwards on that series as two city slickers who inherit a failing vineyard.
Producer Carmen Leonard said it had cast of 31, with only one from outside of New Zealand and up to 300 locals as extras.
About half of the 100 production crew members were from Otago.
The production was in the region for 13 weeks. It required more than 4000 accommodation nights and involved spending on restaurant meals, car rentals and materials.
The show would feature around the world including in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Latin America and Australia.
Harris said it was hoped the screen industry would take a larger piece of the economic pie in the region.
In 2018, it was estimated to be worth $35 million. A film studio based in the region would be necessary to allow it to grow significantly, he said.
A proposed Wa¯naka studio had received government approval for resource consent fast tracking, while other plans were being developed in Queenstown, Harris said.
‘‘We’ve been here before but we’re probably as far down the track as we’ve ever been. That would be a game changer for the industry.’’