Canadian filmmakers in capital
A summit with the goal of opening up filmmaking opportunities between New Zealand and Canada is under way in the capital.
Hosted by Women in Film, the three day co-production summit has brought together 30 Canadian film professionals and 60 New Zealand filmmakers to mingle, network, and explore future co-production ventures together.
This comes after I, Object, a Canadian-New Zealand co-produced film, was shot in Wellington over January and February.
The film was said to be a joyous, “eclectic sort of family film”, as described by producer Tim White, and stars Kiwi actors Karl Urban, Thomasin McKenzie and Jemaine Clement, alongside Scary Movie and Mom star Anna Faris.
Canadian producer Jane Loughman has travelled to Wellington from Toronto to take part in the summit which finishes today.
The producer said her role in the film-making process was to do every job “no one wants to do”, including finding an original idea and the talent to tell the story, and working out the logistics to achieve the reality.
“It's about putting all of those pieces together, both on the creative side, the financial side, and the logistical side: all those pieces coming together to achieve your collaborative, artistic vision that you are going to deliver to audiences to entertain them.”
Loughman said Canada and New Zealand both had co-production treaties that allowed producers to “tap into” local film scenes in each country, which came with huge financial and logistical benefits.
Her upcoming production, Therapy for Adults & Aunties, had an entirely Kiwi cast, and would shoot in New Zealand with a local crew. Then, the post-production work would take place in Canada.
The project was female led and followed an ambitious architect in her 40s who comes home to her family farm in New Zealand to rebuild her life. “I would make every movie in New Zealand if I could. The resources, the people, it's just spectacular.”
Organiser Patricia Watson said the focus of the summit was to match the Canadians with the Kiwi filmmakers.
Watson said the co-production treaty between Canada and New Zealand had been around for about 20 years with an average of one to four co-productions made each year.
I, Object, was one of the bigger budget co-productions between New Zealand and Canada, but the 2021 film Night Raiders had also been an NZ-Canada production.
With Night Raiders, which was directed by Canadian indigenous director Danis Goulet, the production had access to talent from both countries, and the post-production work took place in New Zealand.
“It certainly worked really well for us.” Loughman said the whole process of filmmaking was built on connections. People were a huge part of that – making meetings like the summit so important.
“The whole process of filmmaking is so incredibly collaborative and that it cannot be stressed enough how important the relationships are.”