| Fastest Growing International Locations |
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| Written by Carl Hansen | ||||||
| Friday, 29 February 2008 | ||||||
Page 4 of 4 NEW ZEALAND Their Large Budget Screen Production Grant got a big boost last year by increasing their cash rebate to 15 percent (from 12.5 percent before) and extending the program to include postproduction, and visual and digital effects. Eligible productions may access the Grant where the Qualifying New Zealand Production Expenditure (QNZPE) reaches at least NZ$15 million. QNZPE is defined as the production expenditure incurred for, or attributable to: goods and services provided in New Zealand, use of land located in New Zealand, and use of a good located in New Zealand in the making of the screen production. Eligible productions since July 16, 2007 and undertaking only post, digital and visual effects work may access the Grant where QNZPE for a single production is between NZ$3 million and NZ$15 million. Looking at this strong incentive, it’s no surprise that there is currently a lot of exciting shooting taking place in New Zealand. Director James Cameron’s Avatar shoots at Stone Street Studios in Wellington, while 20th Century Fox is shooting the latest in the X-Men Origins: Wolverine on location in Queenstown and elsewhere in the South Island. In addition, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian from Walt Disney Pictures is shot in Auckland at Henderson Valley Studios, on location in Coromandel and on the west coast of the South Island. While New Zealand’s appeal has a lot to do with their improved cash rebate, it can just as well be attributed to the country’s experienced crews, who can readily take on rugged mountains, extreme conditions and underwater photography.
Continue to watch these countries:
Singapore – is aggressively courting international productions. They offer subsidies up to 50 percent on a case-by-case basis.  |
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Iain Blair
James Thompson
Dyana Carmella
