Sir Peter Jackson's latest film project set to give Kiwi film industry huge boost

December 19, 2017

It's the first international block-buster filmed, produced and staffed almost entirely by New Zealanders.

It won't be hitting movie screens for a year, but the first taste of Sir Peter Jackson's film Mortal Engines has been released and it's already generating a buzz for the Kiwi film industry.

It's the first international block-buster film produced and staffed almost entirely by New Zealanders and it is being used as a calling card for recruiting students.

The Film Commission said it is really unusual for a film of this size to be based in New Zealand.

"Ninety-seven per cent of people working on it are Kiwis, all of the post-production is happening here with Weta Digital," it said. 

The film is based on a series of books and is directed by New Zealander Christian Rivers and produced and written by Sir Peter Jackson.

The Film Commission said it has the potential to be like The Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit.

"I think it really just keeps sending that message that there’s a lot of creative film work that comes out of New Zealand."

For the first time, the Film Commission and Education New Zealand have teamed up with Universal Pictures in the hope it will help recruit students to New Zealand.

Education New Zealand said this is the first time they have been looking at the skills and talents that go into these things.

Nearly 5,000 international students come to New Zealand each year to study creative arts.



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