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The opportunities for film and television production in Wellington region are as wide open as a cinema screen with this week's launch of a major TV and film industry report, says Wairarapa MP Georgina Beyer.
Ms Beyer welcomed the release of the Screen Production Industry Taskforce report, Taking On The World, which suggests the industry could double foreign exchange earnings to $400 million a year within five years.
The taskforce is one of four established under the Government's Growth and Innovation Framework. It has drafted a list of recommendations to the Government to secure a stronger film and TV production industry in New Zealand. The report has been received by government and is now open to industry submission.
Georgina Beyer says there are considerable opportunities for the Wellington region to expand its film and television production.
Projects like The Lord of the Rings have shown what New Zealand can achieve on screen and the Wellington region was already benefiting from growth in the film and television production industry.
"Between 1997 and 2001, Wellington saw an increase from 185 to 387 business locations working on film and video production," she said. "Local employment in the industry rose from 380 people to 800 people.
"With its proximity to Wellington, Wairarapa can be a beneficiary of a screen production industry which achieves the targets identified in the taskforce's report."
"Growth is not limited to actual productions. As the taskforce report notes, there is a need for up-skilling those who work in the industry. Currently there are 47 tertiary education institutions offering courses which link to the film and television industry, a number of them centred in Wellington."
"Clearly there is a big screen of opportunity for the Wellington region if we can get the script right for the film and production industry," said Ms Beyer.
The taskforce report can be found at: www.industrytaskforces.govt.nz
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