LMGI COMPASS
|
Summer 2018
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13
content creators and technical
people from across New
Zealand and internationally.
The forum culminated in
screening New Zealand short
films. The Bay of Plenty
(BOP) looks forward to
facilitating the future projects
it hopes will come out of the
forum and the Fam Tour.
The location pros spent the
days prior to the conference
visiting locations around the
Bay of Plenty with Anton
Steel, CEO of BOP Film. Steel
remarks, "BOP is an untapped
region with a wide range of
locations within a relatively
short distance. From majestic
mountains to a geothermal
wonderland, untouched
beaches, snowy peaks and
an active marine volcano,
the Bay truly offers plenty to
productions of all sizes."
Not only did the locations
inspire—the cultural
connectivity was equally
impressive, as Bay of Plenty
is the centre of Maori
culture. Steel explains, "It
was important to introduce
our guests to the Tangata
From left: Location pros Lori Balton, Dow Griffith and David Curtis. Photo: Kent Matsuoka/LMGI
Left to right: Panelists
cinematographer Simon Raby,
Lori Balton, Anton Steel of BOP
Film, Kent Matsuoka and
Dow Griffith
Whenua (local Maori people)
and the Walrua (spirit) of
both the people and the
place." This began with a
powerful powhiri (welcoming
ceremony) at Rotoiti Marae
on the first morning of the
trip and continued each night
with organized meetings,
culminating with the Te Ata
Film Forum.
Steel was thrilled to be able
to extend the Fam Tour to
other regions with assistance
from the New Zealand Film
Commission. "There is a
great spirit of collaboration
between Screen Auckland,
Screen Wellington and Film
Otago Southland, and the
Bay of Plenty Film Office that
makes this country a fantastic
destination for scouts
and crews alike," Steel
proclaimed.
Location pro Dow Griffith
enthused, "We were treated
to highlights by helicopters
and small planes and jetted
from north to south to
see as much as possible,
including memorable and
other worldly locations such
as White Island, Mount
Tarawera, Tongariro NP, East
Cape, Skippers Canyon,
Mount Somnus and the
iconic Milford Sound. Four
regional film commissions
collaborated with the New
Zealand Film Commission
to create this combination
of cultural exchange and
exploration of dramatic
landscapes which produced
one of the best Fam Tours
ever."
Left to right: Cinematographer
Simon Raby, Lori Balton, Anton
Steel, BOP Film, Kent Matsuoka,
Dow Griffith and Philippa Moss-
man, head of the New Zealand
Film Commission.
Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford
