Tolkien films 'transformational' for local film industry

  • Breaking
  • 01/12/2014

With the final instalment of the Hobbit series premiering today, it's the end of an era for New Zealand film.

It's been 15 years since filming first started on the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

New Zealand's screen industry now generates more than $3 billion in revenue each year, and there are more major productions in the pipeline, such as James Cameron's three Avatar sequels.

Film New Zealand chief executive Gisella Carr says the six films have been "transformational" for the local film industry.

"No one 15 years ago could have imagined that New Zealand could turn one film, the first Lord of the Rings, into a world-class industry," she said on Firstline this morning.

And it's all been built on the back of New Zealand talent – most of all Sir Peter Jackson. Without him we'd still be making great films, says Ms Carr, but there wouldn't be so much of an "industry".

Watch the video for the full interview with Gisella Carr.

source: newshub archive