By Sam Dallas
Filmmaking in Auckland has been made easier and more attractive to international and local producers.
So says a new report after Auckland City Council recently released a new protocol for the screen production industry.
“This protocol guides filmmakers through the consent process enabling them to submit a thorough and complete application from the outset,” Film Auckland chairperson Roimata Macgregor said in a statement, of the Council/Film Auckland/industry practitioners’ collaboration.
The protocol, which is likely to be embraced by the new Auckland Council – scheduled to be launched on November 1, contains details about processes, timelines and costs associated with obtaining consent to film.
As stated in the 22-page report, the objectives of the film protocol are:
- Clearly state the council’s commitment to support the work of the screen production industry
- provide clear guidance on timeframes, decision-making criteria, accountabilities and processes
- facilitate the council’s delivery of an efficient and customer-driven service that provides certainty to the screen production industry
- contribute towards making Auckland an internationally-competitive city for screen production
Furthermore, the council said in its report that it would give film production the all-clear in Auckland “unless there are compelling and unambiguous reasons not to – conflict with legal or regulatory obligations, unacceptable levels of environmental impact, or risks to the health and safety of the cast, crew or public”.
City Development Committee chairman Aaron Bhatnagar said he was confident the new protocol would make Auckland a “first-choice competitor in the film industry”.
The screen production industry contributes $2.2 billion to Auckland’s economy and there are more than 1440 production and post-production businesses.
The report can be viewed by clicking here.