Bright future predicted for NZ television industry

For Immediate Release September 16 2013

Bright future predicted for NZ television industry

Major changes are looming for the New Zealand screen industry, which could see a new emphasis on the creation of global TV productions alongside our well-known big-screen movies.

At the forefront of this initiative is Pukeko Pictures, a capital-based TV production house with ambitious plans, and with the skillsets and experience behind it to back the new direction.

Pukeko was formed in 2008 by 5-time Oscar-winner Richard Taylor, Tania Rodger, Andrew Smith and the successful children’s writer and illustrator, Martin Baynton, who has more than 30 published children’s books to his credit.

Pukeko has been a successful producer of international children’s TV shows, including The Wotwots and Jane and the Dragon, which are screened in more than 100 countries including the UK, the USA and China. Pukeko is working with international partners on a number of new children’s products including a 21st century version of the cult 1960s TV show, Thunderbirds are Go!

Now, Pukeko is using its expertise to create primetime adult drama for a global market, and already has two major new series in early development.

Television has recently entered a new Golden Age, with a surge in the quality of programming for the small screen. This is creating an exciting new scope of opportunities in which the New Zealand screen Industry can participate.

Mr Baynton describes this new era as a potential game-changer for the New Zealand screen industry.

While many television productions made in New Zealand are intended for local broadcast, he says there is now real opportunity to create content for the growing global market.

“Internationally successful dramas - such as Game of Thrones (seen here on Sky TV) and The Walking Dead (TV2) – can be enormous revenue drivers, because a television show sells on multiple platforms around the world and is constantly being re-broadcast, so it’s always building new and refreshed audiences,” he says.

“In addition, television enjoys a long tail of licensing revenue, which can bring in consistent revenue steams from around the globe to New Zealand. “

Pukeko Pictures’ ambition is to take advantage of this trend and make prime time adult dramas aimed at the top end of the global market. As part of that ambition, it has entered into what is known as a “first look” deal with the international distribution company, FreemantleMedia, which is part of RTL Group, Europe’s largest television and radio company. (A first look deal is an agreement under which a distributor or TV network pays a development fee for the first right of refusal for a new production.)

“We’re aiming to create shows that can be broadcast in as many countries as possible in the world market,” he says. “We appreciate that’s setting the bar very high, but both Richard and I believe there’s no point in being in this game if we can’t work at the highest level, because as passionate creatives, it’s all about the quality of the work.

“We believe that if the quality of our work - and the passion of the team we gather around us - remain our prime focus, the product will be successful and the rewards will flow.”

Mr Baynton says making primetime drama shows for the international market would help give certainty of work and assist the growth and breadth of screen industry skills in New Zealand.

“It’s important to ensure that New Zealand is able to retain this talent and expertise, which is also required to make the big movies,” he says. “At the moment, the great tragedy is that when a movie wraps here, a lot of these skilled people have to take other jobs to survive.”

While Pukeko Pictures is based in Miramar, Wellington, Mr Baynton says the amount of work required to produce multiple prime time dramas would necessitate an expansion to other centres around the country

“If our endeavours reach the level of success we anticipate, we’ll be able to harness and draw upon the significant capabilities and creative resources available throughout New Zealand,” he says.

Pukeko Pictures has already won numerous awards for its two major productions including a Parents’ Choice Awards for The Wotwots, while Jane and the Dragon has won a BANFF World Television Award, and was a finalist in the 2007 Annie Awards for Excellence in Film Animation.

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