Film South Rocks

13 April 2006

Film South Rocks

For the second year running, the regional film office for Canterbury and the
West Coast, Film South, won three marketing awards at the Association of Film Commissions International's Locations Expo in Los Angeles.

Film South picked up awards in all three of the categories in which they entered, taking third place for their direct marketing with a clever Christmas card depicting their iconic red barn logo. They also took third prize in the Colour Advertisement category in which they thanked director Andrew Adamson and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe production team.

'Our Land Speaks Volumes, Our People Make Classics' poster took second place behind AusFilm in the Specialty Items category, which Film South created in a collaborative campaign with Film Wellington.

Exhibiting for the first time at the Locations Expo, Film South's Executive Manager Jacqui Wood says "there was enormous value in participating in the event along with national and regional film offices from all over the world.

With sponsorship from the Canterbury Economic Development Fund and the West Coast Development Trust, we were successful in raising the profile of both regions in a highly competitive marketplace."

Film South secured two booths at the Expo with large rock formations characterizing each region; on the West Coast, Punakaiki's Pancake rocks and

for the Canterbury, the Flock Hill rock from which Aslan roars in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Visitors were invited to put their hands into the rocks and pull out a 'treasure from our land' - greenstone, paua shells and other small gemstones, which were seen as a "really unique and original memento".

Wearing t-shirts proclaiming, Canterbury Rocks and West Coast Rocks, Ms Wood hosted visitors to the Canterbury stand with Punakaiki-based Location Scout Fiona McDonald promoting the West Coast from the other site. "This is

the biggest opportunity the West Coast has had to put itself in front of the

whole of Hollywood and the rest of the world," she says. "I think people were really surprised at all the West Coast had to offer, particularly the unique

heritage architecture."

"Many people commented on the increased presence of the New Zealand screen industry at this year's Expo," says Ms Wood. "With the National Locations Marketing Office, Film New Zealand, there were three sites representing our locations and visitors could not fail to be exposed to what

our districts have to offer." Film New Zealand also won three awards: Best Website, Best Logo and Best Production Guide. Film Venture Taranaki took third prize for its DVD (which Film South won last year along with second place for their logo and third prize in the web site category).

ENDS

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