News / Events

Film New Zealand and leading Wellington screen production company The Gibson Group today announced that another major international television drama series will be shot in New Zealand in early 2001.

Blond Fracht (literally "Blonde Cargo") is a three-part mini series being made for major German broadcaster ZDF. A period piece set in the late 1950s, the fact-based story concerns the transportation of single German women to New Zealand as potential brides for New Zealand men.

Logistics for the project have been discussed over many months since Munich-based producer Mischa Hofman, from Hofmann & Voges Entertainment, contacted Film New Zealand seeking production information. Film New Zealand, the referral agency which markets New Zealand as a location base for foreign producers, has been quietly targeting Europe as a key market for some time.

"We're very excited about this project", said Jane Gilbert, Manager of Film New Zealand. "It's a perfect fit for the skills of our film and television industry, and our country is excellent as a location for period pieces. We want European production companies to think of New Zealand as an obvious choice", she said.

Stephanie Hopkins of The Gibson Group said that the company had just completed the recce for the project, which will be shot around the lower North Island. "It's a great project for us and we have developed a strong relationship with our German colleagues", she said. "We're positive that this series will be an excellent drawcard for filming in New Zealand, and we're grateful for Film New Zealand's involvement in helping us secure the business".

The project will involve production expenditure in New Zealand of up to $4 million. This is the second project announced by Film New Zealand in as many months, following the recently announced BBC series The Lost World.