New Zealand, Aotearoa, Middle Earth, Land of the Long White Cloud, our backyard, our home. Welcome to our home of awe-inspiring locations, world-class crew, facilities and film-friendly communities. Reel Factory offers a top-tier line production service in New Zealand.  

Being Kiwi owned and operated, we offer years of collective experience - where others see obstacles, we see opportunities! New Zealand is a special place for everyone who lives and travels here. Our land is the location of choice for some of the world's most high-profile brands to create their campaigns, films to set their locations upon and TV shows to host from. We’re dedicated to growing the production service industry in New Zealand and it’s important our visitors have a great experience in our country and with our crew.

We are the new age in production, a nimble team with the Kiwi, can do attitude. We understand what a truly flexible approach towards production actually looks like. Our team are committed to ensuring your stills, television commercial advertising and brand content shoots receive world-class treatment with a no bullshit attitude.

Our award-winning Head of Departments and crew are sought after by some of the world’s best filmmakers. We can help connect you with the right people and resource your needs for a successful shoot.

Reel Factory HQ is a purpose-built 7,000 square ft facility which is free for your international team to use as they see fit. We have a separate line production office space with all the usual home amenities as well as a boardroom to make things happen, five offline edit suites, a 35-seat production office, a viewing theatre, gear warehouse, Auckland centrals largest studio/cyclorama space, the only motion control Cinebot in New Zealand and the all-important bar to toast a job well done. Our HQ is based on the North Shore of Auckland which is close to accommodation and many great eateries - alternatively Auckland city is just a 15 minute drive from our office.

New Zealand is at the forefront of new technology within the film industry. Some of the best cinematography equipment in the world has been created on our shores. We have access to a range of cinema equipment that is comparable to Hollywood. Specialist equipment available includes Phantom high speed cameras, super techno cranes, tracking vehicles, gyro stabilized heads, steadicams, helicopters and mounts, motion control equipment, special effects equipment, underwater film equipment, studios and sound stages including the largest underwater purpose built film tank – the list goes on.

New Zealand’s superb actors portray diverse looks and ethnicities and every year more of them are offered high profile roles in film, TVCs and drama shows. Memorable characters from audience favourites include Thor: Raganarok, Avatar, The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, Live Free or Die Hard, Top of the Lake, Grey’s Anatomy, Peaky Blinders, Fear the Walking Dead, Flight of the Conchords, Riverdale, Hawaii Five-O, The Shannara Chronicles, Power Rangers and many more.

New Zealand production houses regularly work with major US studios and high-profile international producers and directors. Your project will benefit from the creation of bespoke workflows and a commitment to quality through the delivery of sound and picture post, music scoring, animation and the visual effects created here. Delivery of digital and post production progress is seamless for dailies, remote sound, online and colour grade reviews through to final international delivery. You’ll also find:

• Ultra-fast connectivity
• Innovative technologies
• Integrated communications hubs
• Live reviewing systems

New Zealanders excel at creating imaginary and intensely detailed worlds. Expertise in conceptual and digital design extends into special effects, prosthetics, makeup, costume and weaponry design with an emphasis on attention to detail and quality in their physical manufacturing. This is found in all types of projects from high-end commercials to VFX intensive blockbusters like Blade Runner, Guardians of the Galaxy, Lord of The Rings, Avatar and more.

You don’t have to travel far for seasons opposite to the Northern Hemisphere, you can shoot snow in July or wheat fields in February. A Kiwi Christmas is hard to beat in the middle of summer – and the winter mountain ranges turn themselves into glorious white peaks from July.

On top of that you get to experience clean air and beautiful light across our untouched land.

New Zealand has a reputation for its great food, wine and incredible coffee culture! New Zealand cuisine is largely driven by local ingredients and seasonal variations - welcome to the very best produce from our land and sea!

We will make sure you and your crew have extremely satisfied taste buds whether you are shooting on a mountain range or in the comforts of a studio.

New Zealand roads are to be driven on the left hand side of the road as in the UK and Japan. We have great flexibility on New Zealand roads to be able to close down rural and urban streets to enable cars to drive on the opposite side.

The standard shoot day in New Zealand is based on 10 hours, inclusive of a 45 minute lunch break, with overtime payable after 10 hours. The production working week is usually six days, with overtime payable on the seventh day. There are no penalty rates for shooting on weekends but extra rates are payable on some public holidays.

Each production is run on a case by case basis, with the ability to run longer shoot days when taking into consideration safety and travel implications.

Importing equipment (including camera equipment), props or vehicles into New Zealand is easy when you have the right contacts. We work with great local freight forwarding companies who know how to work collaboratively with film companies and to our deadlines. Our freight and customs brokers will advise on the most efficient freight options.

New Zealand’s scenery is internationally renowned and unique, often lending itself as an alternative world or time. Our country is famous for its overwhelming range of incredible locations; deserts, volcanoes, mountains, endless coastlines, forests and modern and historic cities. The best part of our diverse landscape is the close proximity. In one day you can be on top of a mountain range, then deep in thick native forest finshing the day out on the water or down a river bed.

With fantasy worlds loved by millions of fans, our stunning and easy-to-access locations also “double as” US, UK, Asian and European settings. You don’t have to travel far for diverse looks and with seasons opposite to the Northern Hemisphere, you can shoot snow in July or wheat fields in February.

We can help take care of any work visa requirements and assist in fast tracking them through our contacts in the embassy, NZIS, local Technicians Guild and local representatives of Actors Equity.

Usually Temporary Work Visas can be processed within a few days once all of the required information has been provided.

Producing on the other side of the world can save you money. Good exchange rates of the New Zealand dollar to other currencies make it possible to stretch your dollar further. Goods & Services Tax (GST) is a consumer tax of 15% applicable to all goods and services provided within New Zealand. GST incurred in the manufacture of goods for export (including films) may be refunded to local producers, subject to fulfilling certain criteria.