Where Was Avatar Filmed in New Zealand?
Avatar is an iconic movie released in 2009; directing by James Cameron. It went on to become a household name that has been watched multiple times. However, what many fail to recognize is that a large portion of the film was shot in New Zealand.
The film was shot in Queenstown, New Zealand and the forest of Te Urewera, located in the North Island. Queenstown is known for its stunning lakes, snow-capped mountains, and green meadows. It is no surprise that James Cameron chose it to shoot multiple scenes of the movie.
The forest of Te Urewera encompasses the areas of Poverty Bay and Hawke’s Bay. Spanning an area of 4,048 square kilometres, the forest is abundant in diversity and wildlife, including the endangered chevron skink. This makes it a favourite area of shooting for many filmmakers.
The cast shot in many different locations of the South Island. A nearby mountain range and other various locations were all part of the Avatar’s filming. During the shoot, the actors had to uproot themselves from their homes in Los Angeles for a number of months in Queenstown, making the stars of Avatar feel like locals.
Besides its beautiful nature, Queenstown is home to many film studios. Its large selection of on-site equipment consists of camera movements, cranes, lighting equipment, and much more, which comes in handy when shooting a movie. The production team also utilized components of the city, as well as the forests around it to help create the settings of the film.
Avatar and the Animal World of New Zealand
An interesting discovery is that the production team managed to introduce real wildlife into the scenes of Avatar, making it look authentic to the environment. Barking geckos, kea birds, tree daisies, and even wild boar were included in some of the shots. Despite the large crowding around the set during the shoot, the animals of New Zealand continued to appear in many scenes.
New Zealand’s production team also had to bring in many plants and animals that weren’t native to the country in order to create the world of Avatar. The cast was so amazed at the lush jungles and green meadows of Queenstown that they decided to bring in some of their domestic pets to the location. A variety of lizards, snakes, and even flamingos were set up for the shooting of the movie.
Benefits of Filming Avatar in New Zealand
A major factor that came into consideration when deciding to film Avatar in New Zealand is the country’s tax credits. New Zealand is known for offering generous tax credits to filmmakers who choose to shoot on their grounds. This encouraged James Cameron and the production team to take their cameras there and shoot the movie, even when it meant uprooting their lives for months.
Not to mention, the stars and production crews got to experience the stunning views and landscapes of this unique country and its people. New Zealand’s experts in various fields, such as cinematography, costume design, props manufacturing, and others, were also hired to help bring the dream of Avatar to life.
The cost of filming in New Zealand seemed to pay off because the movie is now known as one of the best-selling films of all time, with a box office gross of over 2 billion dollars.
Local Assistants and Avatars’s Budget
Local teams from New Zealand helped the production in various ways. They provided the crew with supplies, local knowledge, equipment, and other necessities. The production team was also able to take advantage of the cheap labor and resources in New Zealand which allowed them to cut down the movie’s budget significantly.
Avatar had a budget of over $237 million and James Cameron took advantage of all the local resources that New Zealand had to offer. This helped them to stay within the budget, while also taking advantage of the many unique locations and people of New Zealand.
Avatar and New Zealand’s Career Outlook
Thanks to Avatar, New Zealand’s film career outlook has significantly changed. Since then, many filmmakers have chosen to film their movies in the stunning country. This allowed many locals, including actors, producers, directors, and crew members, to grow in their respective industries and generate large amounts of income by working on these projects.
In addition, Avatar set new standards for special effects and computer-animated movies, with its production teams utilizing groundbreaking technology to bring the world of Pandora to life. This technology has allowed New Zealand’s film industry to compete with other countries when it comes to producing visually magnificent films.
Avatar’s Impact on the New Zealand Economy
The movie Avatar also had a great impact on the economy of New Zealand. The production team spent a large sum of money on various services in New Zealand, such as props, food, transportation, and even equipment. All of these expenses add up and help boost the New Zealand economy, even if it’s just a small contribution.
Overall, the movie Avatar was a great source of income for New Zealand. The production team has even set up their own foundation, The Avatar Foundation, to support the needs of the local communities in Queenstown. This helps the locals by providing them with employment, health care, and much more.
Avatar and it’s Legacy
Avatar’s legacy in New Zealand is extraordinary. The movie managed to capture the essence of the unique country, making it highly desirable for international filmmakers. It also gave rise to a new form of filmmaking, introducing many new technologies and techniques that are now regularly used in the industry.
Finally, Avatar has become a memorable movie that will be remembered for many years to come by lovers of New Zealand’s culture, nature, and cinematic art.
Avatar Was a Launchpad for New Zealand’s Filmmaking Ventures
Avatar was a major contributor to New Zealand’s film industry. It helped launch a new era of filmmaking and provided opportunities for locals to get involved in the growing industry. It is no surprise that New Zealand’s film industry is now booming, thanks to the success of Avatar.
The movie showcased the country’s stunning nature and served as a platform for many of New Zealand’s filmmakers. The movie’s success has given rise to many more projects down the line and it continues to be a source of inspiration for many aspiring filmmakers.
Avatar’s Impact On New Zealand’s Tourism Industry
The filming of Avatar also had a major impact on the tourism industry of New Zealand. The movie showcased some of the most stunning landscapes of the country and the locals embraced it with open hearts. Visitors would watch the movie and develop an intense interest in wanting to visit the country and explore the magical world of Pandora in person.
Avatar was able to show the world what the country of New Zealand has to offer and has drastically helped multiply the number of tourists who visit the country each year. This is a great boost to the economy and the locals, as it creates employment opportunities and allows people to make a living from the tourism industry.
Avatar’s Impact on Culture and Art
Avatar has also had a great impact on the culture and art that comes out of New Zealand. The movie featured actors of different origins, accents, and cultures. This opened up many eyes and hearts around the globe, including in New Zealand.
New Zealand’s culture is now being embraced by many around the world, with Avatar contributing a great deal to this process. Thanks to the movie’s success, many unique cultures have been shared, admired, and respected, which is a great accomplishment for the people of New Zealand.
How Avatar Changed the Film Industry in New Zealand
Avatar helped bring recognition to the motion picture industry in New Zealand, as well as the country itself. Many filmmakers are now choosing to shoot their movies in New Zealand, thanks to the success that Avatar enjoyed.
The amazing team of professionals that worked on Avatar, as well as the use of groundbreaking technology, also helped pave the way for many future projects. As a result, the film industry of New Zealand is now booming and is likely to continue growing in the years to come.
Conclusion
Avatar was an amazing success for both New Zealand and the world of cinema. It helped bring attention to some of the country’s unique culture, landscapes, and art. The movie also brought in a great deal of money to the country, creating job opportunities and helping the economy of New Zealand.
Despite its huge success, the movie is still only a small part of the vibrant filmmaking industry of New Zealand. The movie had a huge impact on the industry, setting the stage for many more moviemakers to come. We can only expect the nation’s film industry to keep growing from here.
