More Japanese movies / TV shooting in New Zealand

[Niyusu]

Since the 2001-2003 "Lord of the Rings" trilogy and 2003's "Last Samurai" starring Tom Cruise became international hits, New Zealand has gradually been drawing Japanese filmmakers' and television commercial producers attention as a desirable shooting location.

The Japanese movie "Dororo," based on comic books by the late Osamu Tezuka set in 15th- to 17th-century feudal Japan, was filmed in a wilderness area on New Zealand's South Island. Released in January, the movie appears to have built up interest among Japanese producers.

The advantages of shooting in New Zealand, besides the beautiful scenery, include seasons opposite to those in Japan, which enable producers to prepare TV commercials ahead of season, and the fact that drivers keep to the left as in Japan, making car commercials easy to shoot, according to industry officials.

Source: New Zealand getting attention as film, TV ad site | Japan Times