Is the New Zealand film and television industry struggling to keep up with its own success?

Amazon are producing a $1.5 billion Lord of the Rings TV series, and they are reportedly wanting to shoot it in New Zealand, bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars for the country.

But Amazon have had talks with the Government over fears that we don't have enough studio space to accommodate such a large production.

So how bad is the situation? How many opportunities are we missing out on and what can be done about it?

Gabriel Reid, a board member for both Film Auckland and the Directors and Editors Guild, told Tim Dower that these kinds of conversations are pretty routine.

“I would expect that Amazon are looking at a number of potential locations, although New Zealand does have a sterling reputation for realising the works of J RR Tolkien on screen.”

However, while he says that while the reports over the weekend were alarmist Reid says that we are challenged when it comes to the amount of infrastructure in New Zealand.

“We have a relatively limited number of dedicated sound studios, and it doesn’t take a huge amount for those to be at capacity.”

New Zealand only has a small number of studios throughout the country.

Reid says that the Kumeu Film Studios, built in partnership with Warner Bros to produce the shark blockbuster The Meg, is an example of where we can go.

He calls it an asset that we continue to use, with Disney using the studio recently, and is one way Government is incentivising more film production.

“If you’re a film production company and you’re building something that is an enduring piece of infrastructure that can be of lasting benefit to our screen industry, then you enjoy an additional five per cent benefit in terms of the film production rebate.”

Reid says that no one is currently suggesting that taxpayers should have to front up to cover the costs of Amazon.

LISTEN TO GABRIEL REID TALK WITH TIM DOWER ABOVE