He said Rotorua was an ideal place to shoot.
"Rotorua's got amazing natural features, there's a great industry there already. We would really like to be able to do a lot more in the Bay, build a solid foundation and make it really amazing."
Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick said Rotorua's strong history in film, television, animation and the creative arts meant it would be well placed to contribute to a film network in the region.
"Our region's been a filming location many times. We've all got unique points of natural and cultural difference that make this region an ideal location for all types of filming."
Mrs Chadwick said she had discussed the concept with Mr Steel and believed it had potential.
"It would be something that would play to Rotorua's strengths - to our creative, cultural and natural strengths.
"We'd certainly be interested in further discussion if the idea is progressed - it's a very good idea but it's too early to talk about investment at this stage," she said.
"I like the idea of a network that links talent and locations - that's what I would support in the first instance. I think we need to establish a regional network before we start talking about a physical base. We'd need to make sure we had all aspects right."
Maui TV producer Ratu Tibble said there was no better place to develop a hub for film.
"It has really solid roots and there's a lot of talent."
His only concern was that films cost a lot of money leaving the question of how to entice international organisations to come here.
"The number one issue in New Zealand is that we are too small, we need to be realistic about the cost of film-making, but whatever comes into Rotorua is a great benefit."
In recent times, Rotorua has hosted crews filming for the upcoming Disney film Pete's Dragon, which was partly shot in Whakarewarewa Forest and the Cliff Curtis-directed Maori Television sitcom This is Piki.
-See: www.bopfilm.nz