Bay of Plenty Film's new website goes all out to showcase region's locations to lure film-makers

Bay of Plenty Film has launched a new website aimed at attracting international and national productions to the Bay.

The website www.bopfilm.nz features an ever growing gallery of location photos and an amazing locations showreel that has been turning heads around the world, the organisation said in a media release.

The showreel is "a cinematic journey through the Bay showcasing the vast array of locations we have on offer here from White Island to the Rotorua Redwoods to Mount Maunganui at sunset".

"Every time I go overseas, film-makers I talk to would love to bring a film job to New Zealand. They are impressed by the variety and beauty of the locations available and the reputation of our crews. It is a very desirable location to come and film in," said Bay of Plenty Film general manager Anton Steel.

Mr Steel recently attended the Film Locations show in Los Angeles working on the NZ Film Commission Booth, alongside representatives from other regional film offices - Screen Auckland and Screen Wellington. During this time he had the opportunity to share the Bay of Plenty Film website and showreel with top movie producers, location scouts for major Hollywood productions and one of the top commercials directors in the world.

Bay of Plenty Film Trust is working with the region's councils and local funding bodies toward operating a fully resourced film office from early July.

Alongside the goal of attracting national and international projects to film here, Bay of Plenty Film is also focused on growing the capacity of the local industry.

Its website will be further developed over the coming months, building in a crew and services directory and highlighting events such as the upcoming Screen-Safe Roadshow and the workshops for the International Youth Silent Film Festival running in conjunction with Baycourt theatre.