My Wedding and Other Secrets, the latest film from South Pacific Pictures, makers of Whale Rider and Sione’s Wedding, is set for nationwide New Zealand release on Thursday March 17, 2011.
A Romeo and Juliet story with a Kiwi-Asian twist, the film is a romantic comedy that’s based on the real-life cross cultural romance of first-time feature film writer/director Roseanne Liang.

Philippa Boyens, co-writer and co-producer on The Hobbit, has issued a media statement saying that “the filmmakers involved in this production are working as hard as they can to save the jobs of the New Zealanders put at risk by the actions of NZ Equity and are doing everything they can to keep the production from being moved off-shore. Three Foot Seven is working with actors’ representatives, namely their agents, to ensure that the terms and conditions for all actors working on The Hobbit are fair and equitable…”

Cinemas are about to be hit by a 3D blitz but distributors fear there won’t be enough screens to cope.
There will be nine 3D releases between November 18, when part one of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows bows in 3D, and Waitangi Day.
The last time two 3D blockbusters opened this close, it cost their distributors dearly because they had to share screens.

For your convenience, a chronology of the official press releases issued by the parties involved in The Hobbit dispute, as well as various industry onlookers. As of the morning of 4 October, there were apparently hopeful signs of an impending resolution. Fingers and all other appendages crossed, eh? – Editor

Writer-producer Mike Riddell’s previously published three-part account of bringing feature film The Insatiable Moon to the big screen.

The film is released nationwide on October 7.

Sir Peter’s latest public comments are yet further evidence of the urgent need for a calm meeting between the production company and NZ Equity to resolve the matters at hand.
I feel very disappointed that Sir Peter has chosen to use a private, confidential correspondence between us in the public arena.

The text of the letter that Attorney-General Chris Finlayson sent to the producers of The Hobbit and NZ Actors’ Equity on29 September, which states that the Commerce Act 1986 effectively prohibits competing independent contractor performers from negotiating or entering into a collective contract.

The fact that only one of the 17 films in this year’s Italian Film Festival is a thriller probably says more about the Italian psyche than it does about the Italian film industry or the festival’s programmer, Tony Lambert, reports Jane Warren. Now in its 15th year, the festival opens on September 29 with a programme that, while limited in genres, still manages to be diverse in its range.

The year’s biggest-grossing theatrical hit has been the #1 rental title since its home video release three weeks ago, while sales mirror those of a typical Hollywood blockbuster.

A Government response to the NZFC review undertaken by Peter Jackson and Australian academic David Court is expected by the end of November, according to Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Chris Finlayson in a letter in response to a joint submission on the NZFC review from five industry guilds.

A horror weekend at the box office is seeing locations and sessions for Predicament slashed after opening on 51 screens just two weeks ago.
From Thursday to Sunday, it grossed only $16,680 on 49 screens, to earn a mere $340 average – and suffered the worst week-on-week decline of any release in the top 20: 71.4%.

Finalists in the inaugural Scriptwriters Awards will be announced on October 16.

It’s expected there will be three in each of the nine categories but this will depend on how many nominations have been received by the September 17 deadline.

Friday’s DVD release of the record-breaking NZ movie, Boy, comes just days after it racked up one of the highest screen averages in Australia.

Taika Waititi’s coming-of-age comedy/drama grossed A$275,026 on 41 screens in its opening weekend across the Tasman.

Predicament’s prospects of topping $500,000 at the local box office seem a long shot after an opening, four-day weekend gross of only $58,396.

NZ Equity is petitioning its members to go online and register their support for a binding industry-wide contract between SPADA and all actors working on NZ movies and TV programmes.

It would replace The Pink Book guidelines with minimum conditions of employment comparable to those across the Tasman, but with rates of pay and residuals based on the NZ market and the financing of NZ productions.

Rialto Distribution predicts its latest New Zealand release, Predicament, will top $500,000 at the box office.

It opens wide on more than 50 screens tomorrow after being platformed on the NZ Film Festival circuit.