Four new trustees have been appointed to the board of Film Otago Southland, following a review of the body’s funding and structure.
A second full-time staff member has also been employed.
Sam Chapman, brand strategist with extensive film industry experience and owner of Sherwood, Brad Hurndell, chief executive at Shotover Camera Systems, Fraser Liggett, economic development programme manager at Dunedin City Council, and Ross McRobie, outgoing NZ Film Commission board member, have been appointed to the board, joining existing trustees Chairman Michael Hesp, Paula Jalfon, executive producer, Penny Simmonds, chief executive at the Southern Institute of Technology, and Steve Canny, general manager of business and strategic projects at Venture Southland.
Trustees Phil Turner, Brett Mills, Mark Gillings, Iris Weber, Bob Parr and Ross Grey are retiring.
Executive manager Kevin Jennings has been joined on the staff by new film office co-ordinator Aideen Tinney.
The appointments followed the review, which recognised more funding and staff were essential if Film Otago Southland was to work more effectively, a spokeswoman from the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) said.
The organisation, which promotes and co-ordinates commercial filming activity in Otago and Southland, is funded by the QLDC, Venture Southland, Southern Institute of Technology, Dunedin City Council, Invercargill City Council, Waitaki District Council and Central Otago District Council.
It has existed since 2004.
In the past three years, 594 productions have been filmed in Otago and Southland, with 68% of all activity in the Queenstown Lakes District.
