Amazon’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ Among Projects Granted COVID-19 Exemption by New Zealand

Alisa Xayalith and Thom Powers already broke up once. Were they really about to do it again?

Dino-Ray Ramos Associate Editor/ReporterWeta Digital, Streamliner and Avalon Studios is changing the game when it comes to production with a new LED-stage virtual production service.

Jake Kanter International TV EditorDes, ITV’s drama starring David Tennant as British serial killer Dennis Nilsen, has been acquired by a raft of international broadcasters and streamers, including AMC Networks’ Sundance Now in the U.S., Canada and Caribbean.Made by All3Media-backed Catherine The Great producer New Pictures, the miniseries has also been sold by All3Media International to DIRECTV in Latin America, STAN in Australia and TVNZ in New Zealand.In Europe, Des has been acquired by C

The Dalai Lama made a bid for music chart stardom on Monday, his 85th birthday, with the release of an album of mantras and teachings.“Inner World” kicks off with the track “One Of My Favourite Prayers” and continues with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader reciting meditations and sayings with accompanying music.The record came about when musician Junelle Kunin, a student of the Dalai Lama from New Zealand, contacted him in 2015 with the idea – and much to her surprise he said yes.“I thought

Tom Grater, Andreas Wiseman EXCLUSIVE: Chelsea Winstanley, the Oscar nominated producer of Jojo Rabbit and What We Do In The Shadows, has arrived back in her native New Zealand to begin filming on feature documentary Toi Tu Toi Ora – Visual Sovereignty.The pic will follow the final year of preparation for the first international showing of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki’s forthcoming exhibition, Toi Tū Toi Ora: Contemporary Māori Art; the most comprehensive survey of contemporary Māori art to

University of Manchester.The official White House Twitter account tweeted a quote attributed to Mr Trump, which read: "Americans harnessed electricity, split the atom, and gave the world the telephone and the internet."We settled the Wild West, won two World Wars, landed American Astronauts on the Moon—and one day soon, we will plant our flag on Mars!"His claim has angered Brits on the social media platform, who were quick to point on that the atom was split by a New Zealand scientist, who

Jacinda Ardern isn’t weighing in on Kanye West’s electoral chances.

Kanye West, after the rapper announced his intention to run for president of the US.The rapper announced his bid for president over the weekend and said it was time to “realise the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future”.But Ardern appeared amused during a press conference on Monday when asked if she had any advice, replying she doesn’t “have any inside information” on his run for president.“You’re asking me what my advice for Kanye West is?” she said

Ellise Shafer editorThe crew members of Amazon Prime Video’s television adaptation “The Lord of the Rings” and Netflix’s upcoming take on Japanese animated series “Cowboy Bepop,” have both been granted permission to enter New Zealand to begin or resume production, along with five other projects.According to New Zealand media website Stuff, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has revealed that international crews for seven projects have been allowed to enter the country in the

Nellie Andreeva Co-Editor-in-Chief, TVSeveral more overseas productions will join James Cameron’s Avatar sequels and Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog Netflix film in New Zealand in the coming  months.New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment has announced that Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings series, Netflix series Cowboy Bebop and Sweet Tooth, Peter Farrelly’s film Greatest Beer Run Ever starring Viggo Mortensen, and Power Rangers Beast Morphers series have been granted

Variety Staff Follow Us on TwitterThe New Zealand government is to inject $48 million (NZ$74.4 million) of cash to help the film and TV industries recover from the economic effects of the coronavirus and the country’s strict lockdown measures.

2 min read For the first time, the New Zealand (NZ) Census will collect information about the rainbow community in the next edition due in 2023.

Variety Staff Follow Us on TwitterTaika Waititi and Carthew Neal’s production company Piki Films is to embark on three projects with Maori writers from New Zealand.

< 1 min read NZ’s Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin has confirmed that the Births, Deaths, Marriages and Relationships Registration Bill will not be reintroduced before this year’s election.

update published on his blog, the 71-year-old novelist told fans the Covid-19 pandemic means he is making swift progress on the next book, The Winds of Winter, and plans to have it “done” in time for a trip to Wellington, New Zealand “next year.”He wrote that he is working on the novel in “an actual cabin in the mountains” and is staying healthy by self-isolating during the coronavirus crisis.Updating fans on his work, George added: “If nothing else, the enforced isolation has helped me write.

Amazon’s “Lord of the Rings” series — but only “unusual” or “funny looking” wannabes.“Do you have an overbite, face burns, long skinny limbs, deep cheekbones, lines on your face, acne scars, ears that stick out, bulbous or interesting noses, small eyes, big eyes, any deformities, Skinny faces, missing limbs?” BGT Actors Models & Talent asks in an ad.The original pitch featured photos of ideal faces — even some used in US campaigns warning about the dangers of meth use — but was eventually taken