At least 30 southern crew members are expected to be employed in the production of the television mini-series Top of the Lake, which is less than one week away from beginning in Queenstown.
Principals for the highest profile shoot in the South since The Hobbit last year applied for land-use consent with Lakes Environmental on January 10 for temporary filming in two remote rural spots in the Wakatipu. The Queenstown Lakes District Council regulatory service asked Top of the Lake Productions Ltd to supply written approvals from affected parties.
The proposed set included a camp setting where living quarters were made from 15 shipping containers which were converted to miniature buildings with windows and doors.
The production company applied for parking for up to 17 technical support vehicles, a shuttle van and a marquee to extend a woolshed for use as a base building.
It was proposed there would be 80 to 100 people on set for the 15 to 17 days of shooting.
Commissioned for BBC Two and earmarked for worldwide distribution, See-Saw Films and UKTV in Australia and New Zealand begin production of Top of the Lake in Queenstown on February 7.
The six-part mini-series will be directed by Academy award-winner Jane Campion (The Piano, Portrait of a Lady) and Australian director Garth Davis and written by Campion and Gerard Lee (Sweetie).
The project stars three-time Emmy nominated actress Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men, On the Road), Holly Hunter, who won a Best Actress Academy award for her performance in Campion's The Piano, BAFTA nominee Peter Mullan (War Horse, Trainspotting) and AFI award-winning actor David Wenham (The Lord of the Rings, Australia).
Produced by Academy Award winners Emile Sherman and Iain Canning (The King's Speech, Shame) of See-Saw Films, and Philippa Campbell (Black Sheep), of Escapade Pictures, Top of the Lake was billed as "a powerful and haunting mystery about the search for happiness in a paradise where honest work is hard to find".
Set in the remote mountains of New Zealand, the story follows the disappearance of a five-months pregnant 12-year-old girl named Tui who was last seen standing chest deep in a frozen lake. Investigating detective Robin Griffin (Moss) must "lose herself" in order to find the missing girl.
During the investigation, she collides with Matt Mitcham (Mullan), Tui's father, a drug lord, and G.J. (Hunter), a guru at a nearby women's camp. Robin soon discovers the case tests her limits and sends her on a journey of self-discovery, the synopsis says.
Film Otago Southland executive manager Kevin Jennings, of Queenstown, said on Monday the length of the shoot, upwards of 16 weeks, and the fact the entire project would be shot in the Wakatipu, instead of one or two parts, made the project unique.
"In addition to the locals hired, there will be a large number of cast and crew brought in from New Zealand and internationally, so the region should see secondary benefits in accommodation, shops, bars and restaurants," Mr Jennings said.
