Where's Welly(wood)?

Hello Indie Film People,

 And anyone else reading this…

I use the term “indie” not because I’m ‘independent’, but because it sounds better than “filmmaker-to-be” or “graduated from film school two years ago and still haven’t found substantial film work”. Indie sounds cool, like Indie-ana Jones.
My hero.

Like many film-school grads and other hopefuls I said “I’m moving to Wellington” to my parents and was met with the reply: “Son, make sure you have a job secured before you move.”
Luckily, being 18, and knowing everything, I was able to smugly say
“Mama, Papa, don’t worry. It’s Wellywood!”

Unfortunately, Uncle Pete still hasn’t returned my calls. I thought we were family. Film industry family.

I had these visions of Wellington being the central hub of film, or at least the centre of Uncle Pete’s empire. But other than that secret citadel hidden in the suburbs nothing else seems to prove that Wellywood truly exists.

The internet thinks differently.

From TheOneRing.net forums:

“[Peter Jackson’s] Stone Street Studios is where a fair amount of the action occurs. But you could really just say Wellington is the headquarters!”

The internet recognises the Miramar Peninsula as the centre of the world of film.  It’s an exciting prospect. Over the town belt, an army is rising, to destroy Middle-Earth  make Hobbit films. Ok, it’s not so bad. I shouldn’t complain.
At least there’s something. A world-renowned group of film-making facilities and professionals.
Where do I sign up?

I don’t want to get lost in a swarm of leeches, hungry to work on one of Uncle Pete’s projects. I need to get straight to the man himself.

The Uncle Pete fan club laughs, mockingly, and says

“We always get asked how people can get in contact with Peter Jackson. Well first and foremost, yes, he has a personal e-mail address, but under no circumstances will this be given out. Not even if you're George Lucas and you want PJ to direct the 3rd Star Wars film! ; )  ”

The winking smiley at the end makes me want to scream:
“GAARRRGGHH!!! Where is WELLYWOOD?!?”

Over the next 4 months a plan is being put into action by the Wellington Airport to install a ‘Wellywood’ sign on the Miramar cutting hill, so people can see exactly where it is. Will they have an information kiosk there as well?

Until then I’ll have to distract myself with the many beaches and shopping malls and casinos that Wellington has to offer, while trying to work out where I went wrong.

Two months after moving to Wellington I sat at the Newtown WINZ office. In the waiting room before me were two freelancing cameramen. My case manager said “Film? In Wellington? Nah, you’ve come to the wrong place. You should’ve gone into the IT industry.”

But seriously, where do I sign up?

Love,

Thomas xox