$3 billion from the screen industry

Stats NZ announced:

Revenue from filmmaking in New Zealand took off in 2012, powering the screen industry beyond $3 billion, Statistics New Zealand said today.

“This is the first time since the survey began in 2005 that the screen industry has surpassed $3 billion. The breakthrough has been aided by a surge in feature film revenue, which rose almost 50 percent in 2012 to more than $1 billion,” screen industry statistics manager Hamish Hill said.

“Forty feature films were completed in New Zealand in 2012, five more than in 2011. This shows New Zealand’s film industry is expanding from its success in creating and producing world-class content.”

I wonder what it would have been if the Hobbit haters working for the Australian union had won?

$3 billion of revenue is a great achievement for the screen industry. Long may it last and grow.