Celebrated New Zealand filmmaker Jane Campion has brought the world of wealthy Montana ranchers to life in her new feature film, The Power of the Dog.

 

Set in 1925 in the US state of Montana – unofficially nicknamed, ‘Big Sky Country’ – The Power of the Dog was proudly based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and filmed by our experienced and skilled local screen workforce.

Life on the Montana prairies was recreated in-studio at a retrofitted Penrose warehouse and on location across Auckland, Otago and Central Otago, showcasing Auckland’s standing as a well-resourced production base with easy access to incredible locations across the country.

So how does screen production benefit the local economy? From creating employment to direct spend at the time of production, check out The Power of the Dog Fast Facts, highlighting how the production delivered a huge economic boost to the Auckland, Otago and Central Otago regions.

 

Kirsten Dunst on set forThe Power of the Dog

The Power of the Dog Fast Facts

Jobs

  • 27 New Zealand cast members
  • 248 Auckland crew members, including key heads of department
  • 80 South Island crew members
  • 120 Auckland extras
  • 170 South Island extras

Accommodation

  • $2.4 million spent on accommodation, including:
    • 2100 paid Auckland accommodation nights
    • 11,375 paid South Island accommodation nights

Food

  • 7750 on-set meals served daily 
  • Fresh samosa made by Omakau Supermarket
  • Stone fruit supplied by Cromwell orchards
  • 100 Crown Lynn side plates purchased from a local antique shop for on-set catering (compostable plates out of stock)
  • Food scraps delivered to a local pig farmer

Construction

  • 130 construction team members
  • 15 key location set builds
  • 25 key studio set builds
  • 50 per cent materials North Island sourced; 50 per cent South Island sourced
  • Shingle and shake roofing sourced from Canada
  • After production, all materials were donated to a recycling firm or broken down as firewood for the local community

Classic cars

  • Around 20 classic cars were used, including:
    • 1914 Dodge Tourer
    • 1917 Ford T
    • 1931 Studebaker S20
    • 1918 Cadillac
    • 1920 Samson 15
    • 1924 Dodge 4
    • 1918 Excelsior (motorbike)

Animals

  • A representative from the Humane Association was on-set to oversee:
    • 240 cows and their calves
    • 50 steers
    • 23 horses 
    • 3 dogs
    • 1 rabbit
    • 1 magpie
    • Kittens
    • Chickens

Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons, alongside rising New Zealand star Thomasin McKenzie, The Power of the Dog will screen at theatres around New Zealand from 11 November (as COVID-19 Alert Levels allow) and on Netflix from 1 December.

Images courtesy of Netflix, 2021.

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