NZ On Screen is proud to unveil its latest collection: Behind the Scenes — a curated celebration of the mahi, misfires, and magic behind some of Aotearoa’s most iconic screen productions.
Spanning more than 50 titles, the collection offers a rare and revealing glimpse into the creative engine rooms of New Zealand film and television. From early indie trailblazers to contemporary blockbusters, this is a love letter to the people who make it all happen: the carpenters, costume designers, directors of photography, producers, foley artists, and many more.
As director Toa Fraser writes in his backgrounder:
“We are a motley bunch, it’s true. We eat at weird times of the day and night. We wear funny clothes. We work hard, crazy hours and to outsiders, it’s perhaps difficult to understand why we do what we do. Maybe this collection will help.”
Highlights include candid moments from the early days of independent filmmaking. Merata Mita confronts censorship in Patu!, Peter Jackson assembles a DIY gore-fest in Bad Taste, and Geoff Murphy choreographs epic battle scenes in Utu. There’s also rare on-set footage from Vigil, Sleeping Dogs, and The Price of Milk.
The collection shines a light on boundary-pushing innovation too. From Jackson’s anarchic puppet satire Meet the Feebles, to the team behind Footrot Flats, Aotearoa’s first animated feature. From Len Lye to Gollum traces the evolution of Kiwi animation, while The Edge – The Birth of Wētā captures a young Jackson and crew just before global lift-off.
You’ll also find reflections from the teams behind landmark films like Once Were Warriors, Whale Rider, and The World’s Fastest Indian, as well as the heartwarming and humorous stories behind projects like No. 2, Perfect Strangers, and 50 Ways of Filming Fabulous.
TV gets its due too. Shortland Street: Inside an Icon looks back on 25 years in Ferndale, while Mataku: Hei Muri Te Mata explores the making of Māori supernatural drama. A day-in-the-life snapshot of TVNZ from 1985 and a behind-the-scenes segment on Country GP for Spot On offer nostalgic glimpses into broadcasting’s past, while the Wellington Paranormal Bloopers remind us that not everything goes to plan.
There are personal stories, too. Gaylene Preston revisits her father’s wartime experience in Home by Christmas, and political activist Sonja Davies’ legacy in Bread and Roses.
Two exclusive written features accompany the collection:
- Toa Fraser reflects on the camaraderie and unseen craft of production life.
- Rob Gillies, legendary production designer, charts the screen industry’s journey from “garage-band ingenuity” to global-scale professionalism.
Plus, a behind-the-scenes photo gallery offers rare glimpses of iconic sets, from Scarfies to Meet the Feebles.
Whether you’re a filmmaker, student, or fan, the Behind the Scenes collection captures the creativity, chaos, and sheer determination that define New Zealand’s screen industry.
🔗 Explore the collection: www.nzonscreen.com/collection/behind-the-scenes
