Film about N.Z. on American TV

Press, 11 April 1978, Page 15

Film about N.Z. on American TV

From JOHN N. HUTCHISON in San Francisco A film about New Zealand that fulfilled its original purpose of informing North American travel agents is now being seen by millions of Americans on television. “New Zealand — My Kind of Country” has been seen by an estimated 2,500,000 viewers in recent months, and is expected to reach a total of at least six million this year. In the film, the narrator. Howard Morrison, guides a visitor through a 25-minute tour of New Zealand tourist attractions. It was made about a year ago and was shown

agents at special presentations during 1977 in 25 cities across the United States and Canada. Morrison appeared in person at the presentations in the United States. The film was so well received that the maker, Mr Jerry Gordon, of San Francisco, and Mr John Davey, of the Government Tourist Office, were reluctant to see it go on the shelf.

Believing it had television potential, they offered the film to more than 600 stations. More than 60 have now asked for it, “and we expect many more to send in requests, as they put together their programme schedules.” said Mr Davey. “We think the demand will continue for six more months.” Thirty prints are in circulation. As each returns, it is inspected, cleaned, and sent out to the next requesting station. If the expected audience of six million is reached, it will be at a cost of only $1 per thousand viewers. “We thought the TV stations might be put off

by the considerable commercial character of the film. It contains a great deal of identification of airlines, hotels, car rental firms, and the like,” said Mr Gordon, whose company has in the past made many short news-feature film clips about New Zealand for use on television in North America. “But we have had very few complaints, perhaps because the firms named have little or no local significance to their viewers.”

Stations in cities both large and small from coast to coast have shown the film. Some report playing it more than once.

“It has solved a problem of how to break into half-hour television programming,” said Mr Davey. The film contains some spectacular aerial photography, including unusual footage of the Sutherland Falls. Mr Gordon and his crew were assisted in New Zealand by the National Film Unit. The trip was Mr Gordon’s fifth to film New Zealand tourist attractions.