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Scoring for Screen

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From bespoke ensembles to a full 90-piece orchestra, the NZSO provides turnkey scoring solutions for film, television and games.

We tailor our services to suit the needs of each individual project, with the ability to subcontract our trusted partners in a full solution package or a simple musicians-only agreement. Scoring with NZSO also gives the opportunity to access cash rebates of 20 or 25% of spend, depending on your project’s qualifying expenditure.

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Our work

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Wish Dragon (2021) | Sony Pictures
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Escape Plan (2013) | Lionsgate

Scoring for Screen

Wish Dragon (2021) | Sony Pictures
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Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away (2012)

Scoring for Screen

Wish Dragon (2021) | Sony Pictures
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Emperor (2012) | Roadside Attractions

Scoring for Screen

Wish Dragon (2021) | Sony Pictures
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The Lovely Bones (2009) | Paramount Pictures

Scoring for Screen

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Recording in Aotearoa incentives

Game Development Sector Rebate (GDSR)

Administered by NZ On Air on behalf of MBIE, the GDSR is a financial incentive supporting the ongoing growth of Aotearoa New Zealand's game development sector.

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Recording in Aotearoa incentives

Screen Wellington

Screen Wellington is a one-stop shop to make filming in Wellington easy. If you want film permits, help to secure studio space, connections with post-production, VFX and mixing facilities or suggestions on locations, Screen Wellington can help.

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Recording in Aotearoa incentives

New Zealand Screen Production Rebate

The New Zealand Screen Production Grant (NZSPG) for International Productions is part of the New Zealand Government’s screen incentives scheme. This includes the Post, Digital and Visual Effects (PDV) Grant which can be accessed even if no principal photography was on shore.

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Recording in Aotearoa incentives

New Zealand Film Commission

The NZ Film Commission offers advice, support and introductions to help your screen production access New Zealand's natural and commercial advantages, including screen incentives.

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Recording in Aotearoa incentives Thumbail

"This is a special story, made by a master storyteller with a soundtrack recorded by a legendary orchestra. It’s been an honour."

– Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper, composer, Sgt. Haane

The very first music ever recorded for Howard Shore's magnificent score for The Lord of the Rings was done here, in Wellington, back in 2001 in the Town Hall. The piece, written for the Fellowship's journey into the Mines of Moria, was beautifully performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and showcased the exceptional acoustics of this over a hundred-year-old building.

– Peter Jackson, Director, The Hobbit & Lord of the Rings

We believe the ability to record here at Massey with New Zealand’s premier orchestra is a key component to the job being brought to Aotearoa. We are immensely proud to be associated with such work and hats off to the local composers for bringing their unique sound to the world!

– Toi Rauwhārangi College of Creative Arts Project Manager James Coyle on recording music for Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie

They are a full-service film-scoring orchestra, and they're incredible

They are a proper orchestra, and the benefit of working with an orchestra that plays together is that they can come together so quickly as an ensemble. I also think that personality-wise, they're a great fit as an orchestra for a film like this because they're very laid back, they have a lot of fun, but they're incredible, impeccable players.

– Philip Klein, composer Wish Dragon

What is really great about the New Zealand [Symphony] Orchestra is that they got things really quickly. We got a super-high return rate on the time that we recorded to what we got back from them. It was just an amazing collaboration.

– Tom Holkenborg, Composer, Mortal Engines

There is so much talent here in New Zealand. Almost everyone that is sitting in this Orchestra has played their instrument for at least 20 to 40 years. You have 2000 years of musical experience contributing to your film. You would be silly not to take advantage of that many years of passion because that's what people will always recognise. That will never just come out of a box; that will always come from the heart.

– Conrad Pope, Orchestrator and Conductor, Mortal Engines

The Orchestra immediately played together so beautifully as a group, blending so well together in the hall, while brilliantly performing this challenging score. It is pure joy to have your music recorded by such amazing musicians.

– Douglas Pipes, composer, Krampus

I've worked with orchestras all around the world, and this is a unique experience; it's a working symphony orchestra, not a session orchestra. They perform the classical repertoire all the time in this hall, so they're very well balanced and respond incredibly quickly. They know how fast, how slow, how loud, and how soft the music is going to speak together in this room. That makes it a really gratifying experience for me because I don't have to work hard to get the creative response I want; it just sounds great.

– Alex Heffes, composer, Escape Plan

Get in touch

For further information about recording with the NZSO, including orchestra availability, time frames and quotes, please get in touch by email.

clairew@nzso.co.nz

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