Making Fresh Sound in the Capital
POW Studios, Wellington’s award-winning Post Production Company, celebrated their shift across Wellington, from Miramar to a larger custom-built facility in Mount Cook, with Dame Gaylene Preston officially opening their new premises last Wednesday 14th August.
POW Studios Opening Event (Left to Right) Creative Director Matt Lambourn, Mayor Justin Lester, Dame Gaylene Preston and CEO John McKay
In her speech, Dame Gaylene Preston spoke of the exodus to Auckland in the early 1990s, which saw screen professionals leave Wellington. Dame Gaylene went on to say she found great comfort in experienced industry professionals, such as the team at POW Studios, building new facilities and setting down firm roots in the Capital.
Matthew Lambourn, Creative Director at POW Studios, likened their new custom-built sound mixing suite to the kumara pits that once flourished where the neighbouring Government House now stands, with long hours spent in the dark producing nourishing fruits for all.
Having received glowing reviews for their recent work on the documentary Helen Kelly - Together and Bea Joblin’s debut comedy Births, Deaths and Marriages, POW Studios are looking to continue their success on the upcoming NZ-made feature films, Low Down Dirty Criminals and Coming Home in the Dark.
Dame Gaylene Preston officially opens POW Studios’ new facilities
The POW Studios production team are producing a sonically immersive children’s podcast, What Will I Be Today?, written by Victor Rodger, Kyle Mewburn, Steph Matuku and Renee Liang for Radio New Zealand, with support from New Zealand on Air. The POW Studios VFX and animation team are working with the New Zealand Ballet on their upcoming season of Hansel and Gretel.
“Our move to Mount Cook has brought a change in focus for us at POW Studios, one that will build creative partnerships with Producers and Directors. This allows a collective approach to film-making with an emphasis on high-quality deliverables.”
John McKay, POW Studios CEO
In building their new facility, POW Studios hopes to attract and encourage more local and international interest, and remain at the forefront of collaborative and diverse film and media.
The POW Team 2019 (Clockwise from left) Jason Canovas, May Ning, Matt Lambourn, Jane Waddell, John McKay, Georgina Conroy, Marie Silberstein, Joe Ramage, Lea Dambeck, Nakhia, Tim Hamilton, Yong-Le Chong, George Palmer and Callum Scott