By RNZ

Actors Cliff Curtis and Jason Momoa, with director Taika Waititi, have acquired Auckland-based film studio Studio West in a bid to bring more jobs and Polynesian-led storytelling to the country.

The studio, set up in 1997, was previously owned and operated by Enki Enterprises’ Kay and Glenn Howe, who say they’re excited to pass the baton to Āriki Group – a group invested in the growth of the industry.

Waititi told RNZ it was about building a space where New Zealand talent could thrive and grow.

“It’s an indigenous-owned studio and the focus for us is bringing that work and uplifting – well, actually not just our people but people in the industry, because like the industry’s been under some pressure and it’s been suffering a little bit,” Waititi says.

“I think the more we focus on trying to get more work here and bring things here, hopefully it creates more of that interest, especially young people [who] want to get into the industry because even that’s taken a little hit in the past with people.”

Opportunities for film-making and acting have lately been dwindling, niche, or limited to regions, he says.

“I think that if we can keep that stuff happening and keep more things coming in then that’s the dream – for all of us to be working.”

Studio West’s recent credits include Jason Momoa’s Apple TV+ series Chief of War, which was based at the studio. Momoa says he’s excited for a chance to build lasting support and create pathways for the next generation of storytellers.

“New Zealand has become a place that feels like home to me: creatively, culturally, and spiritually. There’s a deep respect for story, for land, for community and that’s something I am drawn to,” Momoa said in a statement.

“I am proud to be part of that journey, and to help champion stories that deserve to be seen and heard around the world.”

Cliff Curtis, who also starred in Chief of War, says it’s a full-circle moment for him because he first started working there nearly 30 years ago.

“Jason and Taika have achieved remarkable success on the global stage, reaching audiences worldwide and bringing more than a billion dollars of production revenue into our economy,” Curtis said in a statement.

“What unites us is a shared commitment to telling authentic local stories alongside independent artists from our own communities … At its core, this is about ownership, creative control, and building a strong economic base – creating a platform where our communities can lead, shape, and share their stories with the world.”

Dealing with studio notes and new project

This week, Waititi has been celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Hunt for the Wilderpeople – which is back in cinemas now – with the actors of the movie.

“My favourite memories were just being a very small crew, lots of people in the different departments doing work in the other departments and just everyone sharing the load.

“I felt like a real New Zealand film-maker. I was out in the bush. I was up in the mountains and dragging equipment around and just finding these cool little moments between Sam Neill and Julian Dennison.

“People don’t talk about magical moments, but it was just many, many magical moments creating that film, and I don’t think I’ve felt as good making a film again since then. And I’ve felt great making films since then but that was probably the best experience.”

Although in hindsight he feels the movie was “really trying to please myself” rather than the audience, after experiencing the world of Hollywood storytelling he now tries to put himself in the shoes of viewers too.

But dealing with “notes” or feedback from the studio was also something to become accustomed to, he says.

“I’ve never really had to deal with notes or studio notes before I did those films in the States and that became a thing that was very surprising to me, because the Thor film was my fifth movie I think, and so at that point I didn’t realise that I would ever … deal with notes or have to listen to other people, but you do and it’s a real challenge.

“Sometimes they’re right, lots of times they’re wrong. It’s part of the game there and we don’t have that as much here.

“It’s crushing but luckily the teenage version of me who still dominates this body still goes ‘uh, I don’t care, I don’t even care, you’re dumb’, but I just say it to myself, and then often I’ll do the notes.”

One of his next projects is to direct American writer Percival Everett’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel James, which will be executive produced by Steven Spielberg’s company.

“I’ve confidence in that one and I feel good about how my approach would be to that,” Waititi told RNZ.

“It’s also a scary prospect of doing a film about that subject, not being from there, but I think we may be starting to get past that phase of film-making and where you have to be from certain places, a certain person to authentically make something and I think that’s – well they asked me to do it. So there’s that.”

– RNZ