VOA慢速英语--新西兰的电影制作业务重新开始运作

The capital of New Zealand has enjoyed an exciting week since the arrival of a Hollywood filmmaking team. Canadian director James Cameron and his crew will begin filming a second part, or sequel, to his popular 2009 science fiction movie, Avatar.

The project is among a handful of film productions beginning in New Zealand as the nation reopens following its successful COVID-19 containment¹ effort. The government hopes the country's film industry will help repair the economic damage blamed on the health crisis².

New Zealand's borders remain closed to foreigners but the government permitted the 55 member Avatar 2 team to enter. The group arrived on a private airplane.

Annabelle Sheehan, head of the New Zealand Film Commission³, praised the return of the film business.

"Certainly, the fact that we are able to start earlier than some countries is great..." But she also expressed concern for the many countries that continue to face major difficulties from COVID-19.

New Zealand's high mountains, green valleys and thick forests were made famous by the series of movies The Lord of the Rings. The country has drawn⁴ several major film productions in recent years.

About 47 productions were in progress when Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on March 26 ordered a travel ban and other restrictions⁵ to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

The public health efforts were a success and New Zealand's officials say the virus has been almost eliminated from the country. New Zealand was among the first nations in the world to return to normal this week, apart from the closed border.

Avatar producer Jon Landau posted a picture of himself and director Cameron after landing last week. He also said they would avoid contact with other people for 14 days as is the government rule for visitors.

Landau praised New Zealand's coronavirus campaign on Radio New Zealand. "Your country has become a leader in how to deal with something like this," he said, adding, "I think films will want to come."

With many people around the world stuck at home, pressure is on filmmakers and others to make new material and release it. Movie industry experts, however, say content creators are held back because of the lack of safe places to work.

Now, New Zealand appears to be a good possibility for such work.

"We've had a few international enquiries and that's on the back of our COVID-free status," said Gary Watkins. He is head of Avalon Studios based in Wellington. Avalon was used for the filming of the 2017 movie Ghost in the Shell starring Scarlett Johannsen. The company is also involved in making the new Avatar movie.

Wellington is home to major studios and production centers including director Peter Jackson's Weta Digital. The studio produced Jackson's The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies.

Jobs creation⁶

But the admission of Cameron and his crew into New Zealand has been criticized. Opposition⁷ party leaders have asked why the movie crew was let in with seeming ease, while restrictions on other visitors, including family members of citizens remain. Many businesses in the country are struggling without employees needed for their operations.

Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford defended the decision on the Avatar film crew. He said the border was only open to a few foreigners who were important for projects with substantial⁸ economic value.

New Zealand's film industry is thought to be valued at more than one billion dollars each year. A six-month international film can create an estimated 3,000 jobs.

"You only need a few international people coming to trigger⁹ thousands of jobs," said film commission chief Sheehan.

And New Zealand needs the jobs. The government expects joblessness to rise because of the coronavirus.

The tourism industry brings in more than $16 billion yearly, representing six percent of the value of all goods and services produced in New Zealand.

But in the longer term, the films should help the nation's tourism industry recover.

"People all over the world will see these new titles and will start seeing New Zealand in a new light...this will contribute hugely to tourism," Sheehan said.

I'm Caty Weaver¹⁰.

Words in This Story

eliminate –v. to remove (something that is not wanted or needed) : to get rid of (something)

content –n. the ideas, facts, or images that are in a book, article, speech, movie, etc.

enquiry –n. a request for information

status –n. the current state of someone or something — usually singular

trigger –v. something that causes something else to happen

tourism –n. the business of providing hotels, restaurants, entertainment, etc., for people who are traveling

title –n. the name given to something (such as a book, song, or movie) to identify or describe it

contribute –v. to help to cause something to happen

1 containment   

n.阻止，遏制；容量

参考例句：

• Your list might include such things as cost containment,quality,or customer satisfaction.你的清单上应列有诸如成本控制、产品质量、客户满意程度等内容。
• Insularity and self-containment,it is argued,go hand in hand.他们争论说，心胸狭窄和自我封闭是并存的。

2 crisis   

n.危机，危急关头，决定性时刻，关键阶段

参考例句：

• He had proved that he could be relied on in a crisis.他已表明，在紧要关头他是可以信赖的。
• The topic today centers about the crisis in the Middle East.今天课题的中心是中东危机。

3 commission   

n.委托，授权，委员会，拥金，回扣，委任状

参考例句：

• The salesman can get commission on everything he sells.这个售货员能得到所售每件货物的佣金。
• The commission is made up of five people,including two women.委员会由五人组成，其中包括两名妇女。

4 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

5 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

6 creation   

n.创造，创造的作品，产物，宇宙，天地万物

参考例句：

• Language is the most important mental creation of man.语言是人类头脑最重要的产物。
• The creation of new playgrounds will benefit the local children.新游戏场的建立将有益于当地的儿童。

7 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

8 substantial   

adj.大的，相当可观的，大体上的

参考例句：

• She is preparing a substantial meal against his return.她正在准备一顿丰盛的饭菜为他接风。
• The country bought a substantial number of weapons.这个国家购买了大量武器。

9 trigger   

n.触发器，板机，制滑机；v.触发（事件）

参考例句：

• His index finger tightened on the trigger but then relaxed again.他的食指扣住扳机，然后又松开了。
• He pulled the trigger but the gun didn't go off.他打了一枪，没有发火。

10 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。