Why New Zealand is the Best Destination for a Film Student
Mountains, valleys, lakes, beaches, forests, deserts, and just about every other scenic attraction you could think of. These are just a few of the reasons why New Zealand is a film student’s dream playground. Loyd Gorme Doron from Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte in the Philippines, shares his reasons for choosing New Zealand as his study destination, and how it has provided him with endless locations and backdrops for his film and photography projects.
Loyd is a student at Massey University in Wellington, New Zealand, and he is currently studying towards a Bachelor in Screen Arts with Honours, majoring in Film Production. Loyd decided to move to New Zealand in 2019 after he won a smartphone filming competition and attended a multi-day film workshop in Wellington, New Zealand as the prize.
The competition, jointly run by Goethe-Institut New Zealand and the Mobile Innovation Network and Association (MINA), asked prospects to enter a short-film competition by crafting a film that focussed on sustainability problems or climate change issues that they could observe in their hometown. A true test of a filmmaker’s abilities to tell a story, by only using their surroundings.
“I always had an interest in filming school projects and taking creative photos, but it wasn’t until I had graduated from high school that I realised film was going to be my area of study. All my classmates had decided that they were going to pursue accounting, or business, or even nursing, but I was not so sure.”
After finishing school, Loyd began freelancing for clients by recording and editing video projects, despite having little experience. The Smartphone Filmmaking Competition was his first real insight into what studying film could look like, and he grabbed the opportunity very quickly.
“After my trip to Wellington, New Zealand in November 2019, I decided that there was an opportunity for me to study film here and I moved to New Zealand for my studies in 2022.” It took Loyd a year to prepare for the move and work out which programme he would choose, but he benefited from having visited Wellington, New Zealand.
Plan your New Zealand study experience
What is your favourite part about your current education?
“My favourite part about studying is the location, and how vibrant and artsy the city is. There are a lot of creatives and artists around this area. At university, I am surrounded by like-minded people and have a sense of belonging to a crowd where everyone is an aspiring filmmaker or storyteller.”
Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand, and sits at the bottom of the North Island, right in the middle of the country. Wellington is the political, cultural, and creative heart of New Zealand.
It is also nice to talk and connect with people with the same passion as me and learn about their perspectives and ideas about our shared interests.
Massey University in Wellington offers a variety of learning options, but notably have a focus on the creative arts and practical qualifications.
Due to Wellington’s central location, it is quite easy to travel within New Zealand. Planes, ferries, trains, buses, and driving are all options that are available to students across New Zealand. Find out the easiest ways to get around New Zealand when studying here.
I have also done a little bit of travelling around New Zealand and have seen so many different things and landscapes that I never would have thought were possible.
From skiing in the snow-capped mountains in the South Island to exploring the rolling countryside in the North Island, Loyd has stories, videos and images from all his adventures.
What are your favourite filming locations?
“My favourite location was in the summer of 2021, when I did a hike across the Tongariro Crossing for eight hours. I remember being at the top of the track and looking down across the entire landscape and being in awe of where I was.”
Loyd says that this remains one of his best moments, and one of his favourite locations to capture on camera but does not discount other opportunities that are available all the time. He shares that you cannot go wrong when taking photos in the CBD.
“When my photographer friends and I engage in street photography we get some fantastic results. Wellington is very well organised as a city – there is a mix of historical and office buildings and many colourful landmarks and boutique stores.”
Like much of New Zealand, Wellington is a coastal city surrounded by natural bush and mountains. This means that even the CBD is only a few minutes away from bush-walks, and views that might be unimaginable in other parts of the world.
“Mt. Victoria is also a fantastic location for photographs because you can see so much of the city, at the same time as the natural beauty that the surroundings provide. I take different routes to the top of Mt. Victoria in search of different backdrops. It helps to get some exercise too.”
What's your next filming location where you want to visit/photograph?
The abundant opportunities for photographers and videographers tend to also be great attractions to visitors too. As an ambitious creator, there are bound to be many destinations on Loyd’s bucket list, but while he is in New Zealand, he is eager to take advantage of the opportunities immediately available.
“I have been trying to save up by working, so that I can [road trip] the west coast of the South Island and be able to stop over at every opportunity I would like to, but the TranzAlpine Great Journeys Train from Greymouth to Christchurch also appeals to me.” Loyd speaks of the vastness and the history associated with this region and imagines that there are many stories to tell.
Loyd enjoys tramping and cycling for fun and exploring cities to tell stories, which makes New Zealand the ultimate playground for him.
What is your favourite filming project?
The best project I am most proud of is this short film project I directed, filmed and edited is because it is in collaboration with my own Local Town Council and Police Department as a social awareness and campaign for the huge drug problems in my province. I am always passionate about making short films and telling stories that have a social impact and that could raise awareness like this one.
What is your next filming project?
This semester, we are working in groups on major filming projects. This is an exciting opportunity for me because I am learning about others’ views and ideas for short films. The idea that I could contribute to someone else’s projects and make an impact through my skills with the camera is great.
My short films tend to have a narrative that shows emotion and drama through filming techniques, and this is the style I am passionate about. Some of the ideas that have been pitched by some of the other students align with this exactly, so it will be great to see how this comes to fruition.