In August of 2009 scenes for Fuji TV's 50-year Anniversary Drama "Wastelands" were filmed in the South Island of New Zealand. New Zealand was the only filming location outside of Japan and provided the Russian winter, for scenes set in Stalin's Gulag with several prison camp sets, wide open steppes and freezing Siberian rivers, for forced labour scenes. But not only Russia, down town New York in the 1950s, seaside LA in the 50s, a US Air Force Airbase and Arlington National cemetery in Washington State we also filmed here. Plenty of CG finished the picture but the varied landscapes and cityscapes made it possible as well as a supporting cast that included New Zealand resident Russian, American and Japanese actors and hundreds of extras of all ethnicities to give the right look for the diverse range of peoples you might have found in downtown New York the 50s or in the Soviet Gulag. The period setting was a challenge for the art department but the talented local art crew whipped up prison camp sets built high in the mountains in the snowy, built roads overnight, changed present day central Dunedin into 1950s New York, costumed hundred of people in 1950s garb and generally worked like Trojans.
The varied natural scenery, varied towns and cities, snow and beaches only a days drive apart, reverse seasonality to the northern hemisphere and experiencde film crew all make New Zealand a great place for filming.
Any period any country
