NHNZ Documentary DVDs enter Best Sellers List

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NHNZ
Friday, 27 August 2010

NHNZ Documentary DVDs enter Best Sellers List

Two documentaries made by Dunedin production company NHNZ have reached the top five in the July best-sellers list for documentaries in all retail stores in New Zealand*.

At Number three is Expedition Antarctica – into the Frozen Abyss, which has been in stores for 11 weeks. Filmed by cameraman and director, Max Quinn, this production tells the story of a research voyage to Antarctica during International Polar Year. Expedition Antarctica was made for international release with National Geographic Channels International and the Smithsonian Channel in the United States.

But more surprisingly is the fact that a documentary that was made 25 years ago, occupies the fourth spot on the best sellers list. Journey’s Across Latitude 45° South has been made by NHNZ for local television release while it was still the Natural History Unit of TVNZ. This production stars well known local presenter Peter Hayden who says this four-part series is one man’s view of the country. “When I travel along the 45th parallel today some things have changed beyond recognition: the people, the towns, the land and their economies - but looking back some things have stayed very much the same,” he says.

The DVD includes a special introduction filmed this year featuring Peter reminiscing about the journey he took from the east to the west coasts along latitude 45° south- at a time before the development of the Clyde Dam, the emergence of a wine industry, and before a “lifestyle block” was a common real-estate term.
Number one best selling DVD in the documentary category is held by Michael Jackson’s This is It, which has been on the charts for 22 weeks; the number two spot for July went to the Topps Twins DVD (52 weeks).

NHNZ Moving Images manager, Caroline Cook says the results go to prove that old is the new new, heartland stories are timeless, and documentaries on our country can hold their own against international superstars.

*Source: GFK Monthly Summary Report

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