Hooray for Wellywood
Everyone knows that while Wellington has a world-class, award-winning film production industry, it’s been sorely lacking one serious thing: a giant sign proclaiming WELLYWOOD.
Well, our prayers have been answered! By June a giant WELLYWOOD sign will be erected in the hills of Miramar, and will serve as a visual distraction for passengers suffering a bumpy approach to the airport.
Quoted in the Dom Post, Mayor Kerry sez:
“The sign will be one of the first things people will see when they arrive in Wellington. They will be left in no doubt that this is the heart and soul of New Zealand’s film industry.”
Unless you make the approach from the Lyall Bay end of the runway. In which case, you will be left thinking you’ve just arrived in Wellington, not the world centre of the film-making universe.
Oh, I suppose I shouldn’t mock it. After all, the Hollywood sign turned that small Los Angeles village into a film-making centre second only to Wellington.
And, to be fair, it’s a little embarassing that Mosgiel has a giant sign in the hills but Wellington doesn’t yet.
Leave it to me, bro.
I wonder how long it would be until someone vandalizes it or a nice strong southerly blows it apart?? One can only hope
Does anybody actually use the word “Wellywood” (I mean those over 13 and excepting the media) in intelligent conversation? Hollywood is a bona fide suburb. Wellywood is an infantile wannabe term. The sign would be like some bad taste bling round the neck of a try hard.
They should put some bitchin’ rims on the O’s of the sign
man! I love this city!!
I love your analogy, Steve, and I don’t think I have heard the term since we were making those blockbusters here. It’s like the false claim that people called Judy Bailey ‘the mother of the nation’. Who ever called her that outside of the TVNZ publicity department?
The term Wellywood now simply means ‘crap sign’, based on the chats I’ve been having. In the last week, the meaning has shifted to this.
On reflection I think this subject (not this post specifically) is garnering far too much hot air … whilst I still think it’s a bit naff I’m certainly not gonna run as mayor on the subject 😉
That’s why I reckon an exclamation mark would be good.
Oh! Or they could underline the first bit, and add a smaller second sign:
WELLYWOOD
Geddit?
If it is tongue in cheek, then the sign should say:
WELLYWOOD (LOLZ)
Someone should set up a fund for spray paint (if you know what I mean) if that thing ever gets built.
Well, and I thought that I’d never have any reasons to even consider moving to Auckland.
How embarrassing.
-t
I can’t wait until someone makes a big Y and appends it to the end
Preach it.
I am amazed that so many people don’t get it that the WELLYWOOD proposal is ironic; half ONYA celebratory & half self mocking in the best kiwi mode.
Wait a second, Mike & Tash are behind this?
Alan, you bet your bottom dollar I am against this signâ€â€and if Wellington Airport has this much money to burn, how about just donating it to some worthy causes, or giving us cheaper parking?
Last time I looked, we didn’t need a sign to take home three Oscars and tell the world we have world-class creatives in Wellington.
I am amazed that so many people don’t get it that the WELLYWOOD proposal is ironic; half ONYA celebratory & half self mocking in the best kiwi mode. I don’t know what expertise in film industry finance Gareth claims, but I understood these decisions were primarily based on costs and access to expertise with a bit of trust & personal connection thrown in — not airport suburb signage. (Personally I am always wary of people who don’t know the meaning of weary!)
I wonder how long it would be until someone vandalizes it or a nice strong southerly blows it apart?? One can only hope