Hong Kong- and LA-based Metro Pictures has added a third location to its production company network. The company has opened shop in New Zealand under the direction of William Grieve.

Plans for an Auckland, NZ, office have been in the works for quite some time, says Metro executive producer Craig Farkas. "We're expanding our brand globally, which has been our intention for some time. We didn't know if now was a good time to expand or not, but we decided to move forward anyway," he says, noting that the idea to hold back on growth was on his mind. However, an opportunity arose for the office to sign three directors, who are as yet unnamed as contract negotiations are ongoing. "William came up with these directors, so it seemed like good timing instead of the possibility of letting these directors slip away," he says.

Metro has had a long-standing relationship with New Zealand native Grieve, who as the owner of a production services company had serviced many Metro projects. "He decided that this sounded like a good opportunity for him to be in a full-fledged production company with international directors," says Farkas of the partnership with Grieve.

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