Spartacus

Name: New Zealand Film Commission
Price range: $

Rome wasn't built in a day. It was built in a studio in Auckland.

International Production

Series 2011 Historical, Drama 60 minutes

Spartacus was shot over four seasons in a studio in Auckland, with not one frame shot on location

The production used 788 local suppliers, leased 6 warehouses (which were converted for production), and provided 20,000 extras' workdays. The series employed 350 permanent and 150 casual crew each week, and 20 core cast each season.

Overall, the production made a $200-million investment in New Zealand. Post production and visual effects were done at Digipost in Auckland.

Rob Tapert, Producer

350 Permanent crew on set

150 Casual crew each week

20 Core cast each season

Rob Tapert, Producer

DOP John Cavill rehearses for a Technocrane shoot

Costume Designer Barbara Darragh adjusts a costume on set

Manu Bennett relaxes between scenes

Camera Operator Cameron McLean at work

Director Rick Jacobson prepares for the next scene

Manu Bennett between scenes

DOP Aaron Morton discusses a shot with John Cavill

Aaron Morton discusses a shot with Director Grady Hall

Final touches

Sound recordist David Madigan

Jai Courtney goes through make-up

DOP Aaron Morton before shooting on Day 1 of Spartacus: Vengeance

John Hannah

Michael Hurst directs Liam McIntyre and Katrina Law

Best Boy peter Cleveland rigs "Boris" the high-speed camera track

Action on Set

Spartacus is renowned for its intense physical effects and stunts.

Manu Bennett lunges at Steadicam operator Cameron McLean

Lining up a shot on the streets of Capua

Peter Mensah

Stunt performers working

Temuera Morrison commands the Ludus

Gladiators battle in the arena

Gladiators battle in the arena

Gladiators battle in the arena

Stunt rider on a wire rig

The Ludus training square

The Studios

The Spartacus team converted six warehouses into top-of-the-line studios to accommodate the scale of the production. See some examples of how the space was used.