Pete Whittaker unleashes Howler: The new wave in film production

AUCKLAND/QUEENSTOWN, Today: After ten years in the biz, Pete Whittaker, formerly of Queenstown’s Shotover Media, is back with a bang! Say hello to Howler, a fresh film production company based in Auckland and Queenstown.

Whittaker has been a visual storytelling maestro for big names like Bunnings Warehouse, BNZ, Jucy, Purina, NZ Rugby, and ACC. Now, as Howler’s Auckland-based director, he’s taking his creative career to the next level.

“Howler is a small, creative-forward team who hold years of collective experience across the full spectrum of visual storytelling – from TVC, film and documentary making to brand content and short, punchy online videos,” says Whittaker.

With operations in Auckland and Queenstown, Howler is perfectly poised to not only service clients across the country but tackle the increasing demand for on-location shoots in the south.

Leading the southern studio is Queenstown-based director Zyanya Jackson, a dynamic film director with a nous for branded content, documentary and adventure filmmaking, who offers expert capability in navigating film and content production across Queenstown’s unique terrain.

“We get that every campaign has to operate with different objectives and unique challenges, and more so now with increasingly restricted budgets, so we have a solution for that too.”

Howler’s dynamic set-up allows for creativity and responsiveness without sacrifice. Geared with state-of-the-art equipment and offering end-to-end production, Howler is a full-service production house designed to roll out award-winning content for clients and agency partners.

The little brother in Howler’s dual offering, Howler Lite, is designed to meet today’s creative demands with affordable content for all platforms and formats. Servicing the growing appetite for one-off needs and short-format videos, Howler Lite offers an astute solution to storytelling, even in the face of shrinking budgets.

Whittaker says Howler Lite was born from this current economic climate and the needs of clients who want something more compact and affordable.

“We get that every campaign has to operate with different objectives and unique challenges, and more so now with increasingly restricted budgets, so we have a solution for that too. That’s the beauty of being nimble, but effective.”

Howler’s in-house post-production means agency, directors and post-specialists work together at every step for the most efficient output. Led by senior editor and colourist Floriane Calliot, post-production spans editing and colour grading to animation and motion graphics.

A house of creativity, collaboration and cohesion, Howler’s team is primed to work alongside agencies as an extension of their creative production needs as well as directly with brands. They’re here to revolutionise the media and advertising landscape with their innovative approach to visual storytelling.