A deep dive with m25 network partner Reel Factory about their journey into drones, film-making and founding one of New Zealand’s leading full-service production houses

m25’s founder, Chloe Ko, caught up with Reel Factory founder, Dan Watkins, as part of m25’s profile series, which highlights the experience and craftsmanship of key individuals behind productions.

Having originally founding Helishot, one of the first drone cinematography companies, Dan Watkins went on to build the production and facilitation powerhouse Reel Factory in Auckland, New Zealand.

At Reel Factory Watkins’ life is balancing the excitement of running one of the country’s largest commercial production studios whilst raising three little children under four alongside my wife, Georgia. Between wrangling toddlers and managing creative projects, every day is a whirlwind.

“Filmmaking has always been my passion, and I’ve been fortunate to turn it into a career that feels more like a calling than a job,” said Watkins.

“Reel Factory started as a dream, and over the past 11 years, it has grown into something far bigger than I ever imagined. Each day brings new challenges and opportunities to push boundaries and create work I’m truly proud of.”

Watkins love for filmmaking began early when his aunty took him behind the scenes at TVNZ. The energy of the newsroom hooked him, and from then on, he was the kid always with a camera — whether it was his parents’ old Handycam or a battered stills camera from his grandparents.

“I left school early to chase this passion and landed my first job at TVNZ at 17. Travelling, filming, and learning from talented professionals felt like living a dream.

After a few years in television, Watkins moved into commercials, where bigger budgets opened the door to more creative possibilities. Then came a turning point – He founded Helishot, one of the first drone cinematography companies in the world.

“Back then, drones were far from perfect, but I was obsessed with their potential. Despite plenty of scepticism, I pushed ahead, determined to make it work, and proved what could be done with a bit of vision and persistence.

“Eventually, I saw a gap in the market for a production company that could offer true creative freedom built with a foundation different from any other. I wanted to create a space where we could take risks and explore bold ideas without the constraints of massive budgets. Fast forward to today, and RF isn’t just the largest commercial production house in New Zealand – we’ve built something truly one-of-a-kind.

“Our foundation is unmatched, blending specialised camera technology, world-class film facilities, and a powerhouse team that brings everything together. We collaborate with incredible brands and agencies to create work that not only stands out but sets the bar. And above all, we’ve fostered a culture that’s creative, ambitious, and downright fun – a team I couldn’t be prouder to call my own.”

One of their more exciting shoots recently involved a massive scope and a tight timeline. With a complex brief that included a large cast, a custom-built set, celebrity talent, heavy VFX, and specialised camera rigs, Watkins knew he had his work cut out for him.

“The magic came from our people—our production team, client, and agency all worked together seamlessly, turning what could have been chaos into something extraordinary. By the time the shoot began, hundreds of people were operating like a well-oiled machine. It was a reminder of how incredible this industry can be when collaboration and creativity come together.”

View some of Watkins’ aerial work below:

Looking to the future and the role of AI in production, he sees exciting tools with expanding possibilities, but the human touch will always be at the heart of what they do.

“While AI can streamline workflows and help with idea generation, it can’t replace the creativity, intuition, and emotional intelligence that make content truly connect with audiences. I see AI helping us work smarter and faster, but the craft and storytelling will always come from people, great content is about human connection, and that’s something no algorithm can replicate,” said Watkins.