Written by new-contact on Nov 18, 2011. Posted in General Interest

Editor’s Weekly

This week we’ve covered features filmed in Moscow and Dublin. In the US Spielberg’s long-time producer, Kathleen Kennedy, has been talking about the director’s ongoing Lincoln shoot in Virginia, while Alaskans debate the state of their filming incentive. Elsewhere, Chivas Regal has filmed a new commercial short in Chile’s Atacama Desert.

Alien invasion thriller The Darkest Hour is approaching its cinematic release and the film is set to offer plenty of images of wrecked Moscow landmarks. It’s been eye-opening to hear about how the Russians had to adjust to the relatively formal filmmaking processes preferred by a US-based production company. Russia has a bit of a reputation for preferring more informal payments and arrangements, but clearly things change when a US co-producer wants a clear accounting paper trail.

Chase scenes were filmed in Dublin and it seems the city’s running a well-oiled production machine. With Titanic: Blood & Steel and the glossy if ill-fated Camelot filming in the region, it’s emerging as a serious competitor for its UK neighbours.

Another upcoming cinema release is Haywire, the latest film from Oscar-winning filmmaker Steven Soderbergh. It’s an unashamed action spectacle showing off the impressive abilities of mixed martial-arts expert Gina Carano. Chase scenes were filmed in Dublin and it seems the city’s running a well-oiled production machine. With Titanic: Blood & Steel and the glossy if ill-fated Camelot filming in the region, it’s emerging as a serious competitor for its UK neighbours.

In the US Steven Spielberg has been taking advantage of Virginia’s filming incentives for Lincoln much to the state’s delight, but up in Alaska support for Hollywood seems to be rather more muted. Alaska is just one of several states where concern is building about whether their local industries really benefit from their filming incentives. The Alaska industry specifically needs to follow-through on its recently-announced production training plan and then stick with its existing scheme for at least another year or two to see what kind of reputation it can build.

The Alaska industry specifically needs to follow-through on its recently-announced production training plan and then stick with its existing scheme for at least another year or two to see what kind of reputation it can build.

Further south in California, the city of Santa Clarita has become the first in the state to activate a new zoning designation that will effectively promote location filming by encouraging production facility development on ‘movie ranches’. It could be an effective plan, as these locations are already known to many production teams, so developing more resources can only be a good thing.

There’s also an update from Michigan, where the film industry is waiting for a new bill that will clarify how productions can qualify for the state’s revised filming incentive. Clarifying the process will be good, but the size of the film fund is likely to be the crucial shortcoming that will alienate big-budget studio productions seeking a sizeable financial incentive.

Clarifying the incentive process in Michigan will be good, but the size of the film fund is likely to be the crucial shortcoming that will alienate big-budget studio productions seeking a sizeable financial incentive.

Down to South America and Chivas Regal has filmed a promotional short film in the Atacama Desert. Here’s to Big Bear is an entertaining spot featuring four male friends lost in the desert wilderness who stumble across a cackling train station attendant, over-priced water and an eccentric lorry driver. Clocking in just short of 15 minutes it makes for a lengthy commercial, but with its four likeable leads and high production values there could be a more sophisticated Hangover-esque buddy feature in there somewhere.

Finally, check out our interviews with New Zealand Location Manager Dale Gardiner and Swedish-Lapland-based Susanne Karlsson, while Mags Lightbody, a freelance Associate Producer, gave us a fantastic account of how to prepare for a shoot in Africa.

As always, The Location Guide’s Film-Friendly Locations database continues to grow. If you manage a building or a location that you think qualifies as film-friendly, or you’ve filmed somewhere recently that you think should be listed on our website, please contact Ewa.

If you’ve got some great location filming stories to share and you’d like to be part of our profile section (see here), or you have an idea for an article (see here) please contact Murray.

If you've been working on location anywhere in the world and you're looking for some press coverage, please contact Nick. We’d all be happy to hear from you.