Filmmaker siblings Joel and Ethan Coen are helping boost California’s production industry by shooting their new movie Hail, Caesar! on location in Los Angeles. California’s uncompetitive filming incentive means that few features have been based in the state in recent years.
Hong Kong and Korea have agreed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to boost creative collaborations. Both regions are also building their international appeal, with Hong Kong having hosted the Transformers franchise and The Avengers: Age of Ultron filmed partly in Seoul.
The Filming Europe - European Film Commissions Network (EUFCN) has renewed its board of directors at its general assembly in Turin. The EUFCN is a non-profit organisation that supports the European film industry and its members include film commissions from nearly 30 different countries.
Anonymous Content filmed on location in Slovenia for a new live-action campaign promoting Game of War: Fire Age, a top-selling mobile game. The spot features supermodel Kate Upton inviting gamers to play as a medieval army is terrorised by a fire-breathing dragon.
The New Zealand Film Commission has promised that the country’s production industry will continue to grow in 2015. James Cameron will soon start work on his Avatar sequels and Disney fantasy remake Pete’s Dragon will be based in Wellington. More large-scale shoots are promised.
Pinewood Studios has revealed a 15% increase in profits from film production in the UK in the six months to the end of September. Star Wars: The Force Awakens was the biggest shoot at Pinewood and The Avengers: Age of Ultron was the largest at Shepperton.
Cable channel Syfy has committed to an extended slate of location filming in Australia. Television dramas Hunters and Childhood’s End are both scheduled to shoot in Melbourne, using Docklands Studios as a base.
Japanese feature film Persona Non Grata recently wrapped a shoot in Poland. Produced by Cine Bazar of Tokyo and set during World War Two, the movie tells the true story of a Japanese diplomat based in Lithuania who saved thousands of Jews from the Nazis.