The visual effects company behind big-budget features like The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and Edge of Tomorrow is to shift its head office from Culver City in California to Vancouver. Sony Pictures Imageworks is making the move partly because of British Columbia’s production incentives.
Authorities in Scotland are planning to boost film tourism in Edinburgh with the launch of a movie map of the iconic city. Filming locations used in 21 different movies over the years in the Scottish capital feature on the map, from Chariots of Fire through to the more recent Sunshine on Leith.
Lionsgate has started filming its sci-fi sequel Insurgent on location in Atlanta. Set in a dystopian Chicago, the film will follow on from the events of Divergent, an adaptation of a popular Young Adult series of novels from author Veronica Roth.
Aaron Paul, star of the hit crime drama Breaking Bad, has opened the refurbished West London Film Studios in Hayes, along with studio owner Frank Khalid. The facility offers 105,000 square feet of studio space, including six stages and office space.
New superhero movie Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice has started filming on location in Detroit. Studio work will take place at Michigan Motion Picture Studios and location filming will encompass the city of Detroit, as well as locations in Illinois, Africa and the South Pacific.
Jake Gyllenhaal will film boxing drama Southpaw on location in Pennsylvania with director Antoine Fuqua. Pennsylvania is a popular movie location partly because of its competitive 25% filming tax credit and the state recently hosted Russell Crowe’s new drama Fathers and Daughters.
Film London and the Ile de France Film Commission have renewed their partnership agreement. The two organisations have pledged to work together for a fifth year and continue the city-to-city co-operation between London and Paris.
Abu Dhabi has been officially confirmed as the first filming location for Star Wars: Episode VII. Lucasfilm is working locally with twofour54, the commercial arm of Abu Dhabi’s Media Zone Authority. The city offers a 30% filming incentive, which has helped boost its international appeal.