Filmmaker Lee Daniels, best known for the Oscar-winning Precious and more recently White House drama The Butler, will be filming on location in Chicago for his TV pilot Empire. The drama will be set against the backdrop of a large hip-hop business.
New drama feature Everest is filming on location partly in Nepal with Baltasar Kormakur as director. The film is based on the true story of separate expeditions that were scaling Everest on the same day in 1996 when a rogue storm claimed the lives of eight climbers.
Actress Natalie Portman is filming her directorial debut on location in Jerusalem. A Tale of Love and Darkness is based on the autobiographical novel by Israeli writer Amos Oz and explores the early years of the State of Israel.
Dubai Film and TV Commission has hosted a two-day workshop on advertising and film finance for media professionals based in the United Arab Emirates. Held in Dubai Studio City, the workshop was designed to help local producers boost their businesses.
New miniseries The Kettering Incident will film on the Australian island state of Tasmania, south of the country’s mainland. The eight-part AUD15 million production will be written by Tasmanian writer Victoria Madden and will be the highest-profile shoot in the region since The Hunter.
Ken Ziffren has been appointed the new ‘film czar’ for Los Angeles, faced with the task of boosting location filming in the city. Ziffren is an experienced entertainment attorney and succeeds Tom Sherak, who tragically died of cancer in January after only a few months in the role.
New Fox TV drama Gotham will explore the early career of James Gordon, the detective who eventually helps Batman with his fight against Gotham City’s super-villains. Filming locations for the series will need to offer tax incentives and film-friendly production infrastructure.
New TV drama series Hieroglyph will recreate ancient Egypt filming on location in New Mexico. The show will be based at Albuquerque Film Studios and could help further boost the state's profile after the success of Breaking Bad.