Written by new-contact on Jan 20, 2012. Posted in General Interest

Editor’s Weekly

One of our most popular stories this week has been news of HBO TV show Game of Thrones filming on location in Iceland for its second season. Over in the US New Mexico has finally secured location filming for The Lone Ranger, while North Carolina may be on target to become a major production centre.

First to Australia and Sydney-based production company Revolver has produced a new spot for car manufacturer Subaru. The spot takes advantage of Outback location Lake Bathurst, which feels remote but is actually only two hours’ drive from Sydney. It’s a fun spot involving a car wash on wheels and a lot of old Subaru cars, and it’s a good example of an apparent wilderness setting within easy reach of civilisation.

HBO’s Game of Thrones invites exotic location filming as its story focuses on extreme climatic conditions broadly centring on desert and, well, icy wilderness.

HBO’s Game of Thrones invites exotic location filming as its story focuses on extreme climatic conditions broadly centring on desert and, well, icy wilderness. While filming has involved studio shooting at Belfast’s Paint Hall, this is probably for the interior scenes. The producers have travelled to Iceland for a ready-made icy wilderness, rather than spend millions building one on a soundstage.

The show should further boost Iceland’s international profile. With a skilled and experienced crew base, not to mention eye-catching and accessible locations, it’s a world-leader in its category. Ridley Scott also filmed there last year for his hugely-anticipated sci-fi feature Prometheus, so the country’s likely to have a strong 2012.

Over in the US, North Carolina’s announced its impressive figures for the year that was 2011, likely spurred by its 2010 filming incentive. The Hunger Games visited in 2011 and Iron Man 3 will arrive within a few weeks, so expect to hear a lot more from the state over the next 12 months. Unless of course there’s a sudden backlash from the state’s anti-Hollywood elite and authorities decide they shouldn’t be offering so much financial support to big studio productions.

Securing The Lone Ranger is a big moment for New Mexico, as its filming incentive was seriously threatened this time last year, although it’s likely the film was offered a special on-off deal to help save New Mexico’s reputation as being hospitable to big-budget Hollywood.

On the other side of the country, New Mexico will be breathing a sigh of relief for finally being able to confirm that it’s secured The Lone Ranger, the next project from the Pirates of the Caribbean triumvirate of Director Gore Verbinski, Producer Jerry Bruckheimer and star Johnny Depp. It’s a big moment for the state, as its filming incentive was seriously threatened this time last year, although it’s likely the film was offered a special on-off deal to help save New Mexico’s reputation as being hospitable to big-budget Hollywood.

Across the Pacific, spy drama The Bourne Legacy has arrived in the Philippines, for several weeks of filming in Manila. It marks a branching out for the franchise in terms of locations, with the previous three films having mostly stayed in Europe, albeit in a low-key kind of way; the focus has tended to be on the story rather than the places. Bourne’s style may have inspired Bond in recent years, but perhaps Bourne is now taking a cue from the best traditions of Bond by offering some exotic locales.

Bourne’s style may have inspired Bond in recent years, but perhaps Bourne is now taking a cue from the best traditions of Bond by offering some exotic locales.

Also this week, we spoke to Location Manager Rex Baldwin about filming in New Brunswick and Producer Veaceslav Cebotari talked us through shooting in Moldova. We also chatted to Location Manager Christian Rudheim about what filmmakers can find in Stockholm, while Location Manager Patrick Magnano talked about his 20 years of industry experience and what it’s like to work for Clint Eastwood.

As always, The Location Guide’s Film-Friendly Locations database continues to grow. This week we’ve added Epsom Downs near London, a racecourse and jockey club that offers two grandstands, conference facilities and a handy airport double. We also now have Duns Castle, east of Edinburgh, a 17th Century building where filmmakers can find landscaped gardens, historic architecture and stately dining room facilities.

Finally this week we’ve added the extraordinary Sampo Icebreaker, the world’s only passenger icebreaking ship, based in Kemi in Finland. The ship sails through the winter ice fields that form in the Gulf of Bothnia on four-hour-long tourist round trips. It’s been used in the past by filmmakers and offers a unique experience of northern European winter conditions.

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, or you have an idea for an article 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.