Written by new-contact on Dec 23, 2011. Posted in General Interest

Editor’s Weekly

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is out now in cinemas and filmed mostly in the UK, despite a plot that jumps over much of mainland Europe. Over in North America the US state of Ohio is campaigning for stronger filming incentives, while the Canadian province of Alberta has streamlined what it already offers.

Sherlock Holmes ended up doubling much of the UK for parts of Europe for the franchise’s second adventure romp and aside from some minor location filming outside Britain most of it was done through digital background trickery. It’s a move that makes sense, considering the main appeal of the film is the buddy comedy between Robert Downey Jr’s Sherlock and Jude Law’s Watson, rather than showcasing spectacular vistas.

Filming mostly in the UK makes sense, considering the main appeal of the film is the buddy comedy between Robert Downey Jr’s Sherlock and Jude Law’s Watson, rather than showcasing spectacular vistas.

In the US Ohio is keen to keep the momentum it gained earlier in the year by hosting part of the shoot for The Avengers, which doubled Cleveland for New York. The local industry is probably right in thinking it’s hamstrung at the moment by a film fund that only offers USD10 million a year, which is maybe enough for one big-budget studio feature a year given the right circumstances.

The state has a chance to become the next Michigan if it plays its cards right, but it will have to be brave and put some serious money on the table if it wants to keep the studios’ attention now that Marvel has moved on.

North of the border, Alberta has streamlined its funding process and freed up more money for co-productions and foreign shoots. The province still remains a relatively minor player in the Canadian industry when compared to Toronto and Vancouver, so it may need to make more bold moves if it’s to mount some serious competition.

Ohio has a chance to become the next Michigan if it plays its cards right, but it will have to be brave and put some serious money on the table if it wants to keep the studios’ attention now that Marvel has moved on.

Out into the Pacific Ocean and the UK’s Colossus Productions has announced that famed British naturalist David Attenborough will be making a 3D documentary about the wildlife of the Galapagos Islands, off the western coast of Ecuador. Attenborough is something of an institution in the UK and his attachment to the project guarantees a certain quality. Capturing the unique wildlife of the Galapagos in 3D is also likely to be a stunning visual treat.

On the subject of British developments, it’s very possible that north-west England will be getting its own purpose-built studio facility soon. The sprawling former Woodford Aerodrome near Manchester has come under new ownership in the last few months. With several big-budget studio productions having filmed in Wales, northern England and Scotland this year, having a studio complex in the area would save hours of driving to and from London. We’ll have to wait and see whether the project is given the go-ahead.

Attenborough is something of an institution in the UK and his attachment to the project guarantees a certain quality. Capturing the unique wildlife of the Galapagos in 3D is also likely to be a stunning visual treat.

Lastly this week, servicing company Shooting Salta gave us the lowdown on filming in northern Argentina.

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