Pinewood Studios has appealed against a decision to refuse planning permission for its expansion plan. Local authority South Bucks District Council rejected the GBP200 million Pinewood Studios Development Framework earlier this month after staunch local opposition.
Authorities in Texas have tripled the size of their location filming incentive fund, broadening the state’s production appeal. The move means Texas will offer USD95 million for the next two years, a massive increase on the USD32 million that was allocated in 2011.
Film Estonia has joined The Location Guide as a partner for our Soiree at the Cannes Lions Festival. This year marks the Estonian commission’s first time at Cannes Lions and the organisation makes its appearance shortly after launching its Viru Film Fund.
California lost most of this summer’s biggest movies to locations with better filming incentives. While Iron Man 3 filmed mostly in North Carolina and White House Down shot in Montreal, Star Trek Into Darkness was the only major summer feature to shoot extensively in California.
Sian has been based on the Isle of Man since the age of eight and entered the production industry first as a featured extra and then as a runner and a Unit Manager. Her initiative and fast learning soon progressed her to Location Manager and she’s worked on some 40 projects over 13 years.
Michigan is likely to keep its location filming fund at USD50 million for the next year. The northern-US state is hosting several high-profile productions in 2013, including Michael Bay’s Transformers 4 and Ryan Gosling’s directorial debut How to Catch a Monster.
A report from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) shows the success of filming incentives in Massachusetts. For every dollar issued in tax credits, the state made ten back in 2011 and films like The Fighter have increased production employment by nearly 50% since 2006.
New Zealand’s production industry has called for better TV filming incentives. The available rebate for television shows like Spartacus is worth only half the feature film figure, while series that don’t have enough New Zealand content must spend NZD15 million to qualify for support.