London-based advertising company WPP enjoyed a strong first half of 2013, with pre-tax profits rising nearly 20%. Organic revenue growth reached 5% in July and as a result the company has slightly increased its full-year growth forecast.
Tom Hanks is an executive producer on new HBO miniseries Olive Kitteridge, which begins filming this week on Massachusett’s North Shore. The four-part series is based on a collection of stories by author Elizabeth Strout following the Maine-based family of protagonist Olive Kitteridge.
Illinois in the northern US may amend its filming incentive to offer a rebate on star salaries. The state offers a base 30% filming tax credit, but the amendment would mean that star actors shooting in Illinois could get a tax credit on a salary of up to a million dollars.
Director Guy Ritchie is set to film his new spy feature The Man from U.N.C.L.E. on location in the UK and Italy. The movie is an adaptation of the 60s TV series that featured U.N.C.L.E. agents Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin taking on evil organisation THRUSH.
Local producer Film Polska Shots helped find the perfect locations for motorbike driving scenes and organised production for Mahindra Centuro in Krakow, Poland.
New Zealand’s move to keep filming rebates static at 15% is causing concern for Auckland’s production industry. The government has reduced spending thresholds on its filming grants rather than increasing the rebates, prompting fears that shows of the calibre of Spartacus will go elsewhere.
Film productions are increasingly travelling with ultra-light equipment in the South American countries of Chile, Peru and Bolivia.
Landia Sao Paulo used the iconic city of Rio de Janeiro to represent locations across Brazil in a new spot launching the Honda CG motorbike. Tudo Novo shows Brazilians giving their cities a loving once-over in preparation for the Honda’s arrival.