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.
Johnny Depp’s new movie Transcendence is filming partly in New Mexico, doubling Albuquerque for Berkeley in California. Depp previously filmed The Lone Ranger in the south-west state and his new movie is directed by star cinematographer Wally Pfister.
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.
Australian filmmaker Baz Luhrmann recreated the New York period setting of The Great Gatsby on location in New South Wales with Leonardo DiCaprio when filming incentive support became unavailable in the US. Shooting was based at Fox Studios in Sydney.
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.
New pirate TV drama Black Sails helped boost South Africa’s production industry. The eight-part series used all four sound stages at Cape Town Film Studios and built sets including an artificial beach and a period village for the Caribbean-set story.