Surprise hit The Call, a small-scale thriller starring Halle Berry, made the unusual move of switching filming locations at the last minute from Ontario to California. An earlier rejection for filming incentive support in Los Angeles was overturned and prompted the change.
MJZ headed to San Pedro Harbor in Los Angeles to film a new comedy spot for Oreo cookies. Life Raft shows two shipwreck survivors lost at sea and arguing about whether the cookie or creme is the best part of an Oreo, before an imaginary helicopter offers a rescue.
Skunk doubled Romania and the Bulgarian coast for 19th Century Northern Ireland in a new spot for Jameson Whiskey. Iron Horse features John Jameson rescuing a cargo of whiskey barrels and women from a runaway train before it plunges over a cliff top.
Los Angeles has targeted a boost in TV location filming by waiving permit fees for pilots and shows shooting their first season. FilmLA describes the news as a good move towards more extensive changes.
Production company Imaginary Forces created ancient Greece on location in California in the trailer for videogame God of War: Ascension – From Ashes. The spot shows ancient warriors rallying in a valley before hero Kratos finds himself in a world of ashes after the death of his family.
A fatal helicopter crash in Los Angeles County has reignited safety concerns about the TV industry and prompted debate about the potential use of unmanned camera drones for aerial work. Three people were killed in the crash while filming a reality TV show for the Discovery Channel.
Major expansion of the filming facilities at Universal Studios in Los Angeles could start soon as final approval has been granted by the city council. The NBCUniversal Evolution Plan is a USD1.6 billion proposal that includes building new sound stages and sets.
The producer of James Cameron’s science-fiction epic Avatar has said the quality of New Zealand’s production industry is the main appeal drawing the franchise back to the country. Two sequels are to be filmed back-to-back using performance-capture technology.