American band MGMT has filmed a new music video on location at Dumont Dunes in California’s Mojave Desert. Congratulations shows the two founding band members trekking across the sand in the company of a strange animal coming to the end of its life.
MTV EXIT Foundation has filmed a new music promotion in Hong Kong as part of its continuing campaign to highlight the issue of human trafficking. The latest spot is set to music track MK Ultra by Muse. It shows a young boy being forced to work in a sweat shop, while two women are sold into prostitution and domestic labour.
The BBC has announced that the new series of Doctor Who will film scenes on location in the US for the first time in November this year. The production is based in Cardiff and has previously filmed in Dubai and Eastern Europe.
Telecommunications company MTS Russia has filmed a new commercial in Portugal. The spot doubles locations in and around Lisbon for places as diverse as Belgium, Venice, the African Savannah and even the North Pole.
Screen Australia has revised its co-production guidelines to make it easier for projects to access financing and incentives. The changes involve including Australian personnel in the points scheme from production jobs that were not awarded anything previously.
Mathieu Kassovitz is currently filming a new feature on location in French Polynesia. L’Ordre et la Morale (Rebellion) is based on the true story of a tense hostage stand-off that took place in New Caledonia in 1988 between French troops and local Kanak commandos. Kassovitz co-writes, directs and stars.
Car manufacturer Nissan has filmed a new spot on location in Vancouver with a real polar bear called Aggy. The commercial shows a bear lamenting melting ice in its natural habitat. The animal treks all the way to a suburban driveway where it hugs a man who has an eco-friendly electric Nissan Leaf.
The New Zealand Government has offered to help mediate meetings between producers of the planned Hobbit films and unhappy acting unions. Peter Jackson warned last week that failure to reach a deal could result in production shifting to Eastern Europe.