Finland’s film commissions and The Location Guide have organised a lunch at Berlinale tomorrow (6 February) to promote Finland’s production industry among location professionals in Germany. The Berlinale is one of the world’s top film festivals.
A state lawmaker is pushing to cancel Michigan’s filming incentive by the end of 2015. Detroit recently hosted the upcoming superhero movie Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice but a state Representative wants to redirect the film fund elsewhere in the regional economy.
An environmentally-friendly chauffeur service has opened at The Bottle Yard Studios in Bristol. Studio Cars offers a fleet of low-emission and electric vehicles to transport production crew, cast and VIPs to and from the studio.
The Scottish government has announced a new loan fund for film producers and money to boost the country’s crew pool. Scotland has enjoyed a profile boost by hosting the US historical romance Outlander, but is under pressure to develop better studio infrastructure.
Auckland in northern New Zealand is planning to raise its filming fees to help the city recoup more of the cost of administering shoots. The city has hosted features including the World War Two drama Emperor, and the TV fantasy Shannara is currently at Auckland Film Studios.
A remake of the historical epic Ben-Hur has started filming on location at Cinecitta Studios in Rome. Charlton Heston starred in the iconic 1959 version of the story, which also shot at Cinecitta Studios.
The BBC will film on location in Yorkshire for a new TV adaptation of the classic novel An Inspector Calls. Yorkshire has become a popular UK filming location and recently hosted BBC Films’ First World War drama Testament Of Youth.
The Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) and BAFTA have co-hosted a panel discussion in London on how UK producers can get the most out of Ireland’s boosted filming incentives. Major productions filmed in the Dublin area have included Ripper Street and Vikings.