A former Warner Bros executive has made a major deal with a Shanghai media conglomerate that could result in more US-China co-productions. Jeff Robinov oversaw Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy for Warner Bros and his new Studio 8 venture has partnered with Fosun International Ltd.
A new film studio is being planned for construction in Shanghai through a deal between Beijing Enlight Media and Seven Stars Media. Hengdian World Studios is already established five hours’ drive from Shanghai, offering expansive sets and a replica of the Forbidden City in Beijing.
Filmmaker Michael Bay chose to shoot action movie follow-up Transformers: Age of Extinction partly on location in China to chase a “new experience” as a director. The new movie shot partly in Hong Kong, but also built a Hong Kong set in Detroit for the more complex action scenes.
Applications for California’s filming incentive support have increased by more than 30% on last year’s figure. According to the California Film Commission, nearly 500 productions applied for support on the first day of the application period, but only 23 have been initially approved.
Queensland in north-eastern Australia has launched Reel Scout, a new mobile app designed to boost the region’s library of filming locations. Ordinary citizens are being encouraged to register their homes and properties to expand available shooting options for producers.
Red Planet Pictures is filming a new version of the biblical Noah story on location in Morocco for the BBC, just as Darren Aronofsky’s Noah has proven a global hit. The Ark will star David Threlfall and is being made in association with Lip Sync Productions and Great Point Media.
The UK and China have signed a new co-production treaty. Co-productions filming in the UK will have access to the British Film Institute (BFI) Film Fund and the UK's formal filming incentive programme, while co-productions in China will bypass the annual quota on international releases.
Paramount Pictures has partnered with China Film Group for a feature film based on the life of the 13th Century traveller Marco Polo. The news comes days after China Film Group’s announcement that it will be co-producing Warcraft and Seventh Son with Legendary Pictures.