Location Reports
Where to find the serious money
Heavyweight international financiers will be in London this week to discover the best UK and European projects in search of investment at this year’s Production Finance Market (Oct 21-22). Geoffrey Macnab looks at what’s on offer.
Capital cultivates its green shoots
International film production is big business in London, but it also inflicts great damage on the environment. Caroline Parry looks at the efforts to reduce the impact
The yes factor
In the past few years, London has metamorphosed into one of the most film-friendly big-city shooting destinations in the world. Matt Mueller find out why.
Cemetery Junction
Sony’s Cemetery Junction, the first co-directed feature from Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, is one of an increasingly number of productions trying to be greener.
The European Perspective
Leading producers tell Geoffrey Macnab what they hope to achieve at this year’s Production Finance Market
A trip down Memory junction
The anticipated first feature to be co-directed by the UK’s Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais is a 1970s-set comedy celebrating the joys of friendship and the working life. Sarah Cooper visits the set.
Venice set for Sicilian tales
Giuseppe Tornatore’s Baaria is his ‘most personal’ film to date, a Sicilian epic spanning a century with a cast numbering 200. Sheri Jennings spoke to the Oscar-winning director as he prepares his film to open the Venice film festival (Sept 2-12)
Paths of glory
The historical thriller Glorious 39 is Stephen Poliakoff’s first film for 10 years and will have its world premiere at Toronto.
Spanish financiers tune in to Lope
Spain is hoping to tap into the revival of the swashbuckler with Lope, the story of 16th playwright Lope De Vega, directed by Brazil’s Andrucha Waddington and shot in Morocco.
From conception to Womb
Could his contemporary fairy tale about cloning, starring Eva Green and Matt Smith, push Hungarian director Benedek Fliegauf into the mainstream? Martin Blaney visits the German set of Womb.
Will cheap deals tempt the bargain hunters?
Shooting in Eastern Europe could become cheaper than ever as facilities compete for international business to reverse the slowdown caused by the credit crunch and exchange-rate fluctuations.
Nation building
Boosted by significant pots of regional financing, thriving production hubs in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are increasingly tempting international film-makers away from London. Matt Mueller looks at what’s on offer.
Call of the Roman empire
Neil Marshall’s historical action thriller Centurion is the first in a wave of Romans-on-the-rampage projects to go into production. Sarah Cooper visits the set.
First-class post
The nations’ facilities are a draw for international productions, says Matt Mueller.
Puerto Rico’s warm welcome
With US-style services, skilled crews, impressive locations and a 40% tax incentive, this Caribbean island has a lot to offer producers. Wendy Mitchell reports
