Bits of information about “Top 10: United States of Production” and “The Top 10 Locations In The Universe” materialized in our inbox today. P3 Update describes itself as “Unifying Preproduction, Production and Postproduction.” The US Top 10 summarizes steps taken by various states to lure or retain production. The Top 10 In The Universe looks at the situation globally. Note the overlaps between the two or the lack thereof. Descriptions in P3‘s separate lists summarize what makes each location attractive to filmmakers. Wonder why California rates tops in the Universe and only fifth in the US.
Top 10: United States Of Production
1. Louisiana
2. Illinois
3. Florida
4. Georgia
5. California
6. Connecticut
7. New York
8. Utah
9. New Mexico
10. Michigan
Top 10 Locations In The Universe
1. California
2. Connecticut
3. Georgia
4. Louisiana
5. Massachusetts
6. New York
7. North Carolina
8. Canada
9. New Zealand
10. United Kingdom
Tag Production
Production Locations: Top 10 US, And Beyond — According To P3 Update
STUNNER! Legendary Pictures Postpones January Start Of Alex Proyas-Directed ‘Paradise Lost’
EXCLUSIVE: Legendary Pictures has halted plans to begin production early next year on Paradise Lost, the epic-sized Alex Proyas-directed film about the battle between good and evil that is inspired by the John Milton poem. Bradley Cooper had been set to play Lucifer, Benjamin Walker to play the archangel Michael, and Diego Boneta playing Adam and Camilla Belle Eve, with a host of other actors lined up for the action epic. I’m told that the film isn’t scrapped; rather, Legendary’s Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni and producer Vincent Newman will continue developing it to rework a budget that had passed the $120 million mark by 10% or 15%. The picture has crewed up for an Australia shoot and the talent and below the line is learning about the postponement right now. Films including Moneyball and American Gangster had their plugs pulled within a month of production and bounced back, but it is always a shock when a large film has its start date scratched so close to production, even if it is temporary.
I’m told by insiders that this process is being likened to The Lone Ranger, which Disney had originally scheduled to begin production last fall, until Deadline revealed last August that it had been unplugged abruptly, with Disney threatening to scrap it because the studio feared the budget would turn into a runaway train … Read More
New York Production Incentives Paying Off, According To Labor Statistics Cited By MPAA
The motion picture and TV production industry is responsible for more than 141,000 jobs in New York, according to an analysis of data recently released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics which covers the year 2010. The MPAA highlighted the analysis in an announcement Wednesday. Figures cited include direct production-related jobs as well as indirect jobs in businesses working with the production industry. Core production jobs covered in the 2010 jobs report of the New York State Comptroller are up to 43,000, an increase of 20% from the 2008 figure cited in that report (36,000), and an increase of 22% over 2009. Production slowed in 2009 due to uncertainty about the state tax incentive program. With additional production-related jobs not captured in the core data, the number of direct jobs reaches 48,690, up 13% (nearly 5,600 jobs) over 2009. Annual job growth between 2009 and 2010 in New York State was flat (0%) and nationwide was down 1%.
The New York state production incentives have been a boon to the local industry, according to the MPAA’s interpretation of the BLS figures. The incentive is a 30% refundable tax credit applied against qualified expenditures. Increases in applications for the incentives also reflect a corresponding increase in the number of New York projects. In 2010, the New York Film Incentive program received 91 applications — 71 motion pictures, 6 television … Read More
Layoffs Follow ‘Happy Feet Two’ Flopping
It’s bad enough that Happy Feet Two went over budget by $50 million. Or that my sources say Warner Bros plugged it figuring the sequel to the smash hit 2006 Best Animation Oscar winner would be another big earner. But it’s not. 
The holiday pic is tanking. Now comes even worse Christmas news. According to an online article today in IF magazine, the Australian digital production company behind Happy Feet Two is laying off 600 staffers in early December. Sydney-based Dr D Studios is the 2007 joint venture between filmmaker George Miller’s and producer Doug Mitchell’s Kennedy Miller Mitchell, which is Australia’s most successful production company, in partnership with The Mapp family’s Omnilab Media Group, which is Australia’s largest film services company. Dr D Studios was intended to rival Peter Jackson’
Film Independent Chooses 9 Projects for Producers Lab Mentoring
Film Independent has identified nine projects and their filmmakers for the organization’s 11th annual Producers Lab. Those selected include Brent Hoff and Malcom Pullinger, who are readying for production their El Diablo Rojo and will receive a $25,000 development grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, which nurtures scripts and films about science and technology in hopes of guiding them into commercial production with distribution. The budding producers come from a variety of backgrounds, educated in the Midwest as well as New York, Los Angeles, and gaining know-how by working at studios, movie and TV production shingles, agencies and the like in a variety of capacities and getting feature and shorts work under their belts.
The 2011 Producers Lab projects (and their filmmakers) are:
A Day With Dandekar (Megha Kadakia) ‘
Courtney Stodden, the 16 year-old bride, got a reality show
Courtney Stodden’s evil stage mom announced that her now 17 year-old daughter and her 17 year-old daughter’s creepy pervy 51 year-old character actor husband, Doug Hutchison, just signed a deal with a production company for a reality show in which they’re ” going to be very, very open about their lives.” Wasn’t that always the [...]
Canadian Companies Take 5 Prods. & Phase 4 Films To Launch TV Development Shingle
Toronto, Ontario (September 6, 2011) ‘
TCA: Producers Admit There Was A "Learning Curve" on 'Terra Nova'
Ray Richmond is contributing to Deadline’s coverage of TCA
Fox’s drama Terra Nova is really going to premiere in September, the producers of the megabucks Fox prehistoric drama Terra Nova — which seemingly has been in some form of production since the Jurassic Period — assured critics and at a TCA panel this afternoon. Exec producers Rene Echevarria, Brannon Braga and Jon Cassar insisted that not only would the show be premiering on schedule with a two-hour rollout on Sept. 26; the other installments of the 13-episode production are finally coming along despite the challenging visual effects and production complexities stemming from the Queensland, Australia shoot. The two-hour pilot originally was earmarked to air in May, but issues stemming from the drama’s cutting-edge technology pushed it back to fall.
And now? Will everything be delivered on time? “Absolutely,” Echevarria assured the room. “Right now, we’re shooting episodes 8 and 9. We’re in post on 3, 4 and 5. We’re putting the finishing touches on the second hour of the dinosaur-rich pilot after doing some reshoots in Australia. We’re also prepping episodes 10 and 11. Just about every episode is in play right now … This show certainly is ambitious in scope and has it’s challenges. But we’ve finally wrangled it …There is a pipeline that has been created with the visual effects house as well … Read More
Focus Features President John Lyons Stepping Down
EXCLUSIVE: In a post-Cannes surprise, John Lyons will step down from his post as president of production at the end of August. He’s been working on an exit strategy for a little while with Focus’ top execs James Schamus and Andrew Karpen. Lyons wants to return to his producing career, and also spend more time pursuing his philanthropic pet project, the Edible Schoolyard/NYC. Lyon is the founder and board chairman of the charity, which mixes his passion for the environment and growing food at the schools. He will devote more time as the program spreads to schools in the five New York boroughs. Lyons also serves on the board of Alice Waters’ Chez Panisse Foundation, which is the national program for the Edible Schoolyard initative, and he’s also on the board of GrowNYC, a non-profit that promotes environmental awareness and runs the city’s Greenmarket programs.
Lyons joined Focus in 2003 and from the Gotham offices oversaw all development and production and the Focus production staff in the New York, L.A. and London offices. He steered films from this year’s Cary Fukunaga-directed Jane Eyre, the Joe Wright-directed Hanna, and past films include the Ang Lee-directed Brokeback Mountain, Gus Van Sant-directed Milk, the Fernando Merielles-directed The Constant Gardener, and the Coen Brothers-directed Burn After Reading and A Serious Man. Also the just wrapped pics: the Paul Weitz-directed adaptation … Read More
20th Fox VP Exits For Davis Entertainment
UPDATE: The funny part is someone from 20th Century Fox asked me who Production VP Production John Fox is. But he’s going to head production at Davis Entertainment, which last year extended its producing deal at Fox to 2014. Here’s the release:
LOS ANGELES (April 11, 2011) — Fox Filmed Entertainment today announced that John Fox will transition from his current position as vice president of production for Twentieth Century Fox to president of production at Davis Entertainment, where he will be responsible for all aspects of motion picture development and production.
The union will further the relationship between Davis Entertainment and Fox, who has overseen production on several of Davis’
Filming of Men In Black III stopped while Will Smith waits to approve final script
(HMG Celebrity News) – This isn’t the first time I have heard rumors of Will Smith delaying a production by inserting his input and requesting changes to the script. I guess it’s the nature of the business that as actors become huge stars they form production companies and want total say on scripts. According to [...]
Peter Jackson's Perforated Ulcer Causes Slight 'Hobbit' Delay
In a development that pushes back the start of The Hobbit a bit, Peter Jackson was admitted today night to Wellington Hospital with acute stomach pains and underwent surgery for a perforated ulcer. According to a statement from the production, “Sir Peter is currently resting comfortably and his doctors expect him to make a full recovery. Sir Peter’s surgery is not expected to impact on his directing commitment to The Hobbit beyond a slight delay to the start of filming.” Between all the turmoil of: Guillermo del Toro dropping out as director; Jackson replacing him; MGM freezing production while it went into bankruptcy; local unions blackballing The Hobbit which almost pushed the production out of New Zealand; why would Jackson be getting ulcers? Here’s to a speedy recovery, Sir Pete.
Tory Metzger Nearing Deal To Head Production For David Linde's Lava Bear
EXCLUSIVE: Tory Metzger is ready to jump back into the production game. Metzger, one of CAA’s top talent agents when she left the agency in 2008 to run production for Media Rights Capital, is in talks to steer creative and production for David Linde’s Lava Bear. That’s the global platform for film production, financing and distribution that the former Universal Pictures chief is getting off the ground with discussions for a first-look Universal deal and a relationship with Reliance ADA. Metzger left Media Rights Capital last summer. She and Linde have a long relationship working on high profile films both while she was at CAA and MRC. All sides declined comment.
Chris McShane Upped At Jon Stewart's Busboy Prods.
Chris McShane has been promoted to co-head of production and development for Jon Stewart’s Busboy Prods. He will share the role with current head Rich Korson as the two will oversee development and production of Busboy projects. McShane is currently the executive in charge of production for Busboy on Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report. At Busboy, he has helped to develop and produce such shows as Important Things with Demetri Martin for Comedy Central, The Naturalized for the History Channel and was played a key part in the production of Jon Stewart’s and Stephen’s Colbert’s Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear.
Natalie Portman Engaged AND Pregnant!!
News of the day: Natalie Portman and her choreographer boyfriend Benjamin Millepied got engaged and she’s pregnant with their first child. The couple met during production of Black Swan. [Source]
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Justin Timberlake’s Stunt Turns Into On-Set Trouble
Justin Timberlake
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Photo by Lory Ayala/BuzzFoto.com
Justin Timberlake was probably told to “break a leg” at some point in his career. Last week, he almost did.
While attempting to perform a stunt on the set of his latest film, “Now,” the *NSYNC front man turned “Social Network” star hurt his calf, forcing production on the movie to temporarily shut down.
“Justin Timberlake sustained a muscle injury to his calf on the set of Andrew Niccol’s thriller, ‘Now.’” Fox, the studio behind “Now,” said in a statement. “Production has taken a brief hiatus and will resume shortly.”
Timberlake has since been spotted on crutches, and a source told E! News that the star is treating his injury seriously.
“He hasn’t heard anything about the MRI results, but they’re freezing production until he’s off crutches and able to act again,” the source said.
Representatives for Timberlake declined ABCNews.com’s requests for further comment on his condition.
The past few months have been perilous for those in show biz. Timberlake’s injury comes in the wake of a nearly fatal accident that happened on the set of “Transformers 3″ in September. Gabriella Cedillo, a 24-year-old extra, ended up in a medically-induced coma after reportedly suffering a head injury while driving a car during a stunt on the film’s Illinois set.
Accidents are happening on stage, too. Three actors have been injured in the Broadway version of the “Spider-Man” movie franchise, “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.” The show, which at $65 million is the most expensive in Broadway history, hasn’t even premiered to the public — opening night is Jan. 11, 2011.
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Syfy Picks Up 'Alphas' Pilot To Series, 'Three Inches' Still Alive
UPDATED: It came down to the wire for Syfy’s two drama pilots about people with special abilities, Alphas and Three Inches, which were both in serious contention for a series pickup. Syfy just made its final decision, giving Alphas an 11-episode order in addition to the 90-minute pilot. Production is slated to begin in Toronto early next year for a summer 2011 debut.
Alphas, from BermanBraun, UCP and writers Zak Penn and Michael Karnow, stars David Strathairn and follows a team of ordinary citizens who possess extraordinary and unusual mental skills. Penn and BermanBraun’s Gail Berman, Lloyd Braun and Gene Stein are executive producing the series whose 90-minute pilot was directed by Lost director-producer Jack Bender. ‘
Hayden Christensen Exits Paradigm For UTA
The 29-year-old actor had been at Paradigm, and before that at ICM, with Jim Osborne. He just co-starred in Sony’