Film production

27 August 2007 -- The new documentary "The 11th Hour' sounds the alarm over global warming and offers insight into the causes and effects of global pollution.    » read more »

An increase in film tax credits will also bring more major motion pictures to Oregon

August 23, 2007 -- Portland – Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski today announced that former President of the Screen Actors Guild and actor Ed Asner, whose film career includes the role of Lou Grant on the Mary Tyler Moore Show, will join the board of the Oregon Film and Video Office.    » read more »

Aug. 24, 2007 -- SANTA FE — New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson today announced that the Odd Lot Entertainment/Lionsgate production, The Spirit, starring Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Eva Mendes and Gabriel Macht will be shot in New Mexico at the Albuquerque Studios in Albuquerque.

The film will shoot October 8 through December 14 and expects to hire approximately 75 New Mexico crew members.    » read more »

20 August 2007 -- Superbad was super good over the weekend, as it claimed the U.S. box office championship.

The teen comedy from Sony, which featured no big-name stars, took in $31.2 million. It relegated the previous title-holder, Rush Hour 3, to second place with $21.8 million. Its two-week total now stands at $88.2 million.

The Warner Bros. sci-fi tale The Invasion, starring Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman, opened a disappointing fifth with $6 million.    » read more »

18 August 2007 -- Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman was buried Saturday on his home island in the Baltic Sea.

Family members and close friends, including actresses Live Ullman and Bibi Andersson, attended the private funeral on Faro Island.

Bergman made more than 50 films and is considered one of the most influential directors of the 20th century. His films, including "Wild Strawberries," "Cries and Whispers" and "Scenes from a Marriage" explored human relationships, mortality and madness and were tinged with melancholy, anger, and humor.    » read more »

August 16, 2007 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today celebrated a new state law that boosts state tax credits for the film and digital media industry and requires the establishment of a film industry work force training program.    » read more »

August 14, 2007 -- A film that wins critical acclaim is likely to be an R-rated drama, adapted from a prize-winning play or book and based on a true story, with the original author or director involved in writing the screenplay. It is unlikely to be a sequel or remake, a comedy or musical, a summer release, a big-budget project, have a PG-13 rating, open on numerous screens or do a big box office on the first weekend. It probably has an excellent score, but it may not have an award-winning song.

But box-office hits may have entirely different profiles.    » read more »

14 August 2007 -- The Arctic is in danger. The world's north polar ice cap is melting. Over the last three decades, the area of the Arctic Ocean covered by sea ice at summer's end has shrunk significantly. Some forecasts predict that if the trend continues there will be no summer sea ice by as early as 2040.

A new film documents the impact of warming conditions on this historically ice-bound world and the animals that live there.    » read more »

12 August 2007 -- Evil witches, a fallen star and a young man in search of his heart's desire: these are just some of the elements in the new fantasy-adventure film adapted from a novel by popular science fiction author Neil Gaiman. Alan Silverman has a look at Stardust.

Once upon a time, a young man named Tristan embarks on the adventure of a lifetime. "The Wall" separates the old English village of Wall from a magical kingdom named Stronghold. When, like his father did before him, Tristan leaps the Wall, he does, indeed, find the star ...but she is not what he expects.    » read more »

August 7, 2007 -- SANTA FE — New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson today announced that the Groundswell Films/New Line Cinema production, Appaloosa, will be shot in New Mexico.

The production will be shot in and around Santa Fe from October 1 through November 24 and expects to hire approximately 90 New Mexico crew members and 500 local background actors.

Ed Harris will produce, star and direct. Other principal cast includes Viggo Mortensen and Renee Zellweger. Alongside Harris will be producers Robert Knott, Michael London and Ginger Sledge.    » read more »

04 August 2007 -- Matt Damon is back as undercover agent Jason Bourne in a new espionage action-adventure based on the best-selling books by Robert Ludlum. Alan Silverman spoke with the stars and film-maker Paul Greengrass for this look at The Bourne Ultimatum.    » read more »

Aug. 1, 2007 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter announced today that Paramount Pictures’ new film Nowhereland will be filmed in Denver later this year. Nowhereland is produced by Paramount Pictures and Di Bonaventura Pictures and stars Eddie Murphy.

“We are pleased to be hosting this production from Paramount Pictures and we are excited about the producer’s decision to make Denver a major part of this film,” Gov. Ritter said. “This will be the largest production in Colorado in several years and we hope this is a sign of good things to come for our film industry.”    » read more »

July 10, 2007 -- "I want to congratulate Springfield and its partners for winning the opportunity to host the world premiere of The Simpsons Movie.

The community spirit and enthusiasm that was key to Springfield’s improbable victory is precisely why Vermont is such a special place—and a fun place—to live, work and raise a family.

Fourteen Springfields across the country competed in the online election—sponsored by the 20th Century Fox Film Corporation—to host the premiere of the much-anticipated movie.

Springfield, Vermont’s success is a true Cinderella story.    » read more »

09 July 2007 -- The shape-shifting robots in Transformers morphed into last weekend's U.S. box office leaders. The DreamWorks-Paramount take on the popular line of Hasbro toys took in $67.6 million in ticket sales in its first weekend, according to July 8 studio estimates.

This brings its domestic total to $152.5 million, counting July 2 preview screenings. If those figures hold up, it would give Transformers the largest first-week revenue in history for a non-sequel, topping Spider-Man's $151.6 million total in 2002.    » read more »

Governor will cast his vote tomorrow at 10:30 a.m.

July 8, 2007 -- Montpelier, Vt. – Vermont Governor Jim Douglas is urging Vermonters to support Springfield, Vermont’s quest to host the premier of “The Simpsons Movie” on July 26.    » read more »