European Cities of Golden

[Rick Darge]

In the U.S. everyone knows that Los Angeles and New York are the places to be in this business. Excuse my ignorance, but what are the happening cities in the EU these days for crazies like us?

[John Moores]

Good question. I'd love to know as well.

[Mark Thorpe]

For everything Natural History then Bristol, England, is the center of the Universe. Home to the BBC Natural History Unit, responsible for Blue Planet and all the other fantastic Sir David Attenborough series. A plethora of wildlife production and post houses are also found in the area, feeding the NHU. Great industry place.

Cheers,
Mark.

[Daniel Reichenbach]

My favourites are: Barcelona, Rome, London, Berlin. Paris is still one of the most beautifull towns and an old love of mine, put the frenchs mentality has changed a lot the last years (my opinion).

[Joe Carney]

My favourites are: Barcelona, Rome, London, Berlin. Paris is still one of the most beautifull towns and an old love of mine, put the frenchs mentality has changed a lot the last years (my opinion).

For the better or worse?
I"ve always wanted to go and spend time in Paris. I've heard it's a very movie friendly city.

[Yannick Hagman]

For the better or worse?
I"ve always wanted to go and spend time in Paris. I've heard it's a very movie friendly city.

In a very bad way. Friendly? :)

[David Cubbage]

Prague seems to be turning into the Hollywood of Europe. It's mainly down to studio costs. A lot of films are choosing to shoot most of their stuff at Barrandov Studios these days. You only have to look at the number of big titles that are moving away from Pinewood and Shepperton. Gods they even wanted to shoot Harry Potter there until the the young star's parents complained.

Personally, I think it's sad that the British film industry is in such a bad state because our politicians decided to get rid of the tax breaks for filming here.

Even our great BBC shoot a lot of big series in Eastern Europe these days.

Saying that there is still a lot going on here in the UK but just not as much as there was a few years ago. As budgets get tighter production companies will always look for ways of cutting costs and Eastern Europe is far cheaper than Western Europe for big productions.

I could go on for ages as to what's wrong in the British film industry; I have been a part of it since 1997 and have decided to get out and concentrate on small projects of my own and the Red will help me in doing that. However, it's like Jim always says, "everthing is subject to change" and the movie business is always changing.

There is some great talent in our industry, both infront and behind the camera. Movies are more international than ever these days. You only have to look at the end credits to see the number of different locations and countires used in any one production.

I suppose it's just progress, but eventually the scales of economics will balance and costs will start to equalize throughout the world.

But hey! it's still a great industry to be in!

David

[Simon Blackledge]

http://www.mediacityuk.co.uk/home.html

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[Emanuel A.]

Well, didn't you know that here in Europe we are a babylon? EDIT -- :)

[Yannick Hagman]

Unfortunately there is no such place in Europe. Usually the bigger cities.

[Emanuel A.]

Well, didn't you know that here in Europe we are a babylon?
Unfortunately there is no such place in Europe. Usually the bigger cities.If London is a centre of the movie business, especially granted the british connections with hollywood. No matters where the eastern shootings have had place. The decision lives in London. Dublin with an attractive exemption policy has gained the hollywood attention since 90s succeeding the irish miracle.

Paris is a centre (again, not center :wink:) of the art film production, diffusion and exhibition for who would like to shoot his/her 1st short, doc or feature. However, shooting a second one would/will not be so easy, (de)pending a lot of the success of the 1st one. :) The french language can be not necessarily mandatory but helps.

Rome (my fav) is the most beatiful live-set available next door. There you could find the atmosphere of Fellini's, Rossellini's, De Sica's, Antonioni's, Visconti's, Risi's, Pasolini's, Monicelli's, Moretti's, Tornatore's etc even for those who didn't shoot there -- who wouldn't like it? Seems to any visitor a in-set tour ala Universal Studios in LA but with a special neo-realistic flavour. Don't forget what Welles said about Rossellini... LOL A lucky guy only 'cause as italian filmmaker he could be starring all the italians as his own actors... Nowadays, confined to its national industry or Cinecittà's tradition though far away from the golden 50s or 60s (when the italian ruled the international recognition).

Barcelona is a small Rome without the italian cinema tradition but with the same "La Dolce Vita". The spanish name is "La Movida". Anyway, you can find the same night life in any spanish town like Madrid, for example. With its potential...an artistic context. A certain typical one. Will it be for the XXI's century what the XIX's Paris had for the paiting history, who knows? :umm: The spanish cinema is in high vibe since it is your second spoken language in the United States. Without mention the huge market coming from south america.

Wien is a northern version of Rome without the roman "La Dolce Vita". On the edge of the spoken german cinema.

While the lovely Amsterdam is the right town for liberal sex and drugs (and a tough version of "La Dolce Vita"), but in any way other than as a dutch national cinema, IBC milestone or their multinationals' money, in Kobenhavn you can try to figure Stockholm, Oslo or Helsinki. Just for the postcard. And the scandinavian part on the movie business or even internationally, today. Lars von Trier's Zentropa has taken the european indies lead after all, succeeding the Dogma95's success.

Berlin is the typical business european centre -- again, not center ;-) but similar to a swiss town where the bank system rules and there's an open door to the East, granted its connections. München rivals with the Berlin film festival, its contribution for the cinema industry, more german than european. Arri and Zeiss are well-known worldwide german brands, anyway.

Milano rivals or shares (as you wish) the fashion chicks with Paris (advertisement, music videos surrounding MTV Europe based basically between Milano and London... while the national movie industry is in Rome). Brussels or Strasbourg, the European Union's spirit. Center where the european co-productions are used to have their taking off, even if into the burocratic offices of the Media I/II/Plus/etc (E.U.'s media financing aid program).

Last but not least, you have the unique Lisbon. Very cosmopolitan where you can almost find the 5 continents on the same place though focused on the second south half of the world. Mainly, intercontinental co-productions with Africa and Brasil/Brazil in native language. Therefore and never the less, different than London or even Rome or Paris where all a whole world can be reached there. Perhaps, beyond their own native idiosyncrasies/industries. Otherwise, there's no other place where a nostalgic mood may be got filled up possibly derived from an open gate to the Atlantic, where you can share what the jewish people could feel when during the early 40s they were dreaming with your America.

[Sanjin Jukic]

Emanuel, you rock!

[Don King]

Yes, one of the most accurate synopsis that I could read anywhere.