Set the scene: Behind the locations of Sinners with Elston Howard

Written by Kianna Best on May 12, 2025. Posted in Interviews

When dusk falls over the haunted cotton fields and shadowy juke joints of Ryan Coogler’s latest horror film, Sinners, it is not just the characters who tell the story—it’s the land beneath their feet. Starring Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Wunmi Mosaku, and Miles Caton, the vampire horror breathes life into Southern Gothic lore. While the story sinks its teeth into the supernatural events and racial tension of the south, it's the haunting Southern landscapes that make Sinners so immersive. And those landscapes? They are pure Louisiana. We spoke with veteran location manager Elston Howard about the real-life places that brought Coogler’s eerie vision to life.

Spain and Portugal through the eyes of Palma Pictures

Written by Kianna Best on May 6, 2025. Posted in Interviews

Whether it's a Netflix drama, a luxury car commercial, or a big-budget feature film, Spain and Portugal offer the perfect blend of creativity, infrastructure, and value. With offices strategically based in Madrid, Barcelona, Mallorca and Lisbon, Palma Pictures find themselves as a central force. We spoke with head of locations Edu Rodrigalvarez on how these two nations are growing to be not just backdrops, but strategic production powerhouses through the versatility of locations and logistical prowess.

Frozen Frames: The Perils and Beauty of Filming in Iceland’s Arctic Chill

Written by Kianna Best on Mar 13, 2025. Posted in Interviews

Whilst snowy scenes create the most awe worthy shots for on screen productions, the experiences behind the camera are not always the most idyllic. The Location Guide spoke with Glassriver producer Arnbjörg Hafliðadóttir to discuss the process behind shooting in Iceland for the filming of their Portuguese co-production Cold Haven, and navigating the sub-zero temperatures.  

ATS on filming in Asia

Written by Kianna Best on Jun 12, 2024. Posted in Interviews

From Ninja Warrior to the Amazing Race, ATS has worked on it all. Based in Los Angeles, the production service company specialising creating original formats, designing, and constructing television competition obstacles and sets have worked with industry names such as NBC, Hulu, Disney and many more. With wide spread experience shooting across Asia, we spoke with ATS chief operating officer Danny Sanz on the logistics of filming across the countries, how the local industries are benefitting from the international production presence, and what production teams need to know about coming to the continent.

Piemonte make their presence known at Festival de Cannes

Written by Kianna Best on May 25, 2024. Posted in Awards and Festivals / Interviews

Piemonte has certainly made its mark at the 2024 edition of Festival de Cannes, as a significant contribution to the Italian Pavilion presence at Le Majestic Hotel, the European collective of the International Village, with a successful producers networking and cocktail event at the Plage du Festival. I had the pleasure of speaking with Dario Peirone, chairman of the Piemonte Agency for International Investment and Export and Paola Casagrande, Director for Coordination of Policies and EU Funds, Tourism and Sports of Regione Piemonte.

An Interview with The Zone of Interest location manager Eugene Strange

Written by Kianna Best on Feb 1, 2024. Posted in Interviews

After winning the Grand Prix at the 76th Cannes Film Festival last year and recently receiving 5 Academy Award and 9 BAFTA Nominations, Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest hits UK theatres tomorrow 2 February. Capturing the story of the commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig, as they strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp. The production travelled to the historical landmark and surrounding areas in Poland. To facilitate this, Glazer enlisted the help of Salt Film and past location finding collaborator Eugene Strange. I spoke with Strange on this poignant experience, the career track that has led him here, and where it’s all heading next.

Guilty and Globe Trotting: An interview with the team behind Disney+'s Culprits

Written by Kianna Best on Nov 7, 2023. Posted in Interviews / Production News

What do you do when your past life starts to catch up with you? That question is answered in Disney+ UK original Culprits. Executive produced by Stephen Garrett and J Blakeson, Culprits follows high stakes criminal turned family man Joe Petrus as the life he’s built begins to unravel. In the lead up to the 8 November premiere of the new series, we spoke to director of photography Philipp Blaubach and production designer Victor Molero on the works behind the jet setting project.

An Interview with Film AlUla executive director Charlene Deleon-Jones

Written by Kianna Best on Jul 20, 2023. Posted in Interviews

Only three years old, Film AlUla are new to the audiovisual world, developing their infrastructure and making a name for themselves in the industry. But with projects rolling in from international filmmakers to promoting their local talents, the Saudi region are putting their best foot forward. At the helm, executive director of Film AlUla Charlene Deleon-Jones spoke to The Location Guide to share her experiences working with the new creative hub, the challenges and successes faced thus far, and what exciting things are on the horizon.