From a Christopher Walken impersonation to a multimillion dollar Beyonce spot, this year’s Super Bowl festivities bought a multitude of familiar faces to the televisions all across America. Known for their celebrity cameos, the 2024 Super Bowl commercial rollout enlisted the help of many trusted agencies and production companies such as Hungryman Inc, Special Project USA and Oglilvy to uphold the reputation of the limited time slots.
After pulling our bags across the hot tarmac to the Windhoek Air Terminal, we meet Ma Fiina, a woman with a generous smile and IMMIGRATION emblazoned across her back on a neon yellow vest. She whisks us through security and passport checkpoints, removing her vest to reveal a uniform polo shirt that promises CUSTOMER SERVICE…I asked how many layers of super hero costuming was she wearing to get us to our final destination. Ma is an address of respect, and Fiina Elago commands it and is, among other things, a valued member of the Namibia Film Commission Board, representing the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security.
After wrapping production in July of last year, the much anticipated onscreen arrival of DC Comics’ Blue Beetle is here. Shot in Wilder Studios, Decatur, Georgia and San Juan, Puerto Rico, the Latin-led super hero feature stars Xolo Maridueña as the blue shelled protagonist. Charm City Kings director Angel Manuel Soto took to the helm of the Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer written production.
In the complex multiversal storyline, Marvel released their latest series Secret Invasion for Disney Plus on Wednesday 21 June. The series sees the return of agent Nick Fury as he works to expose the plot conducted by a group of mischievous shape shifting aliens known as Skrulls. Filming started in London during September 2021, moving to other English regions and stateside areas until its finish in April 2022.
The 2023 instalment of the Young Director’s Awards celebrated an array of globally diverse entries today in Cannes. As the Lions occupied the Palais, emerging creatives displayed the utmost imagination across 16 categories including documentary, animation and the newly instated series section. With representations from 46 countries, winners were spread Europe, North America and Asia Pacific.
Film London announced the launch of The Grid Project, their initiative to supply renewable energy to productions in the Capital. The pilot, located at a key unit base in Victoria Park, was funded by the mayor’s Good growth Fund supported through the London Economic Action partnership, NBCUniversal, Interreg Europe’s Green Screen and the British Film Commission.
Stephen Knight, creators of Peaky Blinders, has launched a new multi million pound film and tv studio in Digbeth, Birmingham. Bringing more production activity to Birmingham, the Digbeth Loc studio space will also be used for the upcoming Peaky Blinders film as well as BBC inspired musical drama This Town. With construction expected to be completed by 15 July, the first production at the site is planned to begin filming in October.
The casting for Disney+ much anticipated 8-part series Rivals, based on the much loved novel by Jilly Cooper, was announced on 21 March. Set against the backdrop of 1980’s England, the series will feature the same drama and success of the social elite featured in it’s original source inspiration. Produced by Happy Prince, which is a part of ITV Studios, the series will be filming at The Bottle Yard Studios’ new TBY2 facility.