August 30, 2021

‘Mission: Impossible’ sues insurance company over 7 COVID shutdowns

(reuters.com)

LOS ANGELES, Aug 30 (Reuters) – Production on the new “Mission: Impossible” movie was shut down seven times due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a lawsuit filed on Monday that accuses the film’s insurance company of failing to pay out for all but one of the costly stoppages.

Filming on the action series starring Tom Cruise was delayed four times in Italy, and three times in the United Kingdom between February 2020 and June 2021, said the lawsuit filed by Paramount Pictures in U.S. federal court in California.

The stoppages were caused by positive coronavirus tests among members of the cast or crew, or quarantine or lockdowns imposed in countries where the thriller was being filmed.

The lawsuit accuses Indiana-based Federal Insurance Company of breach of contract, saying it has agreed only to pay out $5 million for the first stoppage.

Federal Insurance did not immediately return a request for comment.

Cruise, who is also a producer on the film, lost his temper on the set of “Mission: Impossible 7” in England in December over a breach in COVID protocols, threatening to fire cast and crew members who did not take them seriously.

“Mission: Impossible” is one of the biggest franchises in Hollywood, with 2018’s “Mission: Impossible-Fallout” taking more than $791 million at the worldwide box office.

Multiple film and television productions have been disrupted by the pandemic and the cost of testing, consultants and protective equipment has added millionsof dollars to their budgets.

By: Reuters

Continue Reading at reuters.com

Carrie Furnace could go from industrial site to film studio

(nextpittsburgh.com)

The massive remnants of Carrie Furnace loom over the Mon Valley like a rusting sentinel of a bygone age, when Pittsburgh really was “The Steel City” because it made more steel than just about anywhere else in the world.

In the intervening years since the mill’s closure, it’s been a National Historic Landmark, a movie set, a gigantic venue for music festivals and an utterly distinctive tourist attraction. Now, it’s getting ready for yet another role — home to new 21st-century jobs and businesses.

After investing about $35 million to prepare the heavily polluted, inaccessible site for new development since 2005, the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County is partnering with the Regional Industrial Development Corporation (RIDC) — the local nonprofit developer that has the most experience in turning decaying Pittsburgh-area industrial sites into thriving, productive business hubs that are relevant to current economic needs.\

Carrie Furnace’s property is so vast that it spans the boroughs of Munhall, Rankin, Swissvale and Whitaker. It includes 52 acres of developable land — the giant landmark former steel mill will remain — with another 11 acres to the west available for future phases of the project.

Plans are still being finalized, but one possibility is a project with the Pittsburgh Film Office to build The Film Furnace, a studio campus with sound stages and everything needed to grow Pittsburgh’s status as a center for film and TV production.

Other uses for Carrie Furnace include space for tech, research and development, biotech, workforce education, light manufacturing and assembly.

By: Michael Machosky

Continue Reading at nextpittsburgh.com

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How to Get Your Independent Film Funded

(filmthreat.com)

The process of making a film doesn’t only include the artistic spectrum of things. As a filmmaker, you should keep in mind that finances are just as significant. It should be a top priority, especially if you’re planning to produce your art independently. In fact, independent filmmakers frequently choose the type of film they will make based on the number of funds they can collect before and during the production process.

So, how do you finance your own film without the help of major studios? Read on to find out.

By: Film Threat Staff

Continue Reading at filmthreat.com

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