The state of California's recently approved tax-incentives package, which offers financial support to producers who film in the region, didn't come soon enough to stop Johnny Depp heading to Puerto Rico for his latest film. Based on Hunter S Thompson's novel The Rum Diary, which was written in the 1960s but only published in 1998, the film tells the story of an itinerant journalist, Paul Kemp (Depp), who leaves New York to write for a paper in Puerto Rico. The film co-stars Aaron Eckhart, Amber Heard, Michael Rispoli, Richard Jenkins and Giovanni Ribisi.
Bruce Robinson is directing from his own screenplay. Puerto Rico has, in recent years, introduced juicy financial incentives to lure film production to the region. For California, this has meant a huge loss in local production business. Puerto Rico offers one of the most generous incentive packages worldwide, with up to $15 million (Dh55m) available in financing for each film. In this case, the film is set in Puerto Rico, but often one location will double for another, depending on available financing deals. An overview of these incentives will be on offer at the upcoming AFCI Locations Trade Show in Santa Monica, California from April 16-18, where more than 300 film commissions from six continents will present.
Paramount Pictures is rehiring the writing team behind its upcoming Star Trek release to pen a sequel to the film. The Star Trek writing duo, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, will be joined by Damon Lindelof (Lost) to write the next film in the franchise. JJ Abrams will produce and possibly reprise his role in the director's seat. Abrams both produced and directed the new Star Trek, which will be released May 8. The film marks the relaunch of the popular franchise on the big screen.
Kevin Spacey will play a maniacal inventor in Father of Invention, an independent film to be produced through his Trigger Street Productions banner, Variety reports. The film follows an inventor who winds up in prison after one of his creations goes wrong. He emerges humbled, homeless and hopeful of rebuilding his empire. Trent Cooper will direct from a script he co-wrote with Jonathan Krane and N Beattie Rapaport.
The Hong Kong-born director John Woo has abandoned plans to film the Chinese epic 1949, Screen International reports. The move follows a dispute over the script rights to the film. As a love story set to the backdrop of the Second World War and the last years of China's Civil War - which lead up to the establishment of the People's Republic of China - the project was announced with much fanfare at last year's Cannes Film Festival. International sales to the film were to be handled by Fortissimo Films whose co-founder, Wouter Barendrecht, 43, died suddenly on Sunday, leaving the Asian film community in shock. Barendrecht was a major figure in the world of independent film and a much respected industry player. He died at his home in Bangkok.
Quentin Tarantino's new Second World War film has secured a slot in competition at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival (May 13-24), Variety reports. Starring Brad Pitt, the film is set in Nazi-occupied France and follows a troop of Jewish-American soldiers on a special mission. The film will be released in the US on August 21. A festival regular, Tarantino won the Palme d'Or in 1994 for Pulp Fiction.
