ON-LINE FILM & TV DIRECTORYHitlist UK is a new company run by Vivien Alcorn, an ex PA, and her husband Steve, a film camera operator, who claim that they have a good knowledge of the industry and how to promote your skills using the internet. In the few months Hitlist UK has been on-line, the website has had over 72,000 visits from Europe, North America, Australia, Middle East and India, as well as the UK. The directory which is in two sections, one for individual technicians and the other for businesses offering services to film and TV, is updated live to the internet every week, so users can be sure that they are viewing today’s contact details. Check them out on www.hitlist.co.uk. If you would like full details of the service and costs for the various sizes of listings and layouts, contact Vivien Alcorn at: Hitlist UK, P0 Box 66, Ruislip, HA4 7LQ Phone/Fax: 01895 471751 Email: admin@hitlist.co.uk 
ELECTRONIC SERVICING Members living in East Anglia (yes, there are a few) may be interested to know of ndB Electronic Services when in need of equipment repairs. Andy Barkley who runs the service is a highly qualified ex-BBC engineer well versed in today’s digital technology. He operates from a workshop at his home in Ufford, East Suffolk. Even if you are not an East Anglian but need expert servicing of equipment there are safe ways of dispatching gear to and from him. Actually why not deliver it yourself and make a day of it? The East Anglian countryside is well worth a look. Andy Barkley BSc MIEE C Eng, ndB Electronic Services, Wayside, Byng Hall Road, Ufford, Suffolk IP13 6EJ. Phone/Fax: 01394 460891 Email: sales@ndb.co.uk & website: www.ndb.co.uk His rates are reasonable too. | NOW ONLY A DREAMPlans by Steven Spielberg’s Dream Works company to build California’s first major film studio since the 1930s depression, have been scrapped. The decision was announced by Jeffery Katzenberg who with David Geffen and Spielberg is one of the founders of Dream Works. He said “It is clear that the move in no longer in Dream Works’ best interest”. Plans for the $250 million studio complex, part of a 1000 acre business and residential development at Playa Vista near LA airport were conceived more than four years ago. When completed it was expected to have brought in about 4000 film industry jobs. The land was bought for $20 million in April, despite objections form environmental groups protesting over the destruction of the last remaining wetlands in the Los Angeles area. Dream Works will now endeavour to recoup their investment. Spielberg said they were still eager to build their own studio, which had been one of the reasons for for establishing Dream Works. So dream on Steven, we all hope your dream works out in the not too distant future. RUNAWAYS -
BUT NOT TO THE UK Hollywood is worried because of the departure of billions of dollars worth of productions to Canada, where costs are lower. A report issued last month showed that $2.8 billion worth of film and television money and 23,000 jobs had headed north to Canada last year to take advantage of production costs that are at least 25% less than Hollywood. Salaries for technicians are also lower over the border and the Canadian Government offers good tax breaks MICKEY MOUSE PAYS Jeffery Katzenberg, who before he teamed up with Steven Spielberg and David Geffen was studio head of Disney, will receive between $250m and $275m in an out-of-court settlement of his suit against his former employer. Mr Katzenberg was suing for what he claimed was an agreed 2% of past and future profits from films and TV shows produced while he was head of Disney. With that pay off, Jeff, you could build your own $250m studio complex and still have some loose change. |
