Film Production
Film & TV shoots resume around the globe under Covid2019 protocols
MUMBAI: The Covid2019 pandemic has had a substantial impact on the film and television industry, shutting down or delaying production of movies and programmes in many countries, with consequent negative ripples on revenues (through rights and advertising sales) and employment. But now, as countries across the globe gradually lift restrictions, filmmakers are heaving a sigh of relief.
Let’s take a look at how film and TV production is faring in key markets as the media and entertainment industry slowly comes back to life.
New York
New York City, one of the most densely populated states in the US, was one of the epicentres of the Covid2019 outbreak. As shoots restarted, New York state has implemented various regulations to ensure film and television productions could be conducted safely.
In October, the state introduced a three-tier rating system under which locations based on the infection rates are assigned red, orange or yellow colours. With red notifying the highest rates and yellow being the lowest, different restrictions are placed on the production set based on what colour area the studio is located in.
Although filming has resumed, increased costs of sanitisation during the pandemic have led to small projects making up a large portion of ongoing productions. Bigger projects like Amazon Prime’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel are in pre-production stage until the beginning of 2021.
Producers in New York can still benefit from a tax credit program to incentivise the creation of shows in the state. The program gives eligible production companies credit for 25 per cent of production costs. An additional 10 per cent credit is available in certain counties.
But Gotham soundstages such as Silvercup and Kaufman Astoria are reporting more bookings. And New York City is seeing such series as Blue Bloods, and new series The Equalizer, NBC’s Manifest and New Amsterdam, Showtime’s City on a Hill, and Starz’s Power Book II: Ghost back in the shooting process.
California
In March, all approved projects under the California film and TV tax credit program requested force majeure, meaning that their status for receiving tax credits won’t be affected. Ten, including TV series The Orville, Animal Kingdom and Good Girls. The films include King Richard and Macbeth, have resumed production since June. But projects that had been disrupted by the pandemic are still working on stricter timelines.
Greece
Although there was a sudden surge in the number of Covid2019 cases in Greece, which pushed it towards a second lockdown on 7 November, production has continued since early summer, with the government putting out safety protocols to ensure cameras continue to roll on despite the pandemic.
Woody Harrelson-starring Triangle of Sadness, directed by Oscar-nominee and Palme d’Or winner Ruben Östlund, wrapped its shoot on 13 November. The Lost Daughter, written and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal and starring Olivia Colman and Dakota Johnson, wrapped just days earlier. It is an adaptation of the Elena Ferrante novel.
The film commission and the ministry of culture have worked together to introduce strict guidelines for all film and TV shoots, while the Greek government this summer raised the cash rebate from 35 per cent to 40 per cent. A new 30 per cent tax relief for incoming film and TV productions has also been finalised, it can be used in combination with the rebate.
Italy
Italy, initially hit hardest by the deadly pandemic, is responding to the second wave well with film and TV production churning out relatively more content with adherence to safety protocols and government incentives.
Culture minister Dario Franceschini has allotted a good sum of money to support production, upping resources to fund the Italian tax rebate from €400 million ($474 million) to $652 million for 2021; while raising the incentive’s cap from 30 per cent to 40 per cent of a local production’s budget (for international productions, Italy’s cash-back rebate remains capped at 30 per cent, which is still attractive). The tax rebate provided by the government is Italy’s main tool which has helped it to combat the rise in economic costs.
Meanwhile, Paramount’s Mission: Impossible 7 shot in Italy for several weeks in October and November.
South Africa
After partially lifting travel restrictions in early October, South Africa is now fully open for business, with international film and TV productions resuming in time for the southern hemisphere. As the country went into semi-lockdown, shooting kicked off on the sets of Nudes, and Wild Bunch TV’s first Italian production.
The new guidelines allow entry for all foreign travellers who are tested Covid2019 negative within 72 hours of departure. Domestic production was given the green light as early as May, allowing the industry to prepare necessary health and safety measures for international shoots to return.
Moonlighting restarted production in early October and is currently in pre-production on an international TV series that will begin shooting early next year.
Recently, South Africa has emerged into one of the world’s leading hubs for international film and television shoots, with the help of financial incentives, skilled English-speaking crews and a spectacular range of locations. Foreign productions can claim a 25 per cent cash rebate on all qualifying local spend, while the rebate for South African co-productions starts at 35 per cent. For productions that meet the requirements for the emerging Black filmmakers incentive, the rebate rises to 50 per cent.
Recent projects that have started in the country include Good Omens, Bloodshot starring Vin Diesel, and Sony’s fantasy action film Monster Hunter.
Film Production
Arka Mediaworks onboards 88 Pictures as animation studio partner on ‘The Eternal War – Part 1’
Arka Mediaworks announces that 88 Pictures, the acclaimed animation and visual storytelling studio known for its cutting-edge CGI and cinematic artistry, is on board as the animation partner for the highly anticipated Baahubali: The Eternal War, a groundbreaking two-part 3D animated feature film set in the globally beloved Baahubali universe.
Baahubali: The Eternal War represents a bold new chapter in the Baahubali saga envisioned for national and international audiences and crafted with the ambition of delivering one of India’s most ambitious and globally benchmarked animation projects to date.
88 Pictures will execute the animation production, bringing to life the film’s richly detailed worlds, epic battle sequences, and larger-than-life characters with its signature blend of artistic vision, performance-driven animation, and advanced production pipelines. Working closely with the film’s creative leadership and technical partners, the studio aims to set new benchmarks in animation quality, cinematic storytelling, and global scalability.
This animated epic follows the successful re-release of Baahubali: The Epic (the combined theatrical version of the original live-action films) on 31 October 2025 across India and the USA. During the film’s interval, legendary creator and director S.S. Rajamouli (Baahubali 1 & 2, RRR) stunned audiences with a surprise teaser for The Eternal War – Part 1. The video immediately went viral, garnering widespread national and international acclaim across LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube for its ambitious visual style and scale.
Produced by Arka Mediaworks and led by co-founder and CEO Shobu Yarlagadda – producer of the iconic Baahubali duology, The Eternal War brings together fantastic storytelling and cutting-edge animation.. The film is directed and written by acclaimed animation filmmaker Ishan Shukla (Schirkoa: In Lies We Trust, Star Wars: Visions – “The Bandits of Golak”) and screenplay by Scott Mosier (The Grinch). Mihira Visual Labs, the studio co-founded by Yarlagadda anchors the film’s animation, visual development, and execution.
The partnership with 88 Pictures brings significant pedigree to the project; the studio is well-regarded for its work on high-profile international titles including DreamWorks’ series Trollhunters, the HBO Max original series Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, Disney’s animated short An Almost Christmas Story to name a few.
Yarlagadda shared, “We are happy to onboard 88 Pictures as the animation studio partner for our prestigious and most expensive animated film from India. We believe that their expertise and capabilities will allow us to produce a first-of-its-kind, world-class animated feature film from India.”
88 Pictures founder & CEO Milind D. Shinde said, “Baahubali changed the way cinema is perceived and became a defining milestone that turned the tide for Indian live-action filmmaking. Expanding the franchise into an entirely new universe—at a never-seen, never-done scale—through an animated feature created in India for a global audience is set to redefine how the world views Indian animation. We are truly thrilled to be part of this landmark project and to bring it to life under the visionary direction of Ishan Shukla, guided by the experience and leadership of acclaimed producer Shobu Yarlagadda.”
Shukla expressed, “Eternal War requires a level of visual and emotional precision that can only come from teams who truly understand both craft and intent. Working with 88 Pictures, alongside Mihira Visual Labs, has been a deeply collaborative experience. This association brings together technical excellence and creative sensitivity, enabling us to translate an ambitious vision into a compelling cinematic reality.”
Baahubali: The Eternal War – Part 1 is scheduled for release in 2027
