Production Paradise

Athens [Greece]: Poplight

Established in 1999, Athens-based Poplight provides photo production services to local and international clients, covering the entire production process from pre-production to postproduction. Their aim is 'to provide a smooth and successful production, catered to client's specific needs'.

Thanks to its dry, sunny climate, Greece is ideal for outdoor shoots. Locations range from ancient sites to modern city centres, natural vistas (mountains, lakes, forest, seas), the architectural and natural beauty of the Greek islands as well as urban environments (cafes, restaurants, houses, pools, bridges, stadiums, offices, underground stations etc).

Poplight offers everything for a particular production, tailoring each service to client needs and budget. They will handle travel, hotel reservations, transportation, castings, and bookings of the necessary crew. The company works with a wide range of artists, such as fashion stylists, hair stylists, make-up artists, and production coordinators.

They own a photographic and lighting equipment rental house, carrying a full range of Hasselblad, Profoto and Manfrotto equipment.

website poplight

Berlin [Germany]: Bigshrimp Berlin

Bigshrimp has been based in Berlin and Hamburg since 1998, and is very familiar with the endless location possibilities that Berlin offers, as well as the full range of locations available for production.

Berlin is a modern, multicultural, pulsating city that, according to Bigshrimp, "has a special attitude to life with all its contrasts". This is reflected in the city's locations: trendy lofts in old factories, modern and classical, historical buildings.

Bigshrimp describes Berlin as "a bargain alternative for productions", and offers numerous locations, with photos, along with a full production service including casting and a rent studio.

They offer, of course, the same services in Hamburg.

website bigshrimp fotoproduktion gmbh

Budapest [Hungary]: PhotoPro Production Agency

The Hungarian capital of Budapest - like the rest of the country - offers a variety of faces, which is why the major film studios look to make Hungary part of their movie-shooting schedule.

The story 'starts with World War II and finishes with Star Wars episode 999'. Former emperors left their cultural imprints in the past, making the capital an architectural reflection of different religions. Classic houses from the early XIX century, castles and baths are all available for photography backdrops and ad spots.

The PhotoPro Production Agency was established two years ago and all founders and partner companies have been working in production for several years. The company offers two main services: full production services for photography or ad spots, and a photographer agency representing talented and experienced photographers.

Aside from the website, you can call Photo Pro on +36 30 203 6556 or email.

website photopro production agency

Buenos Aires [Argentina]: Mea Culpa Productions

Argentina is widely considered one of the most beautiful and diverse countries on earth and a popular place for productions.

Based in Buenos Aires, Mea Culpa Productions has a broad and varied client list that includes Audi, BMW, Danone, C&A, Dresdner Bank, La Caixa and Movistar.

The company's motto is "after a good job well done, our client's satisfaction is our ultimate reward".

website mea culpa productions

Dixcot [England]: Dixcot Locations

Based in London, Dixcot Locations represents outstanding properties for filming and photographic shoots. They have a broad range of locations on their books, from slick modern apartments and beautiful period homes to boats and sporting venues.

With locations all over the UK and abroad they say that they are confident that they can meet all requirements and say that 'should you be after something that is not currently on our books, we'll find it for you'.

The agency is run from Dixcot, a location in itself. This imposing arts and crafts country-style house is huge (8000 square feet), with a mature 1.2-acre garden and is full of interesting period features.

Some of the company's clients include the BBC, Working Title Films, John Lewis, Debenhams, Laura Ashley and Ideal Home.

Browse for locations on their website, email Juliet or call +44 (0)20 8769 7144.

website dixcot locations

Jerusalem - Tel Aviv [Israel] : Zed Films

Since its inception in 1993, Zed Films has created a reputation for innovation and quality in the Israeli film industry. This multi-award winning production company uses pre and post production boutiques for its corporate and television divisions, creating films from conception to final product.

Located in the cultural and economic centre of the country, Zed Film's offices in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv enable it to act as a one-stop shop.

Selected Filmography - Film Festivals and Awards
2006 Brothers in war (Feature film) TSR channel Switzerland
2005 Saving Children (Documentary) LA7-Italy; shown at Warsaw Jewish motifs, Istanbul, Haifa, Ankara and Krakow film festivals
2004 The Escape Artists (Documentary) Yes+; shown at Lubljana and Jerusalem film festivals
2003 No Safe Place (Documentary) PBS USA; shown at Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival
2002 Dead Sea (Experimental); shown at Vierzon film festival
2002 Surviving Terrorism (Documentary); 1st prize at Moscow film festival
2000 Mithazkim (Documentary); shown at Stokholm and Jerusalem film Festival
1999 Peace in sight (Documentary) Worldlink TV USA

website zed films

Marseille [France]: Easy Production

Easy Production is a location management company covering the south of France where it is sunny 300 days per year.

Over 45,000 pictures of locations and 400 private homes and spaces are available, offering a 'personalised service with an added luxury of French cuisine'.

Easy Production's references include Air France and Toyota campaigns, many catalogues such as Boden, or La Redoute, as well as editorials such as D Magazine (Italy) shot by photographer Mary Rozzi.

website easy production

Melos-Island [Greece]: Kitao

Kitao is a production company specialising in photography. The company is owned by producers and photographers who say they understand what it takes to produce an outstanding image.

At the latest Hellenic advertising festival, they won two Gold Ermies, three Silvers and a Bronze.

Clients speak very highly of the company, too:

• T. Liarmakopoulos, Vice President JWT Thompson: 'I envy your work so much that I would like to be the one to do it.'
• A. Kocheilas, General Manager, Bold / Ogilvy Athens: 'A famous photographer said that in a photograph there are always two people: the photographer and the viewer. Working with Kitao makes you realise the need for a third, the producer.'
• Phil Poynter, Photographer, Davidoff Cool Water worldwide campaign: 'You did an amazing job under quite stressful conditions, and more importantly, you managed to produce all the equipment we asked for, when I know it is not readily available in Greece the way it is in New York. I really hope I get the chance to work with you again'.

website kitao

Milan [Italy] : Ringaround Productions

Ringaround Location and Production is based in Milan and was established in 1997 by an experienced producer/location manager.

Its mission is to provide location scouting for any type of photo shoot, throughout Italy. It boasts a location library with one of the widest archives on the Italian market, containing vast quantities of pictorial records of over 500 select private locations - castles, lofts, wooden chalets, ethnic-type houses, industrial spaces, modern and historical villas, country houses etc. Consultation is without charge.

Ringaround Location has even longer experience in outdoor locations, which are a particular strength. Italy is renowned for its extraordinary variety of landscapes and evocative cityscapes, with their wealth of history.

Ringaround location is owned by Ringaround Production, which provides a complete production service for all areas: automotive, fashion, advertising and editorial. If you wish to shoot in Italy, 'Ringaround can handle everything from A to Z'.

website ringaround productions

Paris [France]: JPPS- Jacqueline Push Production Services World Wide

Advertisers from all over the world keep going to Paris to capture its unmistakable ambience in their campaigns. Incomparable classic and contemporary architecture along with an abundance of rare interiors make this city so attractive.

Other well-liked locations are nearby - for example ancient castles, country mansions, famous seaside spots and picturesque countryside.

JPPS Photo Production Services is based in Paris and has a great knowledge of all these locations. The company provides full production services in Paris, France, Europe and worldwide. Find out more on their web site...

website jpps- jacqueline pusch production services

Rio de Janeiro [Brazil]: Latin America Production

With its main office in Rio de Janeiro, Latinamerica Production works throughout Brazil as well as in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay without the use of intermediaries, in order to lower costs, meet client requirements faster and offer a wide choice of sceneries, climates and budgets.

Locations are 'geolocalized' (GPS) in order to easily find the right place and calculate the path of the sun on planned shooting dates to identify any kind of obstructions such as trees and buildings that would generate shadow.

Production is organised during pre-production with planning software that eliminates the risk of forgetting any item and ensures a strict control of all lines in the budget.

Equipment available includes: Hansell and Pro7B flashes, Canon EOS-MKII (17Mp) Hasselblad 503SW, with lenses, Digital back Phase One H25 (22Mp), MAC G4 and G5.

Recent jobs:

• Chile: various editorials; campaigns for Novotel, Cirque du Soleil
• Argentina: 3 Suisses
• Brazil: Terra Futura and Max catalogues, various editorials such as US Surface and a campaign for Hewlett-Packard

website latin america production

Scotland: Leonora

For a small island, Great Britain encompasses a surprising variety of landscape, from the craggy mountains and wild terrain of Scotland, Wales and the north, through the flat expanses of eastern England to the soft rolling hills in the south, all surrounded by 12,500km of stunning coastline.

Architecturally, it is unsurpassed with a wealth of stately homes and hi-tech contemporary buildings, historic old towns to modern city life.

Leonora and her team have a great deal of experience and specialist knowledge on the diversity of locations within Great Britain. Always providing a full production service to photographers and ad agencies worldwide, but retaining that personal touch.

For more details and to see a showcase of just a few locations from the comprehensive digital library, see the website.

website leonora

South of Spain: Andrea Porcelli Producer

Andalusia combines ideal conditions for every kind of production: sun almost all year round, mountains, cities that mix ancient and modern architecture, not to mention a wide variety of landscapes - from the desert of Almeria to the beaches of the region's extensive coastline.

Andrea Porcelli offers location and production service with a focus on photo and documentary productions and collaborates regularly on co-productions.

She speaks English, Spanish and Dutch. Her approach is "European" but she also has an in-depth understanding of how South America operates, which she says can be very helpful for production teams crossing the Atlantic. Andrea also helps with productions in other regions of Spain and in South America.

When asked what her philosophy is, Andrea says "work is a way of life for me, so it stops being work and becomes fun!"

website andrea porcelli

Sintra [Portugal]: Gaby Corrêa Producer

Sintra is one of the most magical regions of Portugal and offers many different kinds of location.

The village was the King's destination for the winter season, and castles are there to tell the history. Besides the village, forest, mountains, beaches and old villas, Muslim influences can be seen in some of the village's architecture.

website gaby corrêa producer