Pinewood Studios has sold its minority stake in the Dominican Republic’s horizon water tank facility, which has been renamed Lantica Studios after its now sole owner, Lantica Media.
Formerly known as the Pinewood Dominican Republic Studios, Lantica Studios is undertaking the building of a fourth soundstage, measuring 16,000 sq.ft., and two additional workshop spaces of 12,000 sq. ft each, mainly dedicated to housing camera, grip and electric equipment vendors. These are set to open by the Spring of 2025.
The landmark expansion comes as the 10-year-old studio has seen record growth in international and local production, which has led to the availability of more skilled crew in the Dominican Republic (Dr), either trained on the job or in regularly held workshops. “We’ve grown from hiring locals at an average rate of 400 – 500 a year to 2,000 a year,” said Albert Martinez, CEO of Lantica Studios.
With the closure last year of the Baja Film Studios in Mexico,...
Formerly known as the Pinewood Dominican Republic Studios, Lantica Studios is undertaking the building of a fourth soundstage, measuring 16,000 sq.ft., and two additional workshop spaces of 12,000 sq. ft each, mainly dedicated to housing camera, grip and electric equipment vendors. These are set to open by the Spring of 2025.
The landmark expansion comes as the 10-year-old studio has seen record growth in international and local production, which has led to the availability of more skilled crew in the Dominican Republic (Dr), either trained on the job or in regularly held workshops. “We’ve grown from hiring locals at an average rate of 400 – 500 a year to 2,000 a year,” said Albert Martinez, CEO of Lantica Studios.
With the closure last year of the Baja Film Studios in Mexico,...
- 5/8/2024
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Every weekday at 5:30 a.m., while most of his San Antonio, Texas, neighborhood is still asleep, Albert Martinez gets into his silver Nissan Sentra and starts the drive to Uvalde, 70 miles to the west. That early, U.S. 90, which starts near the Mexican border and ends in Florida, is infinitely dark and leaden, the tiny farms along the way covered in shadows.
Martinez is a 50-year-old music teacher in Uvalde. Usually, he drives in silence. The radio would be a distraction — it’s almost impossible for him to listen...
Martinez is a 50-year-old music teacher in Uvalde. Usually, he drives in silence. The radio would be a distraction — it’s almost impossible for him to listen...
- 5/29/2023
- by Julyssa Lopez
- Rollingstone.com
Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group on Monday launched The Weather Channel en Español, a 24/7 Spanish-language stand-alone network in the U.S. The free service is available across over-the-top streaming platforms and on mobile devices and also is accessible via The Weather Channel app.
The first on-camera meteorologists to join are Univision and Telemundo veterans Albert Martinez, Henry Golac, Milmar Ramirez and Jessica Fernandez along with Abel Hernandez and Lorena Lim.
The launch comes on the 40th anniversary of the debut of The Weather Channel network, which Allen acquired in 2018.
“The Hispanic marketplace is indexing extremely well with streaming services and is severely underserved. Our launch of The Weather Channel en Español is historic, and is a recognition of the continued and significant growth of the U.S. Hispanic population and the constant need to keep the entire public informed and safe as multi-billion dollar weather disasters are on the...
The first on-camera meteorologists to join are Univision and Telemundo veterans Albert Martinez, Henry Golac, Milmar Ramirez and Jessica Fernandez along with Abel Hernandez and Lorena Lim.
The launch comes on the 40th anniversary of the debut of The Weather Channel network, which Allen acquired in 2018.
“The Hispanic marketplace is indexing extremely well with streaming services and is severely underserved. Our launch of The Weather Channel en Español is historic, and is a recognition of the continued and significant growth of the U.S. Hispanic population and the constant need to keep the entire public informed and safe as multi-billion dollar weather disasters are on the...
- 5/2/2022
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Dominican filmmaker Jose Maria Cabral has shared the trailer to his eighth feature, “Parsley,” with Variety ahead of its world premiere at the Miami Int’l Film Festival.
New York-based Visit Films is handling world sales rights on the drama.
As in his Sundance title “Woodpeckers” (“Carpinteros”) and his more recent films, Cabral trains his lens on the marginalized in his country. “Parsley” (“Perejil”) is based on the 1937 Perejil Massacre when Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo ordered the execution of Haitian communities on the country’s border with Haiti. In some cases, soldiers verified the person’s Haitian roots by how they pronounced the word perejil (parsley), where their French-Haitian Creole accents would give them away.
The infamous massacre is seen through the eyes of Marie (Cyndie Lundy) a young Haitian woman, nine months pregnant, whose loving husband Frank (Ramon Emilio Candelario) is a Dominican. Despite the rising racial tensions, she...
New York-based Visit Films is handling world sales rights on the drama.
As in his Sundance title “Woodpeckers” (“Carpinteros”) and his more recent films, Cabral trains his lens on the marginalized in his country. “Parsley” (“Perejil”) is based on the 1937 Perejil Massacre when Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo ordered the execution of Haitian communities on the country’s border with Haiti. In some cases, soldiers verified the person’s Haitian roots by how they pronounced the word perejil (parsley), where their French-Haitian Creole accents would give them away.
The infamous massacre is seen through the eyes of Marie (Cyndie Lundy) a young Haitian woman, nine months pregnant, whose loving husband Frank (Ramon Emilio Candelario) is a Dominican. Despite the rising racial tensions, she...
- 3/1/2022
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
To paraphrase an old adage, there’s bound to be a silver lining in every cloud. Indeed, for some Caribbean island locations, the Covid-19 pandemic, despite some losses in human life, has been a blessing for their audiovisual industries. The Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, two of the most generous locations in terms of film incentives, are expecting a record boom.
“The number and size of projects coming to the country have increased exponentially,” says Albert Martinez, COO of Lantica Media, which operates the Pinewood Dominican Republic Studios. “By opening up earlier than other locations, many projects gravitated to us.”
Among the first major productions to film in the Dominican Republic, and which made full use of Pinewood Dr, was “Old,” M. Night Shyamalan’s thriller starring Gael Garcia Bernal.
The Dominican Republic’s film commission projects a total foreign production spend of around $176 million by year-end, up from $35 million last year.
“The number and size of projects coming to the country have increased exponentially,” says Albert Martinez, COO of Lantica Media, which operates the Pinewood Dominican Republic Studios. “By opening up earlier than other locations, many projects gravitated to us.”
Among the first major productions to film in the Dominican Republic, and which made full use of Pinewood Dr, was “Old,” M. Night Shyamalan’s thriller starring Gael Garcia Bernal.
The Dominican Republic’s film commission projects a total foreign production spend of around $176 million by year-end, up from $35 million last year.
- 6/4/2021
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Domestic violence, child trafficking, Caribbean myths, cyber terrorism and psychological thrillers were among the weighty subjects presented at the Dominican Republic’s June 25 online pitching sessions during Cannes’ virtual Marche du Film.
Some projects, however, were inspired by the millions of tourists that visit the country each year and one took on the Covid-19 lockdown that has forced families and friends to share confined spaces for months.
The pitching sessions were preceded the day before by the Dr Film Commission’s pitch to detail the country’s generous incentives and let it be known that it was opening for business on July 1, albeit with health and safety protocols in place. Film Commissioner Yvette Marichal led her team that included lawyer Boni Guerrero and Manuela German who fielded legal and technical questions. They were joined by Pinewood Dominican Republic Studio/Lantica Media COO, Albert Martinez, who expanded on the horizon water tank facility’s amenities,...
Some projects, however, were inspired by the millions of tourists that visit the country each year and one took on the Covid-19 lockdown that has forced families and friends to share confined spaces for months.
The pitching sessions were preceded the day before by the Dr Film Commission’s pitch to detail the country’s generous incentives and let it be known that it was opening for business on July 1, albeit with health and safety protocols in place. Film Commissioner Yvette Marichal led her team that included lawyer Boni Guerrero and Manuela German who fielded legal and technical questions. They were joined by Pinewood Dominican Republic Studio/Lantica Media COO, Albert Martinez, who expanded on the horizon water tank facility’s amenities,...
- 6/26/2020
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
The Dominican Republic’s lauded film law marks its 10th year amid general elections set for July. Fortunately, the three main candidates are said to be pro-cinema.
“The law is up for a review, but we don’t think there will be too many changes,” says film commissioner Yvette Marichal.
As the country gears up to emerge from its Covid-19 lockdown by July 1, it is still unclear when productions will restart and shuttered cinemas reopen. Nevertheless, pre-production on some shows is in full swing.
Set construction for a big-budget supernatural thriller by a major Hollywood director has begun at the world-class Pinewood Dominican Republic water filming facility, albeit with health and safety protocols in place. Another supernatural thriller, “Geechee” from Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios, will resume production at Pinewood Dr by the end of July.
A Rupert Wainwright-directed drama based on the Florida boating accident of three NFL players,...
“The law is up for a review, but we don’t think there will be too many changes,” says film commissioner Yvette Marichal.
As the country gears up to emerge from its Covid-19 lockdown by July 1, it is still unclear when productions will restart and shuttered cinemas reopen. Nevertheless, pre-production on some shows is in full swing.
Set construction for a big-budget supernatural thriller by a major Hollywood director has begun at the world-class Pinewood Dominican Republic water filming facility, albeit with health and safety protocols in place. Another supernatural thriller, “Geechee” from Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios, will resume production at Pinewood Dr by the end of July.
A Rupert Wainwright-directed drama based on the Florida boating accident of three NFL players,...
- 6/24/2020
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
"Albatross welcomes you. Prepare for docking." Sometimes fans come up with tributes that rival the actual work, and this is a great example of that. This new Star Trek fan film, titled Chasing The Infinite Sky, was released at the end of July timed with the opening of Star Trek Beyond. Created by Albert Martinez entirely in his own spare time, with VFX co-created by Ricardo Elliott, the short is about Captain Storm piloting a new experimental ship called the U.S.S. Albatross. It focuses more on space travel than anything else, inspired by J.J. Abrams' visuals, but it's still seriously impressive and enjoyable to watch even if you're not the biggest Trekkie. There isn't much of a story but that doesn't bother me because it's so nice to look at. Described on YouTube: "I created this fanmade conceptual Short piece simply to express my love for the franchise.
- 8/29/2016
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Hundreds of mourners turned out Wednesday in Riverside, California, for the memorial of Sultan, a police dog killed while attempting to subdue a violent felon. "When I heard this, it felt like I'd lost a peer," Riverside County chief deputy Geoff Raya said at a press conference. "There is very little differentiation between four legs and two legs - they are all members of the Riverside Sheriff's Department." Born in Slovakia, Sultan had been working with the department since September 2013, working in narcotics detection, tracking and apprehension. On Jan. 21, the Belgian Malinois-German shepherd mix, along with several deputies from the Hemet Sheriff's station,...
- 2/12/2015
- by Johnny Dodd, @Johnny_Dodd
- PEOPLE.com
Hundreds of mourners turned out Wednesday in Riverside, California, for the memorial of Sultan, a police dog killed while attempting to subdue a violent felon. "When I heard this, it felt like I'd lost a peer," Riverside County chief deputy Geoff Raya said at a press conference. "There is very little differentiation between four legs and two legs - they are all members of the Riverside Sheriff's Department." Born in Slovakia, Sultan had been working with the department since September 2013, working in narcotics detection, tracking and apprehension. On Jan. 21, the Belgian Malinois-German shepherd mix, along with several deputies from the Hemet Sheriff's station,...
- 2/12/2015
- by Johnny Dodd, @Johnny_Dodd
- PEOPLE.com
If you're interested in an anniversary conversation that really has some bearing on today's film industry, I highly recommend American Cinematographer's recent chat with "Collateral" Dp Dion Beebe. It's been nearly a decade (if you can believe it) since Beebe and Paul Cameron carved out a serious place for digital with that film, earning an American Society of Cinematographers (Asc) nomination in the process. It got me thinking about the history of the industry's acceptance of digital as reflected in the nominations handed out by both the Asc and Academy's cinematography branch over the last 10 years. Academy members were a bit slower on the uptake, as you might recall. Beebe and Cameron were snubbed by the branch despite the Asc nomination. Of course, that was still a dicey time for the technology. The first feature films shot digitally were Lars Von Trier's "The Idiots" and Thomas Vinterberg's "The Celebration,...
- 7/3/2014
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Hitfix
A 16-year-old family member was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of murder in the case of a missing 11-year-old autistic boy in Southern California, police said Wednesday. A body that matched the description of Terry Dewayne Smith Jr. was found partially exposed in a shallow grave on the family property, Menifee police Chief John Hill said at a news conference. The body has not yet been positively identified, Hill said, adding that the death was the result of "a domestic issue" at the house. Terry has a 16-year-old half brother who authorities have said was the last person to see the boy.
- 7/11/2013
- by Associated Press
- PEOPLE.com
Sam Pinto, Ramon 'Bong' Revilla, Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote The fantasy adventure Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote, starring actor-politician Ramon 'Bong' Revilla and Vic Sotto, remains the top box-office hit at the 2010-2011 Metro Manila Film Festival, during which only Filipino movies — eight of them this year — are screened in The Philippines. To date, Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote has taken in P131,213,092 (Us$2.98m). Starring former president Corazon Aquino's daughter Kris Aquino — who also happens to be the current president's (Benigno Aquino III's) sister — the horror thriller Dalaw has brought in P65,550,261 (Us$1.49m). Dolphy's Father Jejemon has been at the bottom of the box-office chart despite the veteran comedian's Best Actor win announced last weekend. Albert Martinez's Rosario, a socially conscious period drama starring Jennylyn Mercado, hasn't been performing all that well, either — possibly because, according to one journalist, Martinez's movie...
- 1/3/2011
- by Irene Young
- Alt Film Guide
The Metro Manila Film Festival has a history of controversies. This year's edition, its 37th, has been no different, as a number of complaints followed the choices made by the Metro Manila festival's 11-member jury, which included a bus driver, a teacher, a student, and a housewife. Topmost among those, reports the inquirer.net, were negative comments about the omission from the roster of nominees of two people involved in the making of the feminist period drama Rosario: actor-turned-director Albert Martinez and, especially, star Jennylyn Mercado (photo). Director Wenn V. Deramas and lead actress Ai-Ai delas Alas won in their respective categories for the comedy Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last Na 'To) at a ceremony held last Sunday evening. The other Best Actress nominees were Marian Rivera for Super Inday and the Golden Bibe and Carla Abellana for the omnibus horror film Shake, Rattle and Roll Xii. Another controversy...
- 12/30/2010
- by Irene Young
- Alt Film Guide
Albert Martinez's Rosario, stripped of all its gloss, is essentially about the titular woman, played illustriously by luscious Jennlyn Mercado, whose fate seems to be dictated by her passions unleashed that during that time were severely discouraged, especially for women. Nonetheless, Rosario, presumably out of an upbringing influenced by the liberalities preached by America, the Philippines' new colonial master, succumbs to every call of her flesh, first with her father's trusted assistant (Yul Servo), whom she marries to the chagrin of her parents, second with her best friend's boyfriend (Dennis Trillo), which caused her separation with her husband and her children, and third, with her landlord's enamored nephew (Sid Lucero). As such, it holds immense promise beyond the trite melodramatics that usually accompany such material.
However, the film, like the many well-dressed and well-made up characters that populate it, is far too concerned in decorating itself to be anything more than an expensive ornament.
However, the film, like the many well-dressed and well-made up characters that populate it, is far too concerned in decorating itself to be anything more than an expensive ornament.
- 12/27/2010
- Screen Anarchy
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