On Location with Julian Newby

Boutique Media International

On Location is a companion podcast to the annual magazines Location International and Location California, bringing you inside stories from location shoots around the world. We talk to location managers, actors, producers and film commissioners, about the thrills – and the challenges – of filming On Location. On Location is presented by Julian Newby, editor of Location International and Location California magazines.

  1. May 24

    California Film Commission director Colleen Bell on how Hollywood is recovering from a tough few years

    In this edition of the On Location podcast, we meet Colleen Bell, director of the California Film Commission. She speaks with Julian Newby about her role at the Hollywood-based Film Commission, the impact of the six-Oscar-winning film One Battle After Another, and how the film industry across the Golden State is experiencing a revival after strikes and wildfires contributed to a downturn. She also talks about filming on location in California, which she describes as a “whole continent of locations in one state”.  California was in high profile at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, where American Pavilion held a special California Day highlighting the Golden State’s status as the world’s movie capital.  At the event, Colleen Bell spoke about the newly extended California Film & Television Tax Credit Program, credited as playing a big part in the film industry’s revival there, following a tough few years.  Since its introduction in 2009 – a year after the global financial crash – the Program has generated some $27bn of economic activity and supported over 210,000 cast and crew jobs across the state. For every dollar awarded through the Program, California has seen $24.40 in economic output, $16.14 in GDP and $8.60 in wages.  This edition of the On Location podcast was recorded during the Cannes Film Festival at the landmark Carlton hotel. Issues raised during the podcast are discussed in depth in the latest edition of Location California magazine, which is edited by Julian Newby and published in partnership with the California Film Commission.

    24 min
  2. Mar 2

    Atlas of the Universe: director Paul Negoescu and location manager Andrei Stehan on filming in the Romanian countryside

    In this edition of the On Location podcast, Julian Newby meets director Paul Negoescu and Location Manager Andrei Stehan to discuss the Romanian-Bulgarian coproduction Atlas of the Universe,  which tells the story of 10-year-old Filip travels with his father to a nearby town to buy new football boots. When his father gets sidetracked by an old friend, Filip, played by Matei Donciu, has to make his way on his own. A mistake at the shoe shop – Filip was given two right shoes – triggers an unexpected adventure as he walks through the countryside to the big city in search of the left shoe. Along the way, he befriends a stray dog, who he names after his favourite football player; and he meets a young girl, Edith – played by Johanna Mild – who helps him to feel less alone in his quest. As he attempts to fix the error made at the shoe shop, Filip takes his first steps toward independence and growing up. The film was shot in and around the Romanian town of Vălenii de Munte. It was produced by deFilm (Romania), in co-production with Screening Emotions (Bulgaria) and Avanpost Media (Romania). The production is supported by the Romanian Film Center, Romanian Government, Eurimages, the Bulgarian National Film Center, Magic Lab, CinemaCity, Magic Shop, Romanian Television and Upfar Argoa. International sales are with international agency Pluto Film.    See the film’s trailer here

    27 min
  3. Feb 23

    Crime 101: Location Manager Robert Foulkes on choosing the highs and the lows of Los Angeles for the Chris Hemsworth heist movie

    In this edition of the On Location podcast we meet veteran Location Manager, LA-based Robert Foulkes, who tells us how some of Crime 101s locations were chosen. In the movie, Mike Davis (Chris Hemsworth) is a master jewel thief who specialises in meticulously targeted robberies, which take place along the 101 freeway in Los Angeles. Ahead of what could be his biggest-ever heist, he teams up with disillusioned insurance broker Sharon (Halle Berry). Detective Lou Lubesnick (Mark Ruffalo) has spotted a connection to the 101 robberies and is determined to prevent the big one from happening.   The film’s star-studded cast also includes Barry Keoghan as the psychotic biker Ormon; and Nick Nolte as the underworld fence, Money.  Crime 101 is based on the 2020 Don Winslow novella of the same name, adapted by director Bart Layton – who chose both the super-wealthy areas of Los Angeles, as well as the gritty side of the city, as backdrops to the story – from Echo Park and West Hollywood, to the coastal areas of Venicee and Santa Monica.  Watch this tour of Los Angeles with Robert Foulkes here And see the film’s trailer here Crime 101 is a production from Amazon MGM Studios, Raw, Working Title Films and The Story Factory, directed by Bart Layton. Hemsworth produces alongside Ben Grayson; who he worked with on 2025’s Chris Hemsworth: a Road Trip to remember.

    32 min

About

On Location is a companion podcast to the annual magazines Location International and Location California, bringing you inside stories from location shoots around the world. We talk to location managers, actors, producers and film commissioners, about the thrills – and the challenges – of filming On Location. On Location is presented by Julian Newby, editor of Location International and Location California magazines.