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The "Casino Royale" production team
have been busy in Prague the last few weeks. MI6 rounds
up all the latest goings on from the set... |
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Casino Royale Production Diary #7
13th May 2006
The "Casino Royale" production team have been busy
in Prague the last few weeks, following their stint in the Bahamas.
MI6 rounds up all the latest goings on from the set.
From Prague, With Love
In the first act of the film, Bond visits Miami Airport
to thwart the plans of a terrorist. The production team
have converted Prague International Airport to look like
Miami, including "palm trees" and changing every
sign within view.
A Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-600, which is around 75
meters long, was brought in to the airport for the shoot.
The filming at the airport took place over a few days and
wrapped on May 7th.
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Above: A Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-600
will feature in an action sequence in the film. |
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Following the shooting at the airport, the production
shifted to the Ministry of Transport in Prague (Ministerstvo
dopravy). According to local press, this building will be
used to double for a "Body
Worlds" exhibition, including a large display of
exhibits, palm trees, banners and Miami style shops and
phone booths.
Pictures of the set we recently leaked on the internet
by a tourist who stopped by the set, which featured skeleton
like exhibits posing at a poker table. According to the
papers, 007 arrives wearing a leather jacket in a yellow
taxi. Over 70 extras were drafted in for a crowd around
the museum.
Left: The Ministry of Transport in Prague.
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The production team then moved to Plana for shooting on May 12th
at a former military hospital that had been left disused for years.
As in the plot of Fleming's novel, Bond recuperates at a hospital
following his ordeal with Le Chiffre. The Mayor of Plana spoke to
local press and stated his happiness at the arrive of the Bond team,
despite the 15 trucks and 40 other vehicles they bring with them,
and the trouble it may cause the small town's 5000 residents. The
production is paying 700 Euros a day to shoot there, but the mayor
stated that he would much prefer the hospital to be brought back
in to modern day use.
Next week the crew will move to Loket, the location of
a Czech castle. The castle is approximately 135 km from
Prague, but only 15 km from Karlovy Vary - a historic spa
town which will be used extensively for exterior filming.
The
Loket Castle was founded at the end of the 12th century
during the reign of Wenceslas I and in the first half of
the 13th century the town started to develop around the
castle. Loket became a place of frequent visits and stays
of Czech kings and place of diplomatic negotiations - e.g.
Jan Lucembursky, Karel IV or Vaclav IV during his reign
the castle became an important state fortress and later
also a prison.
Since 1898 the Municipal Museum has been there displaying
chinaware and local history, archeology and history of the
castle. In the present time there is a unique exposition
of prison service with great collection of torture tool
from the 15th century. The Church of St. Wenceslas from
the 13th century can be found in Loket as well. Loket Castle
is also a cultural spot which offers many concerts and celebrations
during the year.
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Above: Loket Castle |
Above: The Mühlbrunnkolonnade. |
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Shooting will next move to Karlovy Vary, where the production
will film at the Kaiserbad and Mühlbrunnkolonnade.
Earlier reports stated that the city expects to earn 1000
Euros a day for the Bond team to shoot there, as well as
a contractual stipulation that the town of Karlovy Vary
is mentioned by name during the publicity campaign.
After work is completed in Prague, the production team
will move to Italy, and then finally Pinewood Studios in
the UK for two weeks.
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Above: An early 1900's
drawing of the Kaiserbad, and how it looks today. |
Teasing Bond
In other "Casino Royale" news, the official
teaser poster and teaser trailer were unveiled on May 2nd.
The Sony Pictures website has also been updated to include a version
of the teaser poster that was leaked on the internet this weekend.
It features Daniel Craig as Bond in a classic tuxedo at the poker
table.
Sony will be launching the official Casino
Royale website on May 19th 2006. There is a countdown ticking
on the current splash page, where you can also register for email
updates.
Produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli (Eon
Productions) and directed by Martin Campbell, CASINO ROYALE is
scheduled for release November 17, 2006. Principal photography
started on January 30th 2006, with locations in the UK, Czech
Republic (Prague), Italy, and the Bahamas. It will be British
actor Daniel Craig’s first outing as James Bond. He is the
sixth actor to play the 007 role in the franchise.
The film also stars Judi Dench, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen, Jeffrey
Wright, Giancarlo Giannini, Caterina Murino, Simon Abkarian, Tobias
Menzies, Ivana Milicevic, Clemens Schik, Ludger Pistor, Claudio
Santamaria and Isaach de Bankole.
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