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Principal photography is now underway on the 22nd
James Bond film. MI6 rounds up the latest,
including news from Austria...
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Production Diary (1)
3rd January 2008
With principal photography now underway
on the 22nd James Bond film, MI6 opens the first entry in the
Bond 22
Production Diary series, which will track the progress and
events of the making of Daniel Craig's second adventure as 007.
An extensive history of the build up to shooting can be found
in the exclusive MI6 Pre-Production Diaries - charting back
to March last year
- with links at the bottom of the page.
Bond 22 Begins
The long wait since Casino Royale hit the big screens is over!
The 22nd James Bond film 'lensed'
yesterday - Wednesday 2nd January 2008 - at Pinewood Studios
in England. Variety confirms that shooting
is nearly a month behind the original schedule, but the general
release date of 7th November is
not at risk.
Some filming for Bond 22 took
place at The Barbican in London yesterday. A sign went
up giving warning that it would be the venue
for a
scene from Bond 22
in the Sculpture Court where a man will be filmed talking on
a mobile phone. Daniel Craig was not at the locale.
Bond Girl Under Wraps
Reports
state that producers Michael G.
Wilson and Barbara Broccoli and the studios are on the verge
of casting
a female lead from the 22nd James Bond film and will make a decision
within two weeks. As with the previous film Casino Royale, shooting
has started without having cast the main female lead. It has
been rumoured that the process is being kept under wraps from
Sony
to avoid
any
possible
media
leaks. British
actress Gemma Arterton
has confirmed herself for a part in the film, but MI6 understands
that she has not landed the major role. Extensive casting searches
have taken place for a Latina
actress from South America. Bond 22 will also be partly shot
in Panama
and Bolivia.
Above: The impressive set for
the production of Tosca on the floating stage in Bregenz,
Austria |
Bregenz Beckons For Bond
Austrian media report today that the floating
opera stage in Bregenz has been confirmed for a major scene in
Bond 22. Just a few of weeks ago, MI6
reported that negotiations
were still underway to secure the location and a special one-off
out of season performance for the filming. Local production
manager Leonard Gmuer of Unicorn Films and Bregenz Festival speaker
Axel Renner confirmed to local media that the stage is confirmed,
but contracts are yet to be finalised. All parties expect to
complete the minor details in the next few days. The nearby
town of Feldkirch has also been selected for filming, but for
a minor scene.
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MI6 first reported last year that the
opera stage "Seebühne
Bregenzer" was scheduled
to host James Bond in late April with filming
of a "Tosca" performance to take place at night.
A short driving sequence (presumably in the recently
confirmed Aston Martin DBS) will take place in the
old town of Feldkirch.
A casting
session for extras will be held in Bregenz later
this month. Around 1200 to 1500 extras will be required
for the opera audience, and 25 to 20 for the car chase
sequence in Feldkirch.
Casting will take place at the
Kornmarkt Theatre in Bregez from January 18th to 20th
between 9:00am to 5:00pm. Athletic types are also requested
to attend as there are several roles for security personnel.
Those attending are encouraged to bring pictures of
their cars as some will be required for backdrops. The
production
is looking for a mixture of people from 18 to 70 years
old with a dress code suited to an opera performance.
Filming is expected to span across several
nights from April 28th to May 10th 2008. Hopefuls will
have to
complete an application form and have a photograph taken.
Local
residents as well as people from Germany and Switzerland
are invited to apply.
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Above: The central 'eye' rotates in the stage backdrop
Above: The 7000-strong audience watches from inclined seating
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Gmuer confirmed that Daniel Craig will be filming
at the opera stage, and Bregenz will feature as itself in the
film, and not double another location.
Briefing
Produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli (Eon
Productions), QUANTUM OF SOLACE was released in the
UK on October 31st 2008 and is directed by
Marc Forster. Principal photography started on January
3rd
2008 at
Pinewood Studios and around the UK, and foreign locations
including Italy, Panama, Chile, Peru and Austria.
Paul Haggis completed the script based on a first draft
screenplay developed by regular scribes Neal Purvis & Robert
Wade, with later polish by Joshua Zetumer. The story
is a direct continuation of the events of Casino
Royale. 007 faces off against
villains Mathieu Amalric (Dominic Greene), Anatole
Taubman (Elvis) and Joaquin Cosío (General Medrano).
Olga Kurylenko (Camille) and Gemma Arterton (MI6 Agent
Fields) play the Bond Girls. Dame Judi Dench (M), Jeffrey
Wright (Felix Leiter) and Giancarlo Giannini (Mathis)
reprise their roles as Bond's allies. It is British
actor Daniel Craig’s second outing as James Bond,
following his debut film Casino Royale released November
16th 2006.
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