Hollywood A-listers, catering, security, hundreds of trucks and even a pack of baying fox hounds, that’s what it takes to film The Lost City of Z in Co Down
They arrived under cover of darkness, a rumbling crowd of anonymous white vans, interspersed with Land Rovers, jeeps and catering trucks, packed with riggers, runners and security guards.
The cavalcade made its way along the winding country roads from Belfast to Greyabbey on beautiful Strangford Lough.
They edged along Newtownards Rd, too heavy for the little village and a bad bend at quaint Orange Tree House.
And finally parked up military fashion on farm land.
It was only as daylight broke that they could see the stunning surroundings of a piece of land rising out of the mist – they were at an island, or as locals call it, T’Island.
And bang in the middle of this remote beauty spot they could see a little white washed cottage with no electric or running water.
But it was here that Hollywood A-list Brad Pitt had agreed to film scenes for his movie, The Lost City of Z.
And for more than three days they camped out, enduring wind, rain, hail and just a little sunshine until filming came to an end on Friday morning.
Monthly Archive: August 2015
‘By the Sea’ to Open AFI Fest
Universal Pictures’ “By the Sea” will world premiere Nov. 5 as the opening-night film of the AFI Fest. Pic, to screen at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, was written, directed, produced by and stars Angelina Jolie Pitt and also stars and was produced by Brad Pitt.
The cast includes Mélanie Laurent, Melvil Poupaud, Niels Arestrup and Richard Bohringer.
The 29th AFI Fest takes place Nov. 5-12 in Hollywood. Screenings and galas will be held at the Dolby Theatre, TCL Chinese Theatre, the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres, Egyptian Theatre and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. The full festival lineup and schedule will be unveiled in October.
‘Lewis And Clark’ With Will Resume Shooting Next Spring
With production halted, and director John Curran (“The Painted Veil,” “Stone,” “Tracks”) and DP Rob Hardy (“Ex Machina,” “Tracks,” “Testament Of Youth”) booted for “creative reasons,” HBO probably had every reasonable right to look at “Lewis And Clark” and determine that maybe it’s best just to shutter the whole thing. It wouldn’t be the first time they’ve halted a show midstream (please see David Fincher’s “Videosyncrazy”) but it seems they’ve got faith the ship can be turned around.
Deadline reports that production will resume on the show next spring in Calgary, when weather will be more hospitable to the show which had been going through a “rough shoot” this summer. Produced by Brad Pitt and Tom Hanks, the six-hour miniseries starring Casey Affleck and Matthias Schoenaerts is adapted from the book “Undaunted Courage” by Stephen E. Ambrose, and follows the explorers Lewis and Clark on their journey down the Missouri River. Whatever was going wrong previously, it seems HBO believes that the foundation is strong enough to revive things next year.
Anthony Hayes Joins ‘War Machine’
Australian actor Anthony Hayes is the latest to join Brad Pitt in Netflix’s “War Machine.”
Topher Grace, Scoot McNairy, Emory Cohen, John Magaro and Anthony Michael Hall are also on board, with “Animal Kingdom” helmer David Michod directing and writing. Netflix will open the film in select theaters next year as well as stream the film on its online service.
Pitt and his Plan B partners Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner are producing with Ian Bryce.
Based on Michael Hastings’ book “The Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America’s War in Afghanistan,” the story follows a general, played by Pitt, whose track record lands him the commanding job in the American conflict in Afghanistan.
Principal photography is scheduled to start this fall.
A24 Teams With Brad Pitt’s Plan B for ‘Moonlight’
Three-year-old A24 is partnering with Brad Pitt’s Plan B and Adele Romanski to produce and finance coming-of-age story “Moonlight.”
Barry Jenkins will direct from his own his script, based on the Tarell McCraney play “In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue.” The movie is set in Miami during the war on drugs.
A24 is financing and owns worldwide rights with filming to take place in Miami in the fall. Jenkins directed 2009’s “Medicine for Melancholy.”
A24 announced in June that it was producing real-estate drama “The Liar’s Ball” with director J.C. Chandor, Neal Dodson and Anna Gerb. A24’s top box office performers have been “Ex Machina,” which has crossed $25 million domestically, and James Franco’s “Spring Breakers,” which grossed $14 million in 2013.
It also teamed with DirecTV to release release movies exclusively on the satellite TV provider before they hit theaters, including Ryan Reynolds’ “Mississippi Grind”; Charlize Theron’s thriller “Dark Places”; the Aubrey Plaza-starrer “Life After Beth”; Atom Egoyan’s “Captive,” starring Reynolds; and Julius Avery’s directorial debut, “Son of a Gun,” with Ewan McGregor and Brenton Thwaites.
“We are extremely proud to be involved with this heartfelt, groundbreaking film,” said A24 in a statement. “The opportunity to work with Barry, one of the most talented and daring contemporary directors, and Plan B, who consistently provide a home for filmmakers, is very exciting. We look forward to the collaboration.”