Two things I really enjoy besides watching movies are reading about their making and visiting the locations they're filmed at. There's definitely something magical about walking on the same soil as Film Directors like Steven Spielberg or George Lucas and stars such as Harrison Ford, Clint Eastwood, and Jackie Chan. You start to think of moments from the films, and then, if you're like me, you try and figure out where the cameras were set up, what angles they shot, where the Directors were sitting, what the weather was like, and even what's changed since the production has left. As somebody with a film/video production background, I understand the enormous amount work that goes into making our favorite cinema adventures, including the care taken to choose suitable filming sites.
Filming on location is not an easy task. First, the production has to find locations that are within close proximity to major cities or towns in case they need to house the cast and crew, seek medical attention, send for supplies, or enlist the help of local extras. If the production requires several exterior locations, you want to locate them as close together as possible in order to minimize travel time between them. This helps to allow more daylight hours for filming and cast and crew downtime. In most cases, the Producers or Coordinators also have to acquire permits, obtain permission from landowners - and sometimes homeowners - ensure security for the cast, and finally (but not completely), have a backup indoor location for filming in case of weather delays. It can all be a very complex process, but in the end, if the locations are right, the credibility of the characters and story is increased.
The Alberta Movie Guide is an idea I dreamt up several years ago. My wife and I were fortunate enough to get married in Hawai'i and we had our honeymoon on the beautiful 'Garden Island' of Kaua'i. One of the reasons we chose Kaua'i was because of its use in many of the most successful (and favorite) blockbusters of all time. With the help of
The Kaua'i Movie Book and a map marked with film locations, we set off to 'relive' some great movie moments.
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark,
Jurassic Park,
Blue Hawaii,
Honeymoon in Vegas, and
Mighty Joe Young (1998) have all showcased the emerald green jungles, rugged coastlines, colorful blooms, relaxing beaches, and countless waterfalls of Kaua'i. Just as the movies had transported audiences, so too were we taken to the 'film worlds' by visiting many of these locations during our trip. It was an exciting adventure for both of us and though others had already paved the way, it didn't detract from our own fantastic journey.
Born and raised in
Alberta, I have a lifetime fondness for the province's diverse scenery. Ranging from the breathtaking mountain peaks of
Jasper and
Banff, the ancient badlands of
Drumheller and
Dinosaur Provincial Park, to the otherworldly oil sands of the north, Alberta has provided the backdrop for fictional and historic film subjects. When you take into account the well-preserved structures of pioneering Forts and ranches, the golden waves of grain and yellow fields of Canola, and snow-packed peaks of
Canmore and
Kananaskis, Alberta has filled in for just about any piece of scenery required. Okay, so we don't have tropical, but there's always indoors for that if needed.
Unforgiven. © 1992 Warner Bros.Not to be forgotten, Alberta is also fortunate enough to have a wealth of creative talent, many who have already contributed towards Hollywood hits like
Unforgiven,
Superman,
Legends of the Fall,
Rat Race,
River of No Return,
Shanghai Noon,
The Edge,
Days of Heaven, and
Cool Runnings. That's just for starters. I haven't even discussed the many Canadian-made films.
Realizing the lack of a comprehensive news and location resource available to those inside and outside the Alberta filmmaking community, my goal was, and is, to help bring
The Kaua'i Movie Book concept to Alberta.
The Alberta Movie Guide (book currently in development) and this blog aren't intended to replace the efforts of the incredible
Alberta Film Commission and other production resources, but rather to act as a complimentary source to bring reports, opinions, reviews, and location information to professionals and amateurs alike, helping them appreciate all that Alberta has to offer in film, television, and media production. It's truly a place I believe to be one of the best in the world, and an area I'm proud to call home.
Shanghai Noon. © 2000 Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Inc. and Spyglass Entertainment Group, LP.I'd like to add that as Albertans, we don't want to be looked at as 'the bad guys' in what's being labeled as 'runaway film production.' Along with our scenery, we're very proud of our production community and our collaboration with foreign film, television, and media productions. We're hardworking professionals, and like many North Americans, Europeans, and Asians, we have dreams of 'being in the movies.' It is our hope to continue to provide facilitation for all creative media productions.
I hope you'll enjoy the journey and I (and my collaborators) look forward to sharing Alberta's rich film and television history (and future) with all of you!
Note: Many locations are on private property and I will not be providing information on how to 'sneak into' these places. It is my intention to respect the production, the cast, crew, and landowners. If I do post any information on private locations, it will either be because the information has already been published, the landowner has given consent, or members of the Alberta film community have been allowed to share such knowledge.
20th Century Fox has set Gavin Hood to direct Hugh Jackman in Wolverine, the "X-Men" spinoff that was written by David Benioff.
