Clash of the titans: Tenerife meets Hollywood

Warner Brothers and Legendary Pictures are currently shooting scenes for their summer 2010 blockbuster the remake of Clash of the Titan, on Tenerife. Obviously, the scenery in the Teide National Park is something that the set designers and special effects people cannot improve on and so amid veils of secrecy and security, a movie set has been built and filming has started.

Tenerife being an Island has more to offer movie makers than just Teide, there is the lure of the sea and today (14/05/09) filming has started in and around the San Juan area, it is expected to last for up to 5 days.

Whilst security is tight around the areas where filming is taking place, there are some pictures coming out and Tenerife Times has gained access to pictures of the latest filming in San Juan.

So if your out and about in Tenerife, in particular in the San Juan area or the Teide National Park, watch out for filming, you might just end up in the background of a Hollywood blockbuster.

Written by Michael Hopkins | Origin: http://www.tenerifetimes.com

Produced by Warner Bros Pictures, the island will gross 2.5m Euros with Hollywood big budget movie

Shooting begins this week in Tenerife on the set of the Warner Bros. Pictures big budget movie “Clash of the Titans”. Tenerife will earn two and a half million Euros in revenue during the two weeks of filming. José Manuel Bermúdez, the first vice president and councillor for tourism at the Tenerife Island Government, stresses the importance of bringing a major film production to the island starring Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes.

Warner Bros Pictures will fly a 350-strong production team to Tenerife to work on the island from 15 May to 3 June 2009. A substantial part of the 2.5m euro budget will be spent on accommodation, transport and maintenance. They will also hire one hundred local people on the island as extras for different scenes and a variety of support staff including a Tenerife company, Sur Production & Services, who have managed the castings for the extras, found offices and obtained the required permits etc.

Tenerife was selected as a location for the movie thanks to an initiative by the Tenerife Film Commission. Last October, the film’s location manager, Robin Higgs (Pirates of the Caribbean and Harry Potter trilogies) was invited on a fam-trip and was amazed by Tenerife’s landscapes. Many meetings and visits followed, including the film’s director and producer who then decided to shoot some of the film – nearly 20 per cent of the total – on the island. The selected locations are the Teide National Park and the coast in the districts of Icod, Buenavista del Norte and Guía de Isora plus some pinewoods and mountain areas.

“Clash of the Titans” is an adventure filled epic which tells the tale of the war between men, kings and the gods. Based on the cult 1981 film of the same name, the storyline revolves around the myth of Perseus and his quest to save Princess Andromeda. The release date is set for early 2010.

The Island Government’s Department of Tourism has counted on the support of both the Tenerife Departments of the Environment and Roads as well as the Canary Islands Government and the National Parks.

The movie’s director is Louis Leterrier, who also directed “The Incredible Hulk” and “Danny the Dog”. Leading the international cast is Australian actor Sam Worthington (Terminator Salvation) as Perseus, the mortal son of Zeus, king of the gods. Liam Neeson (Schindler’s List) takes on the role of the mighty Zeus, and Ralph Fiennes plays the role of Hades, god of the underworld, who feeds on human fear. Rounding out the cast is Gemma Arterton (Quantum of Solace) as Io, Perseus’ mysterious spiritual guide throughout his journey; Mads Mikkelsen (Casino Royale) as Draco, who takes up his sword to join Perseus’ quest; Jason Flemyng (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) as Acrisius, a one-time king-turned-hideous beast; and Alexa Davalos (Defiance) as Andromeda, a princess doomed to lose her life if Perseus does not succeed.

The film’s producers are Kevin De La Noy (The Dark Knight) and Basil Iwanyk (We Are Marshall). The executive producers are Richard D. Zanuck, one of the most honoured leaders in the motion picture industry (Yes Man) and Legendary Pictures’ Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni and William Fay (300). Associate producer is Karl McMillan (Public Enemies) and the production designer is Martin Laing (Titanic).

Origin: http://www.tenerifenews.com

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