Skye used as Japan subsitute for Keanu's new blockbuster
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IN new blockbuster fantasy film 47 Roninthere is an even more unlikely piece of casting than having Keanu Reeves as a samurai — the Isle of Skye stars as Japan, or at least a part of it.
The new film, based on a real life event in Japanese history but given added dragons and sorcery by Hollywood’s scriptwriters, is one of a run of recent films, including World War Z, Cloud Atlas and the final part of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises, where Scotland has stood in for other locations.
In fact, the Highlands’ role in the $175-million movie could have been even bigger.
The producers contracted the Inverness-based Highlands of Scotland Film Commission back in 2010 when they were first looking for locations, but at that stage rejected any Highland locations.
However, the film’s troubled production history has worked to the Highlands’ advantage.
When the makers of the film, which was largely shot at studios in England as well as on location on Japan, required fresh scenes to be shot in an ancient gnarled woodland and wild landscape, they again contacted the Highlands of Scotland Film Commission, who were able to find them a suitable location on Skye.
“We frequently double for other countries,” the film commission’s Lawrence Sutcliffe pointed out.
“In the Dark Knight Rises we doubled for an unnamed Central Asian country in its big aerial stunt scene and a few years ago it was quite popular to double for the foothills of the Himalayas in Indian productions.
“Sometimes there’s a bit of what’s in vogue. Obviously after Lord of The Rings, a lot of people wanted to go to New Zealand. We’ve had that benefit in the past. After Braveheart, lots of productions wanted to come here and we’re hopeful that will come round again.”
In fact, the Highlands have had a pretty good run in recent years, with Highland shot scenes for such major productions as Stardust, Alien-prequel Prometheus, Bond film Skyfall and more modestly budgeted home produced films like The Angels’ Share, Sawney: Flesh of Man and A Lonely Place to Die.
“Snow White and The Huntsman was a bit like 47 Ronin where we didn’t get the main shoot, but we were on hand for pick-up work when they were based back in the UK for studio work,” Sutcliffe continued.
“There are a group of maybe a dozen location managers based in Scotland and across the UK whose names tend to come up again and again.
“In the case of 47 Ronin, it was Ali James, with whom we have worked in the past. She worked on Stardust so she would have known the area well and perhaps been able to steer the production that way.”
One thing that may possibly count against the region when competing against other locations for film work is the lack of studio facilities, not only in the area but nationally.
The independence debate has recently sparked discussions about the future of Scotland’s screen industry and the need for studio facilities, but there also appears to be increasing recognition there is a need for something more substantial.
However, the Highlands still draws film makers and Sutcliffe revealed one director had visited recently with plans to shoot a feature in the Inverness area.
“We do pretty well. Since we set up in 1996, of the films we know about, there have been over 100 features shot in the area,” he added.
“We have a good reputation in Scotland and the UK and some areas of outstanding beauty. If people internationally think of Scotland, what they are usually thinking of are the Highlands, and that’s a huge help.”
• 47 Ronin is on national release now
