HERO PRODUCTIONS // ICELAND

WITH THE HELP OF FILM COMMISSIONS, PHOTOGRAPHERS AND LOCATION MANAGERS, LOCATION INTERNATIONAL TAKES A WORLD TOUR OF IMPRESSIVE LOCATIONS, SOME USED AND SOME STILL TO FEATURE ON FILM

DEAD VLEI, DUNES OF SOSSUSVLEI, NAMIB DESSERT, NAMIBIA

Sossusvlei is a salt and clay pan created by the Tsauchab river that flows through the Sesriem Canyon every five to 10 years. Even in very wet years it doesn’t reach the Atlantic Ocean but drains away between the dunes of Sossusvlei. Sossus means ‘place of no return’. Because of the lack of water all the trees in this valley have died, so the meaning of Dead Vlei becomes clear. What makes it so remarkable is that there is not even moisture enough for normal decomposition to occur. So all the trees here, though dead, have been nearly perfectly preserved for centuries. The Namibian countryside has high dunes that meet the ocean, stunning deserts and mountains and also the skeleton coast with countless shipwrecks. Productions shot in Namibia include: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Beyond Borders (2003), Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) and The Mummy (2017). (Photo, courtesy Peter Harris)

SUNRISE ON THE OXBOW, PALM BEACH, FLORIDA

This 52-acre site is part of the Northeast Everglades natural environment with mesic flatwoods, scrubby flatwoods, hydric hammock and mangrove swamp ecosystems. This is a view along two tributaries of Limestone Creek that still flow intermittently through the area. Despite the dryness of the habitat, delicate bromeliads and clumps of ball moss cling to tree branches. The dense growth under the tree canopy attracts many birds. Listed animals observed on the site include: the gopher tortoise, West Indian manatee, the American redstart, the little blue heron, the yellow-crowned night-heron, the osprey and the bald eagle. This is a good location for nature shows that feature wild birds, old Florida, inland fishing and environmental preservation storylines (Photo, courtesy PBC-Environmental Resources Management )

CORDILLERA DEL PAINE, PATAGONIA, CHILE

At the Southern tip of the Andes in Chile lies Torres del Paine National Park, one of the most impressive sights in the Southern Hemisphere — encompassing mountains, glaciers, lakes and rivers. The Torres del Paine landscape is dominated by the huge Paine Massif, also known as the Cordillera del Paine. This magical location has yet to feature in a movie, on TV or in a commercial. (Photo, courtesy Janice Polley, LMGI)

PIHTSUSKÖNGÄS WATERFALL, FINLAND

Pihtsusköngäs is the largest waterfall in Finland, located in the middle of the Käsivarsi Wilderness Area, near the Norwegian border in the Arctic Circle. The falls are located 45 km from the village of Kilpisjarvi and can be reached by skiing or hiking. This image was taken from a helicopter. Flying over northern Lapland, in the Arctic Circle near the Russian border, the earth is untouched so that you can see the striations from the ice age as if it had just happened. This is a rugged, powerful landscape. Lapland is best-known for its northern lights and winter snow but the 24-hour shimmering light of the summer months is magical, a filmmakers dream. (Photo, courtesy Lori Balton, LMGI )

MOOSE MOUNTAIN, ALBERTA, CANADA

Moose Mountain is a solitary monolith guarding the front range of the Rocky Mountains and located 19 km west of Bragg Creek, Alberta in Kananaskis Country. The sprawling mountain peaks at 2,437 metres (7,995 ft) and was created many thousands of years ago when a giant tract of land was overturned, trapping huge forest reserves underneath. Moose Mountain is located within the Calgary filming zone. You can park an entire unit at just over 6,500 ft and it is located within public lands. It offers fantastic views, ridges, forests and roads. Recent productions filmed on this mountain include TV series Tin Star seasons 1 and 2 (2017-); and feature films Brokeback Mountain (2005) and The Revenant (2015). (Photo, courtesy Jason Nolan, LMGI)

REGENT'S CANAL, ST PANCRAS LOCK, LONDON

St Pancras Lock is on the Regent's Canal, in the London Borough of Camden, England, with the St Pancras Basin nearby. Leaving the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal near Little Venice, The Regent's Canal heads east across London passing Regent's Park, London Zoo and Victoria Park before turning south to end at Limehouse Basin. The area enjoys visually diverse looks. Train tracks, canal boats, gas towers converted into condos, restaurants and the Central Saint Martins College of Art university campus. Productions that have shot in the Camden area include: Alfie (1966), Batman (1989), Backbeat (1994) and Eyes Wide Shut (1999). (Photo, courtesy Claudia Eastman, LMGI)

RIVER STREET, SAVANNAH, GEORGIA

The Savannah area boasts a wealth of locations including the US’ largest historic district, an evergreen urban forest and unique coastal and rural settings. Savannah has retained its original layout with 22 public squares, brick streets, and an architectural timeline that dates back to 1733. In recent years the city has doubled as New York, Texas, New Orleans, Florida, Washington DC and Buenos Aires. Numerous productions have filmed here including feature films Savannah (2013), Live By Night (2016) and The Little Mermaid (2018). TV project Z: The Beginning Of Everything (2015-17) also shot here, as well as commercials for Pottery Barn, Louis Vuitton and Kohl’s. (Photo, courtesy Andy Young)

BATUMI, ADJARA, REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA

Pictured is part of the industrial port city of Batumi, the capital of the Georgian republic of Adjara, on the sub-tropical eastern coast of the Black Sea, in the shadow of the Caucasus Mountains. The city also has a waterfront promenade with a park and beach, and is known for the 130-metre-high Alphabetic Tower, adorned with Georgian script, which has a seaside observation deck. The old-town district is lined with renovated 19th-century buildings. The latest feature to film here is Halo Of Stars (2018). (Photo, courtesy Robin Citrin, LMGI )

CENTRAL MARKET, VALENCIA, SPAIN

The Mercado Central or Central Market of Valencia is one of the oldest markets still in use in Europe and has been declared a Heritage Site of Cultural Interest by the Spanish Ministry of Culture. The modernist building is a beautiful example of 20th-century architecture. The impressive 8,160 sq m structure is home to 900 stands, selling some of the area's freshest and finest food. Local legend has it that there has actually been a market of some sort on this site since the 14th century. On entering the building, the striking feature is the sheer scale and size of the market hall itself, with ornate iron vaulted beams and hand-painted patterned tiles. Huge windows let in streams of bright sunlight, there are massive overhead fans and a beautifully intricate stained-glass dome depicting the richness of Valencia’s fruit — a staple of the area’s produce. Films shot here include Tirant Lo Blanc (2006) and Prometheus (2012). (Photo, courtesy Peter Gluck, LMGI)

SPITZ, WACHAU VALLEY, LOWER AUSTRIA

The Wachau Valley is an Austrian region near the Danube, west of Vienna. Spitz is one of many historic villages in the Wachau Valley, which are situated among traditional vineyards and apricot orchards. This impressive section of the Danube valley has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, extending over 36 km. The region is characterised by centuries-old vineyards terraced with dry stone walls and is also home to old-growth forests and numerous ruins, castles, docking piers and ferries. With its unique natural landscapes and impressive architectural monuments it offers scenic views and picturesque countryside everywhere you look. Productions shot here include: The Three Musketeers (1993) and Season Of The Witch (2011). (Photo, courtesy Spitz, Wachau Valley@Donau Niederösterreich/ Michael Liebert)

BRUGES, BELGIUM

Bruges is a beautiful and well-preserved medieval town in the Flanders region of Belgium. The historic centre of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has many picturesque cobbled lanes and scenic canals with old bridges that connect to quaint market squares, historic churches with soaring towers and charming colourful and whitewashed buildings. By day the city is stunning and at night it sparkles with lights. Bruges is a fairy-tale city for filmmakers and photographers, and has hosted movies, TV shows and commercials. Film projects shot here include The Nun’s Story (1959), The Abyss (1988), In Bruges (2008), and The Verdict/Het Vonnis (2013). (Photo, courtesy Eric Druker)

CIRCEO PROMONTORY, LAZIO, ITALY

Monte Circeo or Cape Circeo is a mountain marking the southwestern limit of the former Pontine Marshes, located on the southwest coast of Italy, about 100 km southeast of Rome. Wherever you are on the coast of Lazio, it is impossible to miss the impressive outline of the Circeo Promontory. With its peak at approximately 1,775 feet above sea level, it rises above the spectacular landscape of the surrounding natural park that is also filled with characteristic and picturesque towns and villages. Movies shot in the area include: Let’s Hope It’s A Girl (1986), Tea With Mussolini (1999) and The Wonders (2014). (Photo, courtesy Enrico Latella, LMGI)

ASSOS VILLAGE, KEFALONIA ISLAND, GREECE

Famous for its spectacular waters — for example at Myrtos Beach and Melissani Cave — Kefalonia is the largest of the Ionian islands off the west coast of Greece. Situated on the northwest coast of the island, Assos village was founded under Venetian rule and it served as the administrative capital of northern Kefalonia from 1593 onwards. Sparsely built with traditional colour, it is set in an impressive landscape among pine trees and cypresses. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (2001) was shot entirely in Kefalonia. (Photo, courtesy Alexandros Maragos)

MOSTAR, BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA

The historic town of Mostar goes back to the Ottoman empire. It is best known for the iconic Stari Most (Old Bridge) a reconstructed medieval arched bridge which connects the cobblestoned streets and Turkish houses on both sides of the Neretva river. Rich in culture, the town is waiting to be discovered by larger productions. The documentary Mostar United was filmed here in 2008. (Photo, courtesy Rick Schuler, LMGI)

HERI ES SOUANI, MEKNES, MOROCCO

Heri es-Souani, the immense granaries and stables designed and built for sultan Moulay Ismail, whose mausoleum lies two kilometres away, feature tiny ceiling windows, massive walls and a system of underfloor water channels to keep temperature cool and air circulating. Incredibly the building provided stabling and food for 12,000 horses, and Moulay Ismail regarded it as one of his finest architectural projects. Now a museum, the location is vast and partly in ruins and is not a busy tourist destination, allowing the ministry of culture to close it if a production has the correct permit. The most famous movie shot here is the Michael Douglas film, The Jewel Of The Nile (1985). (Photo, courtesy Christian McWilliams, LMGI)

CHUNGHON TOWER, JUNGANG PARK, BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA

Pictured is the base of Chunghon Tower, a war memorial situated in the heart of Jungang Park. Set on the crest of Daecheong Mountain, Jungang Park is south facing, commanding impressive views of Nampodong, and across the harbour to the new bridge to Yeongdo. Many productions have filmed in the city including: The Con Artists (2014) and Black Panther (2018). (Photo, courtesy Dow Griffiths, LMGI)

GENERAL RODGERS SHIPWRECK, ST THOMAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

The General Rodgers, a 120-foot vessel, was sunk by the Coast Guard in 1972 to form an artificial reef. She lies in 65 ft of water, and is a 20-minute boat ride off the northeast (Atlantic) side of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The diverse locations make filming in the U.S. Virgin Islands unique. There is an abundance of beautiful beaches and the ability to double for many other parts of the world. While nothing has shot around the vessel yet, filming is allowed. The location is stunning and dramatic — you can swim through passageways, look out of portholes and find her colourful, encrusted propeller. Movies shot in the U.S. Virgin Islands include: The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button (2008) and Twilight: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 (2011). For TV, reality series Amazing Race (2001-) and The Bachelor (2002-) shot here as well as many commercials and travelogues. (Photo, courtesy Steve Simonsen Photography for Film U.S. Virgin Islands)

MONUMENT VALLEY, UTAH

Monument Valley is a region of the Colorado Plateau characterised by a cluster of vast sandstone buttes, the largest reaching 1,000 ft (300 metres) above the valley floor. A classic symbol of the American West, this area is situated in the Navajo Nation Tribal Park on the border between Arizona and Utah. This location has appeared in many television programmes, commercials and Hollywood movies, particularly Westerns. It is perhaps most famous for its use in many John Ford films, including Stagecoach (1939). It has also featured in the films Easy Rider (1969), Back To The Future Part III (1990), Forrest Gump (1994) and The Lone Ranger (2013). (Photo, courtesy John Hutchinson, LMGI)

FJALLSÁRLÓN GLACIER LAKE, VATNAJÖKULL GLACIER, ICELAND

The majestic Fjallsárlón is an iceberg lagoon at the south end of the Vatnajökull glacier. On the lagoon are floating icebergs that calve from the edge of the glacier and can be seen from Route 1 between Höfn and Skaftafell. A few of the movies that have filmed all over Iceland include: The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty (2013), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), The Fate Of The Furious (2017) and Justice League (2017). Game Of Thrones (2011-), Black Mirror (2011-) and Sense8 (2015-2018) have shot there for television. (Photo, courtesy Kei Rowan-Young, LMGI)

BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA

Bakersfield is the county seat of Kern County, California. It is situated near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley and the Central Valley region. The Kern River Oil Field covers an area of 10,750 acres (43.5 km2) in a rough oval extending over the low hills northeast of Bakersfield, hills which are now almost completely barren except for oil rigs and drilling pads. The area is a good example of small-town architecture and streets, desert and apocalyptic oil fields. Movies that have filmed in the area include The Grapes Of Wrath (1940), Psycho (1960), Any Which Way You Can (1980), Thelma & Louise (1991) and San Andreas (2015). (Photo, courtesy Mark Indig, LMGI)

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM, LONDON

A stunning 25-metre-long blue whale skeleton suspended from the ceiling takes centre stage in this spectacular space, giving visitors the opportunity to walk underneath the largest creature ever to have lived. The skeleton now on display in Hintze Hall is from a whale that became stranded in 1891 in Wexford Harbour, Ireland. The Natural History Museum’s Hintze Hall boasts a striking Romanesque entrance, a grand staircase, an intricate hand-painted ceiling and soaring arches. In contrast, the Museum’s Darwin Centre offers a cleaner more contemporary blank canvas for filming, its steel struts and reflective glass together with white limestone floor and curved concrete walls providing a modern set. Meanwhile its exterior amphitheatre provides parking for production vehicles. Recent projects filmed here include: Paddington (2014), Jupiter Ascending (2015) and The Mummy (2017). The Museum has been featured in a commercial for fashion brand Ted Baker and, most recently, in Charlie Brooker’s TV series Cunk On Britain (2018). (Picture, courtesy Film London)