It’s been more than 39 days since the shooting of the film Serenity started in the island and production is on time. On Tuesday, 8 August, the English, New Zealand and German-Mauritian producers invited the press to the main set of filming in the North. The least we can say is that they are “beyond happy”.
Lui and Guy Heeley say they are very pleasantly surprised by the “skilled people” they found in Mauritius and to whom it was not necessary to learn all the tricks of the profession of decorators. “We were astonished. They were tested by asking for precise glass panels that were thought to be untraceable on the island or hand-painted signs. They had everything and were able to do what we asked for. It was incredible, “repeated the New Zealand decorator.
Matthew McConaughey has returned from a flash tour to New York where he promoted his penultimate Black Tower movie he plays with English actor Idris Elba. A half-done move aboard a private jet to Dubai. If he had shown a certain excitement at his arrival on the island, after a week, the actor was relieved of the elements ensuring his safety when he realized that he was in a ” Friendly country “.
The film business is not always a pleasure, as the film crew and the casting are on foot 12 hours a day, five days a week. Why did you choose Maurice, who is not Door next to Great Britain or the United States? Guy Heeley responds. “We were looking for a tropical island paradise in the world. We have identified some of them, including Mauritius, but the exercise proved to be a challenge. We had to reject some because of a lack of creative, others because of the costs. For his part, Matthew McConaughey was free at one point only. Everything had to match. When we approached the BoI and realized that this body offered an excellent Film Rebate of up to 40% and that BoI responded quickly to our request, we were up and running. ”
The day of their arrival in the island for locations, it rains to pour. Andreas Habermeyer, who comes to look for them, makes them visit several sites. In his heart, the German producer believes that this rotten time will cause the project to collapse. Now, as soon as the three men tread the jetty in the north, the rain stops and the sun reappears.
Guy Heeley and Andrew McAlpine know they have found the perfect place. “Everything would make us produce the film here. Compared to the weather, your winter is no problem. Moreover, in 21 pages of the script, it rains. This mixed weather is great. Do not forget that I come from London and for me, this is an amazing weather. ”
Could the absence of a production studio prevent Maurice from taking off as a cinematographic destination? Guy Heeley does not believe it. “Mauritius has it all: a beautiful airport, beautiful roads, modern buildings, other heritage elders, an extraordinary Port Louis market, shopping malls that have nothing to envy to the developed countries. I do not see why a film that does not unfold on an island could not be shot here. The development of a studio, while Mauritius develops its film industry, could appear on its shopping list but it is not critical. “He cites the example of the film Captain America, supposedly taking place in the United States but entirely turned to London.
We hope all filmmakers come here and see how able Mauritius is and how robust and reliable are the locals. Film making is very complex and many things can go wrong. Mauritius, we found loving and qualified people. This makes Mauritius specific. We are beyond happy, “says Guy Heeley as Andrew McAlpine adds” extremely happy “. It is also the case of Andreas Habermeyer who, more balanced, estimates that it will take five years for Mauritius to develop its film industry. “It is by going slowly that we will surely go,” he said. The only shadow of this idyllic picture: the speed at which the buses of the Triolet Bus Service roll, “the most dangerous thing we see when we walk out and cross the road”. Notice to whom of right …