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The Establishing Shot: Behind the scenes on Bond 23 Skyfall Vauxhall Bridge Set Visit Photos and video

Monday, February 13, 2012 Craig Grobler 1 Comments

SkyfallYesterday, Skyfall headed to Vauxhall Bridge to shoot its 166th shoot. The shoot on on Vauxhall bridge was considerably more exciting than my previous visit to a Skyfall set that consisted of an underground bunker converted to a spartan and functional office space for shoot: 6.


Sam Mendes and his team were filming M (Dame Judi Dench) Head of MI6 and her Chief of Staff and trusted aide Bill Tanner (Rory Kinnear) being speedily chauffeured across Vauxhall Bridge in their Jaguar XJ L in the direction of MI6 itself.


For the full set of photos head over to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/entropy1138/

As exciting as it is - I usually wouldn't have made the effort to pop along this far in production and potentially ruining any surprises that Sam Mendes' Skyfall may have in store for us this October. But Vauxhall Bridge is not only as close to modern Bond returning home as we have so far had - as the bridge is in the shadow of the real SIS or MI6 which is where Bond's fictional office is located. But Vauxhall Bridge holds a particularly personal space in my memories as my first London apartment was directly across the road from MI6, chosen because of its proximity to MI6 and its place in the Bond universe.



So it was kind of a big deal for me standing on the bridge watching James Bond history being made again on the bridge I crossed very often.




It would appear that the filming that took place on Millbank yesterday, will precede today’s scene. The shoot today showed a grim M sitting next to Bill Tanner on the backseat of a Jaguar XJ L. Tanner is moodily checking his phone and making/receiving a call whilst their Jaguar’s discrete blue lights warns other cars of their high speed as they weaved through traffic across the bridge.

23 Unlimited recreated a day on the bridge with traffic including a London 88 bus, sightseeing pedestrians and a single lone cyclist.

This is the first time Vauxhall Bridge has been closed for a film shoot and traffic was closed on both ends whilst the team filmed exterior shots of the Jaguar racing across the bridge with stand in actors. Renowned cameraman Pete Cavaciuti handled the Steadicam shots with Legendary Cinematographer Roger Deakins, sporting A Beautiful Mind crew cap overseeing this part of the shoot.


Then the Jaguar was placed on a trailer, Dame Judi Dench (M) and Rory Kinnear (Bill Tanner) took their places in the back seat of the Jag, a camera was added to Kinnear 's removed window and the same run was done again whilst this time the interior of the car was filmed. Both Sam Mendes was Roger Deakins were very hands-on setting up, checking and then shooting from the head of the trailer.




The Establishing Shot: Behind the scenes on Skyfall Bond 23 007 Vauxhall Bridge Shoot


There were a number of high security metropolitan police actors on the scene, but there was no indication as to what their role might be in Skyfall.


As for what might be causing the usually very cool as ice M to rush to MI6? Speculation on set was that Skyfall might well be a threat to London itself! Which ties in well with the use of so many UK and specifically London filming locations. Skyfall has been in prepping in Turkey and shooting will start over there soon.

Skyfall Vauxhall Bridge Location Shoot Slideshow


SKYFALL opens at cinemas across the UK on 26th October 2012


SKYFALL, from Albert R Broccoli’s EON Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and Sony Pictures Entertainment, is directed by Academy Award® winner Sam Mendes and stars Daniel Craig, who returns for his third film as Ian Fleming’s James Bond 007.

Joining Daniel Craig the cast includes Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Berenice Marlohe, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw with Albert Finney and Judi Dench as M. The screenplay is written by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and John Logan. SKYFALL will begin its worldwide roll-out later this year in the UK and Ireland on October 26th and in North America on November 9th.

skyfall
Skyfall
Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

Director: Sam Mendes
Writers: Ian Fleming, John Logan, Patrick Marber, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade
Stars: Daniel Craig, Helen McCrory and Javier Bardem


The Establishing Shot: Skyfall Vauxhall Bridge Set Visit Photos and video

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