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Narnia is Back

3.8.2007 - Ustecky Daily Page 24 Culture from the Metropolis

Author: Radek Strnad

NARNIA IS BACK WITH KLARA ISSOVA AS A WITCH: THE BATTLE OF GOOD VS. EVIL COMES TO A HEAD

American filmmakers are shooting the final epic battle and individual combat scenes for Walt Disney Studios’ “Prince Caspian” using Czech actors on a meadow not far from Neznaboh. The film is the second in the world-renowned children’s fantasy series set in the fairytale kingdom of Narnia.

USTI NAD LABEM Over the summer, “Prince Caspian”, the second in the successful “Chronicles of Narnia” film series, is being filmed close to Usti by New Zealand’s Andrew Adamson, who also directed the first two “Shrek” movies.

Thus far, there has been a strict embargo on photographs from this movie. The filmmakers working on location near Neznaboh didn’t let us photograph a single uniform, whether worn by the soldiers for Good or the ones fighting on the side of Evil. Even Ernie Malik, the international spokesperson for “Prince Caspian”, refused to don a helmet or take sword to hand for our camera.

This is however a return trip to the north for filmmakers working on the “Chronicles of Narnia” series, which is based on the books written by C. S. Lewis. The first film in the series – “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” also originated here, specifically in Tisa and by the Pravcicka Brana stone arch.

We didn’t have any luck taking pictures, but we did get an interview with Ernie Malik about the new film, which is being made by Walt Disney Studios in the Czech Republic with investments totaling 30 to 40 million dollars.

Mr. Malik, how important is this specific location for you, i.e., the meadows close to the village of Neznaboh?

This location is very important for our film. It is the site of the two most significant scenes at the very close of the film. These include the final battle between the armies of good and evil and the culminating sword dual between the two main figures – Prince Caspian and the Centaur. The scenes that decide how the film ends take place here.

How long will you remain in this area?

We were shooting here for three weeks at the end of May and the start of June. We’ll be continuing for another two weeks mid-summer.

Will you reveal how many actors and extras will take part in shooting “Prince Caspian” here in Usti?

There are already three hundred extras – the soldiers you see here. We have two camps here. One consists of the soldiers occupying Narnia and the other of the fairytale inhabitants from the Narnian kingdom.

Even before shooting started for “Prince Caspian”, I read somewhere on the Internet – possibly it was just a speculation – that three Narnia films will be shot at the same time, as the case was with “Lord of the Rings”. Is this true?

We’ll start with the third film in the “Chronicles of Narnia” series at the start of 2008. So far we don’t know where though. The search for locations is underway around the world.

Is it thus possible that you’ll be returning to the Czech Republic?

We don’t know. Right now we still truly don’t know.

Will Czech personalities and actors appear in “Prince Caspian”?

Yes. For example, Lejla Abassova plays the wife of the lead centaur and Jiri Krytinar is one of the inhabitants of the Narnian kingdom.

Who will Klara Issova portray?

She is playing the role of a witch. Actually, the character is half-witch and half-bird, so viewers won’t recognize her. She is wearing heavy make-up.

The costumes, including the special green one worn by Prince Caspian himself, originated here in the Czech Republic. How satisfied are you with the work of Czech craftspeople?

Not only are we satisfied with the work of Czech craftspeople – we are literally enchanted! We admire their skills and respect them. This doesn’t apply only to costumes though, but also the sets they are capable of constructing. For the second “Chronicles of Narnia” film they built an entire castle for us at Barrandov’s Prague studios – and an entire village to go with it. Isis Mussenden, the film’s lead designer, discovered a family of embroiderers in the Czech Republic who have been practicing their craft for generations.

That’s fantastic...

Yes. I think that this kind of continuity for a craft doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world. The tradesmen working on the sets and constructions are another reason why Hollywood opts to shoot films like this in the Czech Republic. It’s not because it is less expensive here than in places such as America. It’s because of the quality of the crafts and trades practiced.

Are the horses featured in “Prince Caspian” also of Czech origin?

Some are, yes. Others are from Spain. Our main horsemen are also Spanish, because they need to be specially trained to handle the horses. In addition, the entire occupying force of Narnia is “thrown” into Southern Europe – the horses travel “Spanish style”. Of course Czech horsemen are assisting them.