In an event unlike anything I’ve ever heard of, spectators will be allowed to watch the filming of some scenes in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader when it films at Cleveland Point. They’ve even built a grandstand for the occasion. It’s unclear what viewers will be able to see, but rather than having people crowding around the fences during the filming, they’ve opted to make a safe place, as well as donate to charity with the event.
From the Bayside Bulletin:
FILMING will start on the next Narnia instalment, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, at Cleveland Point on Monday morning, August 31. Redlanders are invited to make a gold coin donation for a spot in the grandstand and watch Hollywood’s next fantasy blockbuster in the making.
Locations manager Gareth Price said the donations would be distributed among a range of Cleveland charities with the help of Redland City Council.
“We’re really appreciative and thankful for the generosity and patience of the Redlands residents who have given up a slice of their beautiful backyard to let us in,” Mr Price said.
“So we’re letting everyone in on the fun to watch the filming and we’ll have a PA system set up to let people know when we need quiet on set.
“At the end of filming, we’ll throw all the names of local charities into a hat and ask the mayor to pull out a few for us to pass on the donations to.”
Mr Price said filming would make the most of all daylight hours, with a 6am start and 7pm finish expected for most days.
Boats will also be asked to avoid the parts of the bay which form the backdrop for shots, with water police marking out zones for the next three weeks.
Because of the vital role the boat being built at Cleveland Point plays in the plot, all the cast at some point will be out in Cleveland, including Australia’s own Gary Sweet who will play Drinian, the captain of The Dawn Treader.
Fortunately for the cast and crew, tides won’t play much of a role in dictating timing, as the boat will not actually be in the water, but remain on a gimbal, which allows it to rock and shift as if on the high seas.