Casino Royale: Shooting at Strahov Monastery
Strahov Monastery
In an article about how "James Bond has become public enemy number one in
Prague",
Ananova reports some interesting tidbits on location shooting in the Czech
capital. It seems the Bond crew currently isn’t filming at Barrandov Studios, as
previously reported, but at Modrany Studios, which are located in a former
industrial site in the east of the city.
Residents living around the studio where Casino Royale is being filmed
complained their lives are being made a misery by the noise and traffic. They
claim that "high performance cars constantly speed down the roads, weaving
between stretch limos carrying the stars and huge lorries carrying stage props".
Less than a week after filming started, a petition was handed to officials at
the town hall by angry residents demanding they take action to stop the noise.
Officials at the local council also admitted that the phones have been ringing
non-stop from people complaining about the racket. Now, after sending some
experts to the studio, the council has backed the residents, and ordered
controls on the comings and goings around Modrany film studio. Production
company Stillking insists all noise and traffic levels are within the agreed
limits but has pledged to take more care in future to avoid upsetting locals.
Strahov Library
The article also states that "Filming at Modrany is due to continue for the
next 10 days. It will then be shot at Strahov monastery before the crews move to
the Bahamas." Strahov monastery is a locale that has never been mentioned
before, but it seems to be a very interesting place with a lot of history. "The
Royal Canonry of Premonstratensians at Strahov" is one of the oldest monasteries
of the Premonstratensian Order in the world. It has been a working monastery
ever since 1143.
The most valuable parts of monastery complex are a gigantic library (unique
library from 1143), reminding the visitor of the world famous library of Trinity
College in Dublin, the Basilica of Our Lady (Mozart improvised on the organ in
1787) and a picture gallery that contains one of the truly great private
collections in the Central Europe and which was established in 1836. Rumours are
that Strahov is going to double for a location in Montenegro.
After heading to the Bahamas for three weeks, cast and crew will return to
Prague in early March and work at the Barrandov film studio, the city’s main
studio.
Casino Royale is the 21st James Bond film produced
by franchise holders Eon Productions. The MGM/Columbia Pictures production
began shooting in January and is due for release worldwide on 17 November 2006.
Starring Daniel Craig as James Bond, it is currently being filmed in the Czech Republic,
the Bahamas, Italy and the UK.