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Further Details On Panama Shoot For 'Quantum of Solace'

Will be doubling as another country, plus details on a possible SPOILER sequence

'Quantum of Solace' Filming Commences In Panama

Launch dinner includes Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Gemma Arteron, Giancarlo Giannini, Judi Dench and Marc Forster

This news report as the production moves to Panama gives a lot of new information about locations to be used in the country for QUANTUM OF SOLACE. This is the translation that I came up with:

Panama will not be Panama in the new film featuring British spy James Bond, but a “South American” nation that the producers have not wanted to identify, according to a source involved in the secret project who spoke today to EFE.

The old port of the Panamanian capital and the historic village of Portobelo on the Atlantic coast will be featured in the twenty-second Bond movie, known as 'Quantum of Solace', and inspired by the stories of author Ian Fleming.

The executive assistant of the office of the Old Town, Pitu Jaén, which coordinates permits to film in that area of the city, indicated that having talked to with some of those involved in the production, the scenes in Panama will correspond to the plot that develops in a South American country.

"The idea is to give the impression of being an Andean country, I believe that Panama will be Bolivia... not Panama”, he said.

“The office”, he explained, “has leased parking lots adjacent to the National Theatre, because this is where some 1000 extras will be located to rest as they film in the ancient building of the National Institute of Culture, which is in the Old City.”

“We are providing the parking and the city of Panama, where it was placed before the public market, which will be used as a production centre,” said the source.

The National Institute of Culture building, completed in 1931 as part of the original construction of the bastion at Chiriqui, part of the walled area of the city, will be one of the hotels in the fabric, using the hall and staircases, all refurbished, in one of the main action scenes.

Employees of the National Institute of Culture have gained “overtime” payment to rid them from central filming on 11 February.

The British actor Daniel Craig stars for the second time as Bond, alongside Ukrainian model and actress Olga Kurylenko, the Mexican Joaquin Cosio and Spanish Fernando Guillen Guervo, among others.

The film, premiering in November, also will be shot in London, Italy and Australia (sic).

The local press published a note this Thursday specifying that on 14 and 15 February, “shooting will take place in the Patio Rochet” between 6pm and 6am.

The note was signed by one of the managers of the film, James Grant, who apologised in advance for the “degree of disturbance” that the shooting will cause.

Moreover, the district mayor of Portobelo, in the Atlantic province of Colon, Carlos Chavarria, explained to EFE that he already held a meeting with members of the film production, and filming on that coast will take place between 1-4 March.

“They are going to shoot in the town of La Guaira, on Isla de Cabra and in the Túnel del Amor (Tunnel of Love), a place where there is only mangroves and is located between the towns of Garrote and Cacique”, he said.

Chavarria, who noted that the film highlights the historic sites of Portobelo, revealed that hiring of some people for extra work is scheduled, “although most are being chosen in (the city of) Colon”.

Here's the translation from Babelfish:

Panama, 31 ene (EFE). - Panama will not be Panama in the new film that films of the capable British spy James Bond, but "a South American" country that their producers have not wanted to identify, according to today informed to Efe a source involved in the secret project. (Publicity) the old helmet of the Panamanian capital and the historical town of Portobelo, in the Atlantic coast, comprise of the scenes of the film number of Bond, denominated already "22 Quantum of Solace" and inspired by the stories of author Ian Fleming.

The executive assistant of the Office of the Old Helmet, Pitu Jaén, that coordinates the permissions to film in that zone of the city, indicated that according to the talked thing with some of the ones in charge of the production, the scenes in Panama will correspond to the plot that is developed in a South American country. "the idea is to give the impression that it is in an Andean country, I believe that Bolivia... Panama will not be Panama", said. The Office, explained, has rented the adjacent parking to the National Theater, because there the sites of rest of about 1,000 extras will be located, since it will be filmed in the very old building of the National Institute of Cultura (INAC), that is in the old zone of the capital city.

"We are facilitating them the parking and the Mayorship of Panama, the place where before the public market was located, that will be used like a production center", needed the source. The building of the INAC, concluded in 1931 on part of the original construction of the bastion of Chiriquí, leaves from the walled zone of the city, will be the one of the hotels of the plot, being used lobby and the stairs, everything reformed, in one of the main scenes of action. The employees of the INAC are accumulated in their days of work "extra hours" to be able to free next the 11 of February, central day of the shooting.

The British actor Daniel Craig carries out for the second time the saga of Bond, in that they will appear in addition the model and ucraniana actress Olga Kurilenko, the Mexican Joaquin Cosío and the Spanish Fernando Guillén Crow, among others. The film, to be released in next November, also will be filmed in London, Italy and Australia. The local press publishes east Thursday a note in which needs that days 14 and 15 of February, between the 18,00 hours and the 06,00 hours "runnings will be made in the Rochet patio". The note company/signature one of the managers of the film, James Grant, who beforehand requests excuses by the "degree of disturbance" that will cause the running. On the other hand, the mayor of the district of Portobelo, in the Atlantic province of Columbus, Carlos Chavarría, needed to Efe that already has held a meeting with members of the production of the film, that will be filmed in that coast between 1 and 4 of next March.

"They are going to film in the town of the Guaira, in the Island Goat and in the Tunnel of the Love, a place where single there is manglares and that is located between the populations of Stick and Cacique", indicated. Chavarría, who indicated that the film emphasizes the historical sites of Portobelo, revealed that it is predicted that they are contracted some settlers so that they work of extras, "although the majority is being chosen in (the city of) Columbus".

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Isthmus City, anyone?

Yes, I have the BabelFish translation thanks but it doesn't make a whole lot of sense, so I'm trying to sort that out now! I don't think Isthmus City, the article itself suggests Bolivia.

Well, we've known for some time that Panama wasn't going to be Panama in the film. This article is further confirmation of this. Filming is taking place in the historic quarter of the capital city, as well as in the historic Atlantic coastal town of Portobelo.

Pitu Jaén, a city official, says that the idea is to give the impression that Bond is an a South American Andean nation. "Bolivia, I think." Is what he says.

Starting on the 11th of February, and going on through 15 are major filming dates in the downtown historic quarter.

Filming in Portobello will be between March 1-4, so says the mayor of that town.

The rest of the article just talks about how many extras are involved, and how the city is renting spaces out to accomadate so many people.


There is also an error in the article that says filming is supposed to also take place in Australia. Obviously, it's Austria and not the land down under.

Hang on! The translated article mentions that "Fernando Guillén Crow" is among the cast. I think it's actully this fellow...

Fernando Guillén Cuervo
http://imdb.com/name/nm0347202/

Perhaps another henchmen role?

Edit:I see there's already a topic about this.

This post has been edited by Agent Spriggan Ominae: 31 January 2008 - 22:13

Updated first post with full translation.

Some decent photos of Isla de Cabra can be found here.

I figured since the start that Panama would be doubling for Bolivia.

My thoughts exactly. Everybody who saw Licence to Kill new it was obviously subbing for Panama under Noriega. Kinda like the "unidentified" Latin American nation in Octopussy's PTS which pretty much screamed "Cuba!!!!" in all but words.

I don't know if that's ever been announced, but Olga has mentioned that her character is from Bolivia so I've been assuming the same.

Also, I think Gemma mentioned that her character works in the British Consulate in Bolivia, so perhaps that counts as confirmation...

I think it may also be doubling for another country in addition to Bolivia, perhaps an anonymous one, otherwise it seems a huge proportion of the movie will be set in that one country (unusual for a Bond movie).

Also, the coastal areas of Colon cannot be doubling for Bolivia as it's a landlocked nation. In addition, somewhere also has to double for Haiti which has been revealed as a movie location.

Excellent point! Perhaps the coastal areas are doubling for Haiti?...

I just really hope we don't get another fictional country (one of my biggest pet peeves).

Just a bit more information from Entertainment Panama including a potential spoiler:

The shooting [at the National Institute of Culture] will last about a week [from 11 February] and will include other sites in the area such as a former colonial social club.

Local press claim that one of the scenes will include an assassination attempt on James Bond when he is in the hotel elevator.