Images

L1

As the athlete runs out of the town into the sea we needed a sudden end to the town. The last building needed topping up to make it look more 'built up'. This photo shows half way through our version two as the first one got blown away the night before due to the unexpected extreme wind. Notice now the safety ties from the top to keep it up.

L2

The director Camille, with our lead actress. Every interior was shot against a green screen to enable easy manipulation in post production with the exterior locations.

R1

This model was built in Athens, designed to be hit by a huge bolder, thrown from one of our gods. It was to be superimposed onto some of the mountaintops on the location to give the impression of 'lots of temples'. We rotated it (so the light came from different directions) and filmed it to match the location lighting. It was then scaled up or down accordingly.

R2

This temple model here has a pre made 'weak spot'. There was a taught cable rigged through and the stones were carefully repositioned so as to make the temple look solid. A special heavy bolder is rigged with the wire running through it and this is then thrown at the 'weak spot'. When the bolder is thrown, it runs down the cable and hits the desired point every time enabling many re takes. The beauty of this idea is that the camera can frame and focus on the known position of where the bolder hits rather than just estimating and it can be shot time and time again.

R3

This is my original design of Zeus's throne to be filmed on the island. It was only a small set but was pre fabbed in Athens prior to us getting to the island. We had no idea at that time where it was to be filmed but just had it transported to us hoping it would go together alright with only a small crew to assemble it.

R4

Some of these chess pieces came from existing packs that I flew over and others we had to have specially carved and moulded (the featured gods). Due to time restraints I contracted a local Greek sculptor to carve the specials and they followed us out to the island on the truck with the throne set from Athens.

R5

The final design for Hermes helmet. This was sculpted and cast in the UK with replacement wings glued on, three sets off. The schedule dictated that we were to film the athlete flying first, which meant he had to jump into the sea with it (something it wasn't designed for, the wings would have broken off). As we needed this helmet throughout the shoot I needed to make sure the wings weren't damaged so hastily fixed them on with fishing line instead of glue to give them some flexibility. Luckily we didn't loose any.

R6

Camille's original drawings on how Hermes, our athlete should look. From these I designed the helmet above. We also had wings made for the shoe's to match his drawing.

R7

The finished throne, designed in the UK, built in Athens and assembled in Kythera. It was a basic MDF substructure, clad in polystyrene and covered in a type of plaster finish prior to painting. This gave it the required texture, not old but also not new. It ended up quite heavy so we left it on the island as a souvenier.

R8

This was Camille's original animation plan for Hercules being built out of the rocks. It was filmed using and manipulating real rocks at the beach location.

R9

An existing town hall was eventually cleared for us to build the central throne area. It was also the only shade available over the whole shoot. Here we opened the supplied art dept toolkits sent from Athens. Three cordless screwdrivers came but only one flat battery between them. As a result everything was screwed by hand.

R10

Two of my local team, recruited in Athens, Christina and Niko. Christina spoke perfect English being half English, half Greek, so translation was rarely a problem. Niko spoke only Greek but was a real help on the practical side and would do just about anything asked of him.

M1

Kythera, one of the most beautiful locations I've worked in. Within this small island were all the locations for the 'Gods versus Athletes' battles. Next time I go though, I must make sure it's for a rest, rather than work.