NEWSMAKERS

For those that don't already know, I spent from April until July, 2008, filming the Russian remake of the Hong Kong action movie 'Breaking News' on location in Moscow (and Trollywood studios in Sweden). What an exhausting production it was. Long days and little time off, ambitious scenes, stunts and special effects. Our longest day was 22 hours, other days were rained off. We just managed it in the time afforded.

On this page, I will add news and footage as and when it becomes available. In the mean time, here are some images, crew pix and comments from the shooting of the movie.

A small explosion in downtown Moscow. We filmed this 'stunt' with six cameras, one of which was a high speed 'crash camera'. For some reason known only to the Russian technicians, this was set at 3 fps and not 75 or 150, or whatever it was we asked for in the heat of the moment. Enough to say, the explosion and subsequent diving stunt men lasts less than half a second.

Evgeny Tsiganov, a baddy more used to playing romantic good guys, points his little gun in the climax to the film.

A lighting test on our first day with General Sergei Petrovich Balderov (Yuri Shlykov) in his very nice office overlooking Moscow,

and another one for Katia (Maria (Masha) Mashkova) who was always thanking me for making her look beautiful. I have to say, it was difficult.

George teaches me the ancient art of Russian focus pulling...

...whilst Misha my gaffer shows his contempt for one of my lighting suggestions.

It's all too much for Julia, the 1st, however as she takes yet another nap in the dappled sunlight of a 10k.

Taras Kashinsky (stunts) makes good use of one of the lighting departments 8x8s in Chertanova....

Here we see the grip department having fun with some 220v overhead electricity wires and a Russian skateboard.

whilst the sound department, erm, hide in an egg....

It's a good job Russias crack commando units soldiers never look at their backs in a mirror, otherwise they might spot the huge joke being played on them...

And here we see the same wires being used to jump start a 1920's Convas camera.

Nikolai (Pasha) realises his gun actually contained live ammo, and yes, he had really shot the caterer between the eyes.

Here we see Asya, the 2nd AD, arriving for work in typical Russian 2nd AD attire. Just look at the shoes and you can see what a comfortable choice she has made.

Lunch time!

From the front; solicitors car, police guard, ambulance specialising in food poisoning, armoured chefs car and four catering trucks full of top quality showbiz nosh including fried fish and mash.

The shoot through the eyes of mad Vlad, our camera technician