Snow business in Bective as Hollywood arrives in truckloads
Bective is abuzz as final preparations for Monday’s shooting of scenes from the Ridley Scott movie, ‘The Last Duel’ get underway.
Bective Bridge was closed to through-traffic today – a single lane stop/go system had been in place all week – as truckloads of equipment arrived.
A unit base has been set up at Bective, while a large number of marquees have been set up at the GAA pitches at Dunganny, where extras will be kitted out in costume and make-up.
It has been reported that some 800 members of cast and crew are expected to descend - in a socially distanced manner – on Bective for Monday’s filming, which will start early morning. Lots of animals are also set to arrive for the village scenes.
Locals and onlookers alike have been visiting Bective to see the medieval village in recent days, and were surprised to see the riverbanks covered in snow since yesterday.
Today, the road closure meant that pedestrians were able to view the film set in more comfort, without the risk of getting run over on Bective Bridge, but there will be a complete shutdown on Monday as scenes are shot.
Some locals will be moving out of their homes to accommodate the movie makers, while even some local dogs will be going away for kennelling in case their barking interrupts shooting.
The Last Duel is a 14th century French historical drama-thriller film directed by Ridley Scott. Based on the book The Last Duel: A True Story of Trial by Combat in Medieval France by Eric Jager, the screenplay is written by Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Nicole Holofcener. Damon stars in the lead role opposite Adam Driver and Jodie Comer, with Affleck in a supporting role.
The actors have been on location in Cahir, Co Tipperary, this week, with the action moving to Bective this weekend.
Bective Bridge is understood to have been the main selling point for the movie makers, with its medieval appearance the ideal setting for the duel, while computer generated image will be later added to the adjoining abbey to give it the appearance of Notre Dame Cathedral under construction. The medieval village built on the side of the river represents a settlement on the road to Paris.
There will be just one day of shooting on Monday, and if tomorrow’s predicted wind and rain arrives, Hollywood will experience some true Irish weather on the banks of the Boyne - the newly arrived snow could soon be washed away.
Bective was previously the location for part of the filming of Mel Gibson's Braveheart, and in the 1950s, Captain Lightfoot, starring Rock Hudson and Barbara Rush.