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10:00 a.m.
A group of Menorcan extras (and a few American and British expats)
costumed in red uniforms crouch around the bottom of a ramp that leads
up to the main fortress of the majestic La Mola Fort. They are quietly
awaiting their cue, just out of sight of the main cameras at the top of
the ramp. The extras are not the only ones standing at the ready; the
cameramen, the sound crew, the grip, and the makeup artists also wait
patiently for this scene to begin. Suddenly, assistant director Robert
Fabbri booms, "Turn over to cameras!" A voice from behind the sound
equipment returns "Sound speed!" And director Andrew Grieve-sporting an
A&E T-shirt today, his head buried under a black cloth to keep the
bright morning sun from glaring onto the monitor he's peering at-yells
"Action!"
Heeding the call, the extras plow around the bend of their hiding spot,
charging up the ramp at full speed, lead by none other than our fearless
Hornblower-flanked by Kennedy and Bush, with Styles and Matthews not an
inch behind. They roar up to the top of the ramp until a loud "Cut!" is
heard. A moment's beat of silence muffles the set as everyone awaits the
director's approval. He gives it, and it's on to the next scene.
We're here on the set filming the next episodes of Horatio Hornblower,
co-produced by A&E Television Networks and United Broadcasting &
Entertainment (UNBE). The location is La Mola Fort, a sprawling fort
that sits on the eastern tip of the Balearic Island of Menorca. The
fort, built to protect the island's port of Mahon, is nestled on the tip
of the peninsula. All of the location scenes are being filmed here.
Today the set is abuzz with activity, but elsewhere
on this largely unblemished island the natural landscape and charming
villages mean unscathed serenity. Menorca has remained mostly
undeveloped, and this is a big part of its charm. In 1993, UNESCO
protected Menorca as a Biosphere Reserve, which recognizes the harmonic
balance between the inhabitants and nature on the island. The island,
which has been inhabited since ancient times, has more than 1,000
monuments, some as old as 4,000 years. The early history of Menorca was
peaceful, until the North African Vandals conquered the island in 424
A.D. Menorca was later ruled by the Arabs and then, beginning in the
early eighteenth century, by the British. In the following years,
control of Menorca was passed between the English, French, and Spanish,
until 1802 when it returned to the Spanish for good. In the nineteenth
century, Menorca's economy suffered when wheat trade was prohibited
between Spanish ports. Soon after, Menorca began to focus its economic
activity on tourism, and today the island remains devoted to
safeguarding not only its environment but also its historic art and
culture.
Back on location, extras who are not in the scene wait on the side of
the set, and the principal actors like Ioan Gruffudd (Hornblower), Jamie
Bamber (Kennedy), Paul McGann (Bush), Sean Gilder (Styles), Paul Copley
(Matthews), Terence Corrigan (Wellard), and Philip Glenister (Hobbs)
settle down in their folding chairs in the corner of the fortress for a
few brief moments of rest before their next scene. Director Andrew
Grieve has instructed Terrence Corrigan, whose character is supposed to
look sickly, to-under no circumstances-bear his skin to the sun, so he
finds the only spot of shade on the entire fort and settles into it.
1:40 p.m.
Grumblings can be heard about breaking for lunch, scheduled for 1 p.m.
The first assistant director finally announces just one more scene until
lunch, sending a wave of relief through the set. The relentless sun
beating down on the unshaded top of the La Mola Fort is nearly
unbearable, and the cast and crew wander the set clutching cool bottles
of water. They bear it well, particularly the actors, who somehow manage
under layers of authentic wool costumes. But when a short break can be
managed-just enough time to climb to the top of the fortress wall-the
view around the fort can be enough to soothe any heat-worn cast or crew
member (and the breeze that skims the fortress walls doesn't do any harm
either).
When lunch is called, the cast and crew troop down the ramp of the fort
toward the makeshift parking lot, just through the gates of the main
courtyard. Everyone piles into their pre-assigned vehicles for
transportation to the lunch quarters. At lunch, held in a large empty
building of the fort, the cast and crew patiently wait in line for their
turn at the buffet, prepared by the film's caterers. Today, like
everyday-and everywhere on this island-there is a choice of fish or
shellfish, among other edibles. People fill their plates and settle down
to refuel with food and drink before heading back into the hot sun.
After lunch, the day carries on with more scenes around the fortress.
The rehearsing, waiting, and filming continue until the sun begins to
finally lower itself in the sky, offering only minor relief to the
actors and crew on the set. When the crew calls it a day, everyone
leaves, knowing that another hard day's work is under their belts. Many
people hurry off to catch a quick evening dip in the Mediterranean to
cool off; then it's off to bed for a good night's rest before tomorrow
morning's early call at 8 a.m.
Continue to
Part 2 |
