By Paul Whitelock
Netflix shoots “Seven Dials” in Ronda, a mystery series based on an Agatha Christie novel, in various locations around the stunning Málaga province mountain town.
The series is based on Christie's novel “The Seven Dials Mystery” and stars “Game of Thrones” actor Iain Glen, Oscar-winner Helena Bonham-Carter, up-and-coming star Mia McKenna-Bruce and Martin Freeman of the films “Love Actually” and “The Hobbit”, as well as television series “Fargo”.
Filming in Ronda
Helena Bonham-Carter, Martin Freeman and Iain Glen Mia McKenna-Bruce
[Photo: Cordon Press] [Photo: Wikipedia]
Filming by the production company 72 Films took place this week from Monday 16 September to Wednesday 18 September in iconic locations in Ronda such as the Puente Nuevo (new bridge) over the gorge, the area around the Fuente de los Ocho Caños drinking fountain, the Duquesa de Parcent square, the Arab Baths, the Alameda del Tajo park, the Ermita and the Plaza de Toros.
Ronda town councillor Jorge Fernández said: “There will be some minor short-term traffic interruptions for the filming. We aim to reduce the possible inconvenience that may be caused to local people".
Ronda mayor María de la Paz Fernández stated: "This international filming by a company that has created products such as the latest 007 film brings a team of around 120 people to Ronda for the shooting, which gives an idea of the magnitude of this production."
The Local Police have contemplated various traffic cuts with the intention of alternating the passage of pedestrians and vehicles, so long as the filming allows it.
Mari-Paz Fernández [Photo courtesy Diario Ronda]
Mayor Fernández added: “Ronda has here a new platform for international promotion at no cost, since the filming of an international series in English of this calibre means that millions of people from all over the world can contemplate the many charms that our city offers."
“The city has already been the scene of other international creations such as 'The Warrior Nun', and 'Feria'.
Other celebrity visitors
And, in recent years, a number of music videos by, for example Madonna and Daniel Bedingfield, as well as TV documentaries by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, and Michael Portillo for his series Great Railway Journeys.
Madonna at bullfight in Ronda [La Razon] Michael Portillo at the Puente Nuevo [CharryTV]
Jamie Oliver making a giant paella in Benaojan [Paul Whitelock]
In the more distant past celebrities such as the Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke, the American writer Ernest Hemingway and the American actor and film director Orson Welles fell in love with Ronda’s charms.
In fact, Welles is buried here and all three have streets named after them. Rilke also a car park and a driving school
Ernest Hemingway [Acento] Orson Welles [IMDb] Rainer Maria Rilke [El Mundo]
Access denied
Despite having my Press pass, I was denied access to the filming and to the actors. Head of production Guillermo explained that the production company wanted to keep tight control of the rights and the publicity for the series.
Head of security Miguel forbade me from taking photos of the actors when they emerged from the filming, despite being on the public highway.
Then I had an idea: I went to the terrace cafe on the fourth floor of the Hotel Catalonia which is opposite the bullring. This is a great vantage point for looking down on proceedings in the arena. There was nobody there apart from a couple of British hotel guests. I managed to take a few shots of scenes involving Martin Freeman.
[Photos to follow]
I had learned that the production company would be filming in the bullring all day, so in the early evening I returned to the Hotel Catalonia roof terrace. The cafe was heaving with guests now. But, you won't believe this, Miguel, the aforementioned security man, was patrolling up and down the terrace STOPPING PEOPLE FROM TAKING PHOTOS!
What? This was outrageous! This was a hotel terrace - nothing to do with the filming!
I recall similar over-the-top secrecy surrounding the filming of chef Jamie Oliver back in 2009.
Wednesday - same story of secrecy
They started filming at the Puente Nuevo before the sun was fully up, but there were no actors present. Despite the heavy security I managed to get a couple of shots.
[Photo to follow]
Later they blocked access roads for traffic to the Ocho Caños and the Baños Arabes. By the time I parked and walked down, they'd been and gone.
On a hunch I drove to the Ermita Virgen de la Cabeza. One crew member, Pedro from Sevilla, was blocking the road to the Hermitage.
"They've all gone off for lunch", he told me.
I set off to try to find where they were dining, but drew a blank.
***
I returned to the Ermita in the evening. Seguridad prevented me from approaching the film set (surprise, surprise!) but I met a couple of special effects people (artists) who were preparing props for later filming. I chatted to Isi from La Mancha, Antonio from Almagro (Ciudad Real) and security guard Miguel from Málaga for ages and found out a lot. They didn't appear to be bound by any secrecy clause.
I learned where some of the 120 cast and crew were staying, and that filming had been extended by a few days. They were happy for me to take a photograph of them.
[Photo to follow]
Conclusion
I hope the series is a success. The writer - Agatha Christie - and the actors - Iain Glen, Helena Bonham-Carter, Mia McKenna-Bruce and Martin Freeman - are great actors and the director, Chris Sweeney, also has pedigree. I just feel the secrecy was totally unnecessary.
I look forward to watching it later in the year.
Notes:
72 Films is an independent production company founded by David Glover and Mark Raphael.
Their aim is to make programmes that inspire, entertain, and make a positive contribution to the cultural landscape.
72 Films have won major commissions with the BBC, National Geographic, Channel 4, Sky, Paramount, Netflix, Apple and Amazon.
© Paul Whitelock
Links:
El día que prohibieron a Madonna torear en Ronda (larazon.es)
In Ronda a street bears his name and there is a statue in his honour in the grounds of a hotel - but who was Rilke? (secretserrania.com)
Michael Portillo and Andalucía - Help me, Ronda (help-me-ronda.com)
VIDEO: Three Jamies - including celebrity TV chef Jamie Oliver - in one day! (secretserrania.com)
Acknowledgements:
Diario Sur
Francisco Griñán
Javier Amellones
Ronda Semanal
SUR in English
Vanessa Melgar
Photos:
Acento
CharryTV.com
Cordon Press
Diario Ronda
El Mundo
Fuente de los Ocho Caños
IMDb
La Razon
Malaga Hoy
Paul Whitelock
SUR in English
The Olive Press
Tags:
72 Films, Agatha Christie, Alameda del Tajo, Amazon, Apple, Arab Baths, Baños árabes, BBC, Channel 4, Chris Sweeney, Daniel Bedingfield, Diario Sur, Duquesa de Parcent, Ermita Virgen de la Cabeza, Ernest Hemingway, “Fargo”, Francisco Griñán, Fuente de los Ocho Caños, “Game of Thrones”, Helena Bonham-Carter, Hotel Catalonia, Iain Glen, Jamie Oliver, Javier Amellones, Jorge Fernández, “Love Actually”, Madonna, Málaga, María de la Paz Fernández, Martin Freeman, Michael Portillo, National Geographic, Netflix, Orson Welles, Paramount, Paul Whitelock, Plaza de Toros, Puente Nuevo, Rainer Maria Rilke, Ronda, Ronda mayor, Ronda Semanal, “Seven Dials”, Sky, SUR in English, “The Hobbit”, “The Seven Dials Mystery”, Vanessa Melgar