Ridley Scott's Robin Hood - Movie Set!

[Supersaurus]

I don't know if anyone's interested, but my cycle journey to work every day takes me past the set for the new Robin Hood movie directed by Ridley Scott. I haven't seen Russell Crowe yet, just a lot of horses, carts and men dressed in long brown coats/gowns. I understand it's the same wood used for parts of Gladiator!

It's been there a couple of weeks now. I remember when the main tent and temporary stables were being set up in a nearby field that I cycle by. I wondered what it was all for...now I know! ;D

I'll have to ask the security guards next time I go by if I can go in and look around. I'd like to take in/smuggle my video camera and get as much as I can. I'm not sure if it's this wood, or the one a few miles up the road, but there's also a castle set and small village. The castle seems like it was constructed from foam and wood.

Update!

Ok, I actually got onto the set of Robin Hood today, seems like it's going to be there for another month according to set security. I was held up on my cycle this morning at the wood main entrance on the way to work by a lorry carrying horse wagons and carts. That was really neat to see!

The castle and village set is actually in this same wood. The entrance takes me up a very steep winding road between two banks of trees (something like out of Gladiator) to the top where the 'fake' castle comes into view.

A dirt track branches in several directions from there. The one to the left of the castle winds around the side of a massive clearing at the foot of the castle which, to me looks exactly like the scene in the Gladiator movie (remember the main battle in the woods?). I'm going to confirm this with members of the crew.

The other routes go to the village set and equipment and prop areas. I'm going back tomorrow morning on my trusty bike to try to get pictures with my video camera. I'll try and do a Youtube clip of it all and post it here.

Movie still

[giu3232]

Great, I met personnaly Ridley Scott when he came for an interview where I work. He was with leonardo di Caprio. That's a great guy!

[Supersaurus]

Really?!! That's really neat.

After talking with set security, I can confirm now that the clearing was used in the Gladiator movie. ;D

I have some video footage of the set now! I can actually take stills from the video footage using my software and post them here. The crew will be there for another 4 weeks yet and have a seige on the castle to film. The burnt out village is still in place (in the clearing) and on the other side of the gully that runs through the center of the clearing is a camp of some sort.

There're a lot of primitive looking tents everywhere. This is still under construction and I believe the cast will be back soon (not sure when exactly, but I'll keep pestering security for details) to film that sequence! I was told that the platform at the top of the castle tower is being reinforced to allow people/actors to walk on.

On my way to work this morning, I took another peek into the field by the side of the road to see if anything was going on. This is the field where the costume tent and stables had been set up 3 weeks ago for the actors and crew. It seems deserted still, except for the security sitting by the gate smoking cigs.

I did notice a clothes rake through the tent opening holding what looked like brown/beige suits and costumes. That was kinda cool to see, even from the road. I guess the clue that filming has started again will be when the field is busy and full of people (as it was before when the first sequences were filmed a week ago). I'll just have to look out for the private coaches turning up again, and check the small field on the opposite site of Bourne wood to see when it starts filling up with the crews cars. That field is usually empty, but has been like a car park the last few weeks.

Here are some pics I took of the set in Bourne Wood:



This is near the entrance to the wood.



Approaching the next prop on my bike.





Bit blurred, I was racing by on my bike. ;D







The above two pics are at the foot of the clearing.



Center of clearing with burnt out village in background. This was shot a couple of weeks back. Lots of burnt wood everywhere being thrown into skips.



New camp being set up for next shoot (seige on castle).





Close up of burnt village. Bit blurry, but I have better pics somewhere.









Castle at top of clearing. This is from the front looking over the clearing and camps. I have much better pics of this to post yet!



Battering ram with plastic log in center.

More to come! ;D