Jonathan Melville: Location, location, location

IN the last few years we’ve become used to seeing Edinburgh on the big screen.Now the city is about to wow even more audiences around the globe with her charms as the multi-million dollar epic, Cloud Atlas, arrives in cinemas tomorrow, starring Tom Hanks, Halle Berry and Hugh Grant.

The film takes viewers through different time periods and into the lives of various characters, connections and similarities becoming apparent as their lives interweave.

The Edinburgh of 1936 is depicted in the film as Ben Wishaw’s character, Robert Frobisher, attempts to compose a piece of music. Frobisher is seen atop the Scott Monument, which was shut for a day back in 2011 at the request of the film’s producers.

“The production team were keen to film in Edinburgh because they felt the historic aspects were suited to many of the film’s storylines,” says Cindy Thompson, supervising location manager for Cloud Atlas.

“They needed an iconic landmark tower for one of the scenes and the Scott Monument seemed to fit the workings of that scene.”

Arranging permission for such a shoot isn’t a quick process.

“You’re talking months,” adds Thompson. “I started working on it in March and it was filmed in July and August. Fortunately Edinburgh is a very film friendly city.

“It looks brilliant in the film.”

Also look out for the City Chambers and Victoria Street’s India Buildings in Cloud Atlas before heading to www.cinematicscotland.com/edinburgh to discover many more of Edinburgh’s film locations.

• @jon_melville.

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