Films & Tourism

LiamMc

I'm sure most readers are aware of locations which have been used to shoot movies. Either small venues like a public house or entire towns. And as well I'm sure readers are aware of the potential of these places in attracting new visitors.

They can be generated slowly and against all odds, like tourists looking for locations of Ryan's Daughter in Dingle Co. Kerry. Or a Tourist Office could bend over backwards in handing out film references for their area.

Has any posters went out of their way on a trip to view some favoured location?

Or have you planned a trip based on a paticular film?

Some locations just keep getting shown, there's a famous castle in Morocco Ait Benahadou, near Ouarzazate. No matter what the century or the country the film is set in, it seems to appear. Ouarzarzate is the centre of the Morocco film industry.

But I was reminded of films commisioned by the local authorities to dirextly bring in visitors. Yunnan Province in China has commisioned 10 feature films recently to get their area noticed.

Yunnan New Film Project.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/yunnan/film_project.html

Each of the ten films should stand alone on it's merits. But how do readers feel about this, backing films based on location first.

Doctor Zaius

Trainspotting when Ewan McGregor is being chased and he runs down some steps, I was there there's a pub half way down called the Black Bull tavern. We only went there cos of the film. I've definitely gone to see more sights because I've seen them in films but I actually can't remember any in particular. probably places in London.

Going slightly off topic, i was always annoyed that the film Michael Collins never once mentioned Clonakilty cos I've always felt it would have been a nice little boost to tourism down here.

Backing films because of location first doesnt really bother me to be honest. It's a good method of getting the area noticed in fairness and factor in all the associated benefits that come with film production. Don't the Irish Film Board do this to an extent, in promoting films that project a certain image of Ireland to the world and aim to assist the Irish tourist industry.

Also, Film Offaly have a short film scheme in which the winning short film has to be made in the county and I don't really see anything wrong with that. Most stories aren't really that reliant on location.

krudler

A friend of mine visited the infamous steps at the back of the house from The Exorcist, he said there's a hugely creepy vibe about the place

krudler

krudler wrote: »

A friend of mine visited the infamous steps at the back of the house from The Exorcist, he said there's a hugely creepy vibe about the place

I know a number of people who actually watched the scene unfold. I think the University dorms look upon them and they charged people to come into their rooms and watch the scene being filmed.