So far, the build up to the Christmas period has been dominated by one film in particular. However, if you are not a big fan of outer space conflicts or you would like to complement your lightsaber battles with a touch of nautical drama, there’s another movie on the horizon.
Boxing Day sees the maiden voyage of the eagerly anticipated epic In the Heart of the Sea, directed by Ron Howard. The film is a take on the iconic story of Moby Dick and features events that have been adapted from the real life tale of The Essex, a whaling ship that had a catastrophic encounter with a giant whale in 1820. Whilst many of the scenes were filmed in front of a green screen, some were also shot on location in La Gomera, showcasing the beautiful landscapes of this fantastic Canary Island. Not only that, but many of the cast and crew stayed at our very own Hotel Jardin Tecina during filming.
A star-studded line-up includes Chris Hemsworth of Thor fame; Ben Whishaw, known for being James Bond’s ‘Q’; and acclaimed Irish actor Brendon Gleeson. The cast and crew spent an extended period of time based in Playa Santiago, just along from the Hotel Jardin Tecina. The remote atmosphere, stunning coastline and calm waters made for the perfect setting for a variety of different shots. Not only did the area double for the coastline of 1820s Ecuador, it also served as the real life location for the deserted island onto which the survivors are washed-up. The neighbouring island of Tenerife was originally considered for filming, but Location Manager Christian McWilliams decided that La Gomera was better suited.
An artificial pool was also built on the beach so that filming could still take place when there were rough seas. This had a 180 degree view of the sea behind and came in very handy when the weather (unusually) took a turn for the worse, creating conditions that were slightly soggy but nothing like those experienced by the characters in the film.
If you would like to see these filming locations for yourself and enjoy the remote environment that was so perfect for In the Heart of the Sea, book your 2016 trip to La Gomera today. And who knows, you could even end up staying in one of the rooms used by the cast and crew at the peaceful Hotel Jardin Tecina.