“Dark Shadow” over Yurts
“Dark Shadow” is a Tim Burton film starring Johnny Depp which is currently in production. It is a vampire thriller based on the American TV series of the same name. Yurts For Life were asked to provide green room tents for the cast and crew when they were waiting to be filmed. Our contact from Shadowdark Productions was Ali James. The challenge was to provide warm restful spaces a few metres from the cliff edge below which was the picturesque beach where the filming was to take place. The cliff was at Start Point in South Devon and was suitably exposed and dramatic.
I met Ali on the cliffs on a beautiful sunny morning and quickly decided that the only flat ground was on the coastal footpath. Ten yards inland was the fence of Start Point Farm and a reasonable spot was agreed just inside the farmer’s field.
A few days later, Ali confirmed that the yurt idea had been approved and a week after that we set out to install 14 foot and 18 foot yurts. These are the two structures in the middle and right hand of the picture above. Access was by 4X4 pickup and the yurts were soon in place in spite of a suspiciously stiff breeze. What followed was a week of wind and yet more wind with occasional gales. However the yurts never budged and fulfilled their function. One member of the crew told me, “whatever the conditions outside, the yurt seemed to be a haven of peace. I really liked spending time in there.” The experience was enhanced by a wood burning stove whose chimney can be seen in the picture to below..
It was interesting to see the logistics of filming a high budget film. An interlocking plastic roadway was laid through the fields (after we had set up unfortunately) and some resources arrived by sea. A local Marine establishment set up a wire to transport items to the beach below. A huge number of people are involved in ensuring everything needed and the facilities for cast and crew all arrive on time in the right place. We very much enjoyed being part of Ali’s team for a few days and can’t wait to see the film.
