Another Narnia exclsuive for you hardcore fans

Since you all seemed to like my recent on-set exclusive from the set of the latest Chronicles of Narnia instalment, Voyage of the Dawn Treader, I thought I’d bring you another dose.
This time I managed to get better quality images as my camera-phone effort was an embarrassment to your enthusiasm. In securing these pictures I didn’t have to be sneaky like last time, just creative. In saying that, I did get sunburnt during this mission and politely asked to `back up' by the Water Police when I got too close to the set. And my muscles hurt.
Let me explain. . . . (Above) The first pic you see is me unloading me surf ski from my car. Why you ask? The Narnia set I was trying to get to is constructed on the wall of the Southport Seaway on the Gold Coast (in Queensland, Australia). They have blocked road access to the set so sticky beaks (like myself) can’t creep on and take photos. What they can’t block is the Seaway, which coincidentally offers the best view of the set. The only problem is the Seaway is full of sharks and is used by ships, large boats and cruisers to head offshore. It can also be a death-pool when the wind gets up and the swell is anything over 2ft. Hence, swimming was NOT an option.

(Above) My surf ski however, was perfect for this expedition as not only can I get super-close to the set and punch through the odd wave, I don’t get run over by any boats or eaten by Jaws. Well, the boat thing can still happen if I’m not paying attention . . .Anyway, I survived and bring you these pics courtesy of an underwater camera I borrowed and my own cunning.

I feel like I REALLY need to empathise the effort I went to to get these pics as I certainly didn't realise how hard it to was going to be when I started off. Let me just say, my muscles are killing me courtesy of an incoming tide and head wind. Argh.(Above) I took this while I was still paddling up to the set so you get an idea of its size. You can also see a few boats up ahead that are re-directing water traffic from getting too close.

(Above) As you can see, the huge wharf-like structure dominates the landscape. I thought I'd just be getting shots of them finishing construction on the set but I got lucky and they were actually filming while I was there. Wooo! Weather permitting, they will be filming here for four days.

(Above) Before I got too close to the set, the friendly Water Policemen and I were having a chat about what they had to do. The two of them, one on a boat and one on a jet ski, start at 5am in the morning and patrol the set through to 5pm at night when filming wraps up. Their main task is to stop people from getting too close to the set and in the way of the film boats.
(Above) Here's one of the friendly policemen in the foreground. In the background you can get a good look at the set and what's happening.

(Above) There were a few dozen men dressed in matching uniforms in the scene and they had to run up and down the set. It looked like a medieval military uniform of some sort and consisted of brown pants, a white shirt and a maroon vest thingy with the emblem of what looked like a yellow lion on it.
(Above) The quayside-looking structure is mainly built from scaffolding and plaster, as well as other materials. It has taken five weeks for construction crews to build.(Above) I’ve never read the books so I can’t even begin to speculate what scene this particular set might be used for. Perhaps fans of the series will be able to pick it but the PR team are being very secretive about the details. Beside the stuff I physically witnessed, the most information I was able to get was from Narnia’s location manager, a bloke named Gareth Price, who said boats would be pulling up alongside the wharf. Well, DAH!

(Above) You can see these boats in the pictures with little flags on them and they're identical to the intricately decorated canoe’s I saw on Friday.

Either way, I hope the set-designers are well aware of the complications involved for actors trying to get in and off boats here, especially if they’re small. The main hazard will be keeping the craft steady as there tends to be a lot of backwash off the rock wall.

(Above) Luckily for them (and me) conditions were crystal clear and relatively calm. Perfect for shooting and perfect for snooping. (Above) This is a creepy ghost ship I spotted on the paddle back. It has nothing to do with the Narnia filming but regardless, it's still a creepy ghost ship.

I hope this has satisfied any other Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader cravings you might have and I’ll bring you more news/pics when they come to light. Also, don't let my few whinges here put you off - the paddle was great exercise and it was a beautiful day for getting wet. Although, I do hope the next Narnia set I see is on land. Please be on land and relatively easy to get to.