The Wales-based location manager on the series, Gareth Skelding was in touch with the Wales Screen Commission back in October 2010, for images of sandy beaches at least a mile long. They also needed a house or cottage overlooking the beach, for some major stunt sequences involving John Barrowman, Eve Myles, Kai Owen and new cast member Mekhi Phifer.
Staff in the south west office left him spoilt for choice after sending images of Rhossili and Rhossili Down, Pendine, Freshwater West, Three Cliffs, RAF Pembrey Sands, Oxwich Burrows, Newgale, Llangennith, Port Eynon, and Cefn Sidan/Pembrey. They also pointed out possible restrictions with some of these locations because they are protected sites. Various images were also sent of The Old Rectory, the famous white cottage overlooking Rhossili Bay.
Gareth Skelding thought that Rhossili and the Old Rectory looked like the best option; and we put him in touch with the National Trust who own the cottage. The Old Rectory is one of the most popular holiday lets in Wales so they were lucky to gain access, even though the interiors were built on a set back at the Warner Bros. studio in Los Angeles.
Russell T Davies said of the location “one of the first scenes in the first episode is at the house in Rhossili… It was a joy to film there and it looks epic and huge.”
The crew descended on south Wales in January 2011, after filming for a couple of weeks in the studio in Los Angeles. Eve Myles told the Hollywood Reporter recently that the series pulled it off without getting a total American makeover: “Obviously there’s an American feel to it, because of the circumstances of the show… but if the question is more, have we tamed things down or heightened anything else to accommodate it being an American show, then no. It’s still feisty and cheeky and naughty, and dark and thrilling.”
Former ER star Mekhi Phifer plays Rex Matheson, a determined CIA agent who gets caught up in a global conspiracy, was excited to be filming in Wales, and at the time said: “We’re doing a lot of big stuff – helicopter chases, bazookas, car chases… It’s just different. I’ve never done sci-fi on this level, especially on television, so it’s definitely an interesting process.”
The production also used locations in Mount Stuart Square, West Bute Street (to the left) and Roald Dahl Plas in Cardiff Bay. After filming in Wales had wrapped Gareth Skelding said: “The American channel loved what we shot and are talking about coming back. Helicopters, crane, stunts, explosions. It was the biggest shoot I’ve ever done!”
Commission staff were invited along to the preview screening of the first episode that took place at the Branwyn Hall, Swansea in June and the event was attended by stars Eve Myles, Bill Pullman, Kai Owen and producers Russell T. Davies and Julie Gardner.
Russell T Davies, who was born in Swansea, told the Western Mail: “There is a fair bit of swagger in Miracle Day. We go to Dallas, Los Angeles, Washington as well as Wales. Of course, being in America meant more money, more production value, bigger explosions, but it was also very important to recognise Wales. If we had just shot it out there it would not have been believable… It is a Welsh show with Welsh characters, that is very important and is part of the reason why it works.”
The first episode of the ten-part series of Torchwood: Miracle Day goes out on the cable network Starz in the USA on Friday 8th July and is broadcast in the UK on Thursday 14th July.
Torchwood was awesome!!!!!!!!!! Watched it twice, I’m hooked! Only one thing, please don’t kill off anymore of the main characters, let Capt. Jack and Gwen remain for the duration!
It’s great isn’t it Debbi? I’m sure they won’t kill off Captain Jack or Gwen, they’re at the very heart of the show…
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