Written by Shona Smith on Jul 17, 2019. Posted in Production News

The Trip to Greece starring Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan wraps filming

The fourth part of the critically acclaimed TV series took its inspiration from Homer’s Odyssey epic, which follows Odysseus’ return to Ithaca after the fall of Troy.  The culinary and cultural road trip included many of Greece’s famed archaeological sites.   

Directed by Michael Winterbottom, the British film director has now made two productions in the country in the last twelve months, having wrapped his feature film Greed in autumn 2018.

THE TRIP TO GREECE_photo2_©HFC_SmallSteve Coogan, who stars in the program, explained that “we discussed where we would go after Spain and Italy and Greece came up because of the obvious very rich Greek mythology and philosophy. But, also because of modern politics there’s another dynamic now. Some people in the UK find something inspiring in this challenge in the status quo, challenging the way things have always been. Rob and I play with the idea of who we are. We will be talking about each other and self-indulgent stuff like who we fancy etc. It’s a vehicle for Rob and I to explore ourselves as middle-aged men in mid-life crisis and also the culture and mood of another country. And in Greece we want to look at Democracy, Greek mythology, Greek philosophy, the politics of modern Greece -which is interesting in regards to Europe -, and also Britain’s relationship to Europe. We ask big questions, but also the simple questions in life in relation to the big questions. And we eat real food in the restaurants, from very high-end menu to simple restaurants; it’s an exploration of the culinary side of Greece”.

The project includes a lot of shooting in archaeological sites such as the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, the Ancient Agora of Athens, the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, the unique island of Hydra, the Caves of Diros, Nestor’s Palace, Niokastro Fortress in Pylos, and Ancient Stagira, as well as a lot of shooting in restaurants and hotels in Athens, Hydra, Lesvos, Chalkidiki, Pelion, Kavala, and at the Peloponnese.

Location Manager Eleni Fanariotou of Fixer in Greece worked on the shoot, alongside five Greek crew members, and fifteen from the UK. The Hellenic Film Commission of the Greek Film Centre supported The Trip to Greece by providing guidance to the production company and by facilitating the filming permits for the archaeological sites requested for filming by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports.

“Venia and the whole team at the Hellenic Film Commission have worked tirelessly alongside our wonderful Location Manager Eleni Fanariotou of Fixer In Greece, and the Ministry of Culture and Sports and Ministry of Digital Policy, to help us secure all our permits for such incredible archaeological sites here in Greece - we are very grateful and thrilled to have had such wonderful support”, notes producer Melissa Parmenter.

16685430-low_res-the-little-drummer-girlMost recently, BBC and AMC miniseries The Little Drummer Girl spent twenty-four days shooting in Greece, and secured the first ever night shoots at the Acropolis.

Greece provide a 35% cash rebate to feature film, TV film, series and documentaries that shoot in the country spending over EUR100,000. The fund has an annual fund of EUR75 million.

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  • Litrov

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    Thank you for a great story from Greece. For those who as interested in this country as I am please check this page. This information could be useful http://confiduss.com/en/jurisdictions/greece/politics/ Thank you a lot :)

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