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Suggestions for "cast away island"

Björn Benckert

Björn Benckert

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I need to shoot some back plates for a "Robinson Crusoe" / "Cast away" / "The Beach" kind of commercial. We shoot the rest of the film in studio this week but then I need to shoot back plates for it next week and I don't want to spend too much time flying and being on transit etc.

So would be very thank full for suggestion on such locations that is easy to reach from Europe.

Close to airport is good. so not the type of place that takes 15 hours to reach by boat or such, but yes if it looks just like such place but is just around the corner from a nice hotel than thats great.

Thailand and Bali comes to mind, I only been in Bankok before so I have no clue where to go there and preferably off course it would be nice to find something closer. We will shoot both towards the water and upp from the water and so on and whats wanted is not the perfect beach but still a tropical place. Like Fernando do Noroha or such, also that quite far from Stockholm and not too easy to go to. Still a good reference for what I think is wanted.

https://www.google.se/search?q=fern...89PPAhXMDiwKHdLKCq4Q_AUICCgB&biw=1763&bih=886
 
Apart from more exotic advice you might be getting, Zakynthos in Greece comes to mind. I think the weather might still be OK there if it's next week? But it's a famous beach so it might be too recognisable.

558325-1920x1200-shipwreck-beach-zakynthos-greece-wallpaper-1920x1200.jpg
 
Canary islands. from deserty Fuerteventura, to Los Lobos with lagoons, to more foresty bigger islands.
Im in fuerte right now shooting a short film and the rocks and desert volcanos are amazing backdrop. i have my red with me as well
 
Thanks guys,

Been on set here in Zurich for the last 3 days and we been filming in a 10x10 meter built up studio beach / bluescreen set and that had a lot of banana plants palm trees etc so I need to match with that.

When I was doing some quick composites this internet pic was the one favored by the agency and client when used as backplate. And it´s apparently is shot at Freedom beach in Phuket. Thailand.

So now i got some flight tickets to go there. But I'm a bit worried as it's in the middle of monsun season, we want clouds etc, not clear blue sky but not rain. So will see how that goes.

If you got knowledge of other beaches in Phuket that looks similar to this one, Deserted, thick vegetation and not too far between water and trees. Preferably with a cliff formation in atleast one end that blocks it off, that would be much appreciated.

I never been in Phuket so don't know the distances etc. I need sun to be in certain position for some of the shots, like low upper right corner shining in trough the palm trees when looking at the beach from the ocean and such. So I guess a beach that is facing west or east is preferred. Preferably find a place where the island is not too wide and have two locations to pick from on east and west cost with not to much distances in between to be able to utilize both sunset and sunrise if I get shit weather.
 

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Björn Benckert said:
If you got knowledge of other beaches in Phuket that looks similar to this one, Deserted, thick vegetation and not too far between water and trees. Preferably with a cliff formation in atleast one end that blocks it off, that would be much appreciated.
Click to expand...

I've been to Phuket (and Phi Phi + Krabi) a couple of times. It's generally good for what you're looking for: clear waters, white beaches, rock formations and the right vegetation.

You've already mentioned the weather. You're a bit early for Phuket prime time, but I think with a little patience you might be OK. It might rain often, but it also breaks up in between. And if you don't require clear blue skies then it should be OK I think.

You're probably going to find it difficult to find a beautiful AND deserted beach. It's what they live off of and the most spectacular beaches have tours coming in and out non stop. Maybe you can get local help closing part of a beach off? With this in mind it's probably good that it isn't peak season....

Then there's the state of sorrow in Thailand now due to the king who recently died. Apart from difficulties finding 'after work beer', I don't think that would impact you.
 
AndreeMarkefors said:
I've been to Phuket (and Phi Phi + Krabi) a couple of times. It's generally good for what you're looking for: clear waters, white beaches, rock formations and the right vegetation.

You've already mentioned the weather. You're a bit early for Phuket prime time, but I think with a little patience you might be OK. It might rain often, but it also breaks up in between. And if you don't require clear blue skies then it should be OK I think.

You're probably going to find it difficult to find a beautiful AND deserted beach. It's what they live off of and the most spectacular beaches have tours coming in and out non stop. Maybe you can get local help closing part of a beach off? With this in mind it's probably good that it isn't peak season....

Then there's the state of sorrow in Thailand now due to the king who recently died. Apart from difficulties finding 'after work beer', I don't think that would impact you.
Click to expand...

Im thinking if it´s too much then there is quite low cost helliflights, Get of the main island and ask the pilot where to go. I will shoot really early in the morning and I guessing I can then get around with out too much tourists, then retouch away the rest of the sun chairs and what not but the less building etc the better off course.

Did these for Target in the beginning of the year, then I shot plates in Cabo Mexico. Now it´s the same trick, different client but far more camera angles an positions etc. And also different aim to make it look more scrappy, cloudy and bad weather not as these, which is a bit overly retouched fashion film kind of beaches. And this time it´s the Cooke Ana´s so will have a bit more difficulty with the tracking etc.

https://vimeo.com/185040452

https://vimeo.com/185040524

https://vimeo.com/185045748

https://vimeo.com/185037905
 
AndreeMarkefors said:
Apart from more exotic advice you might be getting, Zakynthos in Greece comes to mind. I think the weather might still be OK there if it's next week? But it's a famous beach so it might be too recognisable.

558325-1920x1200-shipwreck-beach-zakynthos-greece-wallpaper-1920x1200.jpg
Click to expand...

Yeah, these sort of places near Greece I was going to suggest. But if you want something truely tropical then around South Asia/Pacific has some beautiful beaches. But XXXX beer commercials in Queensland Australia find some good spots. And some of those reality TV shows in the Pacific. Worth finding out where they go, without going off track. Just be aware of extensive real pirate areas, and areas anywhere within reach of muslim rebel separatists areas in Phillipines, otherwise it might turn out like the beach.
 
I forgot, the Daintree at Cape Tribulation about 100km north of me. When I was a kid that was pretty presitine, crystal clear water, Rainforest that came down to the beach, but sand that slowly sloped into the sea at a shallow depth for a long way. Problem is that a lot of nice places now have silty water in recent decades, which is why I didn't suggest anything around here, otherwise where they filmed the Thin Red line beaches would have been another. Look it up on Google Earth to see what it is like at the moment.
 
BRANDON JAMESON said:
Bjorn!

Try the Thai island Koh Phi Phi.

Best wishes!
Click to expand...

A bit overcrowded, should check if its high season or not or you'll be full of tourists in the shots!
 
Bjorn,

Just checked with a friend who just came back from Phuket and the weather's not too bad at the moment. Its not full on monsoon. You'll get some cloudy and overcast days with some rain thrown in. Phuket is a great base to go out by boat to different islands.
 
Check the latest satellite pictures too if a beach is near major rivers and creeks, as when significant rains fall the water can silt up.
 
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