As a film location manager, you are tasked with finding locations and securing them for the members of the film industry and the production crew. Many a number of times finding the right location often depends on aesthetic appeal and movie elements that can be complemented during the shoot. Learn about the 11 reasons why Scandinavia is the best choice for film location manager.
This is why Scandinavian countries can be a perfect place to set up your new film set as it offers an incredible amount of natural beauty and terrific locations to serve as backdrops.
Popular tourist destination
According to a recent study by Statistia.com, Denmark in 2019 had the highest share of 45% for overnight stays of foreign travelers in Nordic countries. Sweden had the second most visits amounting to 27%, followed by Norway (17%).
Scandinavian countries are considered quite friendly, and according to another report by Statistia.com, over 1.5 billion tourist visits were recorded for Norway alone in 2019. While Norway is overflowing with amazing landscapes, Sweden and Denmark have a lot of cultural and medieval attractions to offer.
In light of this information, let’s look at some of the reasons as to why you should choose Scandinavian countries for your next film’s location.
Abundance of National Parks
Parks can be a great setting for movies, and they can serve a variety of purposes during the day and night both to excite people, leave a pleasing impression, and even incite fear in the dark. Luckily Scandinavian countries are overflowing with national parks and natural settings. Here Norway and Sweden take the cake and offer you delightful locations to shoot and capture their beauty and glory.
Parks in Norway
Hardangervidda National Park – largest national park in Norway and Europe’s largest mountain plateau.
Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park – occupying over 654 square miles, known for its musk oxen and reindeers.
Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella National Park – one of the largest parks in the country with astonishing hiking trails and wild animals including wolverines, lynxes, and birdlife.
Parks in Sweden
Muddus National Park – belongs to the largely untouched UNESCO World Heritage classified Laponian area.
Färnebofjärden National Park – covering over 25,000 acres with complex hydrography and great biodiversity with numerous species of birds including woodpeckers and owls.
Kosterhavet National Park – first national marine park and home to the largest seal colony while offering surreal sunrises and sunsets
Continue reading 11 Reasons Why Scandinavia Is the Best Choice for Film Location Manager.
Breathtaking Mountains
Norway is famous for its fjords, and amongst its fjords, the Trollfjord or Trollfjorden takes the crown. Surrounded by mountains that over 3,500 ft. high, the mouth of the Trollfjord is only 100 meters wide, making for some truly exciting entries. Other than that, there are several notable mountains in Scandinavia, including:
Galdhøpiggen – tallest mountain in Norway at 2,469 meters above sea level.
Kebnekaise – highest mountain in Sweden with an elevation of 2,106 meters above sea level.
Stetind – also known as Stetinden or Stadda in the municipality of Narvik in Nordland County.
Pulpit Rock – also known as Preikestolen or Prekestonlen, a popular tourist destination in Rogaland County.
Kjerag/Kiragg – where you will find Kjeragbolten, a 5-cubic meter rock suspended above a 984-meter abyss and wedged in the mountain’s crevasse.
Expansive Road Network
Travelling to a new location can be tedious, and this is why you should consider locations that make touring easy. Scandinavian countries offer you an expansive road network that makes road travel convenient.
Sweden alone offers numerous motorways, national roads, and secondary or regional roads. The secondary and regional roads in Sweden measure at 157.2 thousand kilometers. Public transport in Scandinavia is also bliss where passengers can use the same ticket to travel by bus, light rail, rail, and urban ferries in some cities.
Additionally, you can journey throughout the region use a smartcard to pay for your travel.
Dreamy Buildings & Structures
Scandinavian countries include Denmark, Norway and Sweden. All three countries offer you the tremendous architecture of buildings with both modern and fairytale settings. There are, in fact, castles that you can use to serve as the backdrop for a fictional movie setting, while others feel futuristic and carry superb aesthetic appeal. Some prominent buildings in the region include:
Oslo Opera House – Norwegian National Opera and Ballet theatre in Norway that looks like a spaceship crashed on our planet.
The Copenhagen Opera House – massive and breathtaking national opera house of Denmark built at the cost of over $380 million.
Skyview, Stockholm – offers glass-enclosed gondola rides for families and tourists along the outside of the Ericsson Globe, the world’s largest spherical building.
Folklore & Norse Mythology
The Scandinavian folklore has prominent elements from Norse mythology as well as Christian conceptions of the world. It includes folklore from the Faroe Islands, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Furthermore, it also includes influences from English folklore, Germany, and Baltic countries.
Trolls in Scandinavian folklore are fairly common and are considered popular characters in many ballads, fairy tales, and legends. Pupils in higher education who seek a custom essay also spend time reading about these myths and folktales. Then several cultural events happen in the region which can be used to put a slice of life in your films, including:
Hans Christian Andersen Festival Odense, Denmark and Island of Light Smogen, Sweden.
Historical Landmarks
Some of the most prominent landmarks spread throughout the Nordic countries are enchanting and majestic to behold in their own right. Some popular ones include:
Drottningholm Palace – one of the private residences of the Swedish Royal Family built on the island Lovon.
Frederiksborg Castle – a palatial complex in Denmark that speaks of true magnificence and splendor that can make even Disney’s castle shy away.
Icehotel – located in Sweden, the world’s first and largest hotel built with ice and snow.
Lofoten Viking Museum – surrounded by the beautiful scenery of Bostad, Norway. It offers a reconstructed longhouse with a unique outlook.
Lakes Galore
If you plan to include a lot of waterfront shots or scenes near a lake, then look no further as Scandinavian countries are simply pouring with lakes. Some of the best ones include:
Lakes in Norway
Rossvatnet – a lake and reservoir in the municipalities of Hattfjelldal and Hemnes in Nordland County.
Mosvatnet – the third largest lake in the municipality of Stavanger in Rogaland County.
Lakes in Sweden
Lake Asnen – a large lake with roughly a size of 58 square miles in southern Smaland.
Lake Vattern – the second largest lake by surface area in Sweden with a surface area of 738 square miles.
Mesmerizing Scenic Beauty
The terrain and typography of the Nordic countries offer a wide range of diversity that will keep you guessing the best location to pick for your next film. Here are some outstanding venues that offer bedazzling scenic beauty.
Lofoten Islands (photo above) – this is where most people will experience a jaw-dropping reality and dramatic scenery.
Rabjerg Mile – a gigantic migrating dune in Denmark that creates scenic views that make you feel Sahara Dessert which is actually 3,880 kilometers away.
Trolltunga – picture the pride rock from Lion of King and now give it a gothic and troll-ish look with snowcapped mountain tops in the distance.
Geirangerfjord – another marvelous fjord, this time in Romsdal County, offering spectacular views and natural beauty.
Find out the best place to see the Northern Lights
Outstanding Weather
While winters can be tormenting and cold can be harsh to deal with, summer is the best time to visit the Nordic countries. Summer times in Scandinavia is during the months of July and August, offering you heavenly weather conditions that you would wish to last throughout the rest of your life.
The summer also inspires a lot of outdoor activities, gatherings, and family picnics. You are greeted by serene blue skies that fill your soul and make you at peace with yourself. Students would also apply for dissertation help UK to spend their free time out in the sun during the summer season.
Population Density
Denmark is the most densely populated region in Scandinavia with a population density of 133.9 people per square kilometer. This is compared nothing to New York City’s population density of 38,242 people per square kilometer.
In fact, the entire population of the Scandinavian countries is just 21 million people as of 2017, which is even more surprising as New Delhi, a city in India was reported to have over 21.75 million people back in 2011. As a film location manager, this means you would have to practice less crowd control maneuvers during shoots and takes, which makes your job pretty much easier.
Tall Buildings
This post might have ventured too much on the landscape and natural beauty aspect, which might have made you think that Scandinavia is full of wilderness. In fact, it’s the exact opposite
You will find a fair share of modernized architecture and high rise buildings in many urban dwellings that will make you feel as if you are living in the future. Hence there is something for everyone, and honestly, we have not even begun to scratch the surface when it comes to Nordic architecture and its diversity.
11 Reasons Why Scandinavia Is the Best Choice for Film Location Manager – Conclusion
The Nordic countries offer you a range of lakes, mountains, fjords, and national parks. Furthermore, the population density and friendly people would play into your favor to have the place booked and reserved with the help of officials.
The road networks, ease of transport, along with stupendous weather during the summer, will offer you the best time to shoot your film. Plus, you also have a variety of historical landmarks as well as modernized architecture that can serve as a great backdrop for your story setting.
11 Reasons Why Scandinavia Is the Best Choice for Film Location Manager is written exclusively for Daily Scandinavian by Claudia Jeffrey. Claudia currently works as a Sr. Research Analyst and Lifestyle Blogger at Dissertation Assistance. She finds herself extremely fascinated with Norse Mythology and romanticizes folklore. During her leisure time, she likes to travel to new exotic places with family and friends.
Feature image (on top): Tom Cruise at Pulpit Rock, Norway. Photo © Preikestolen 365
Good post. I’m going through a few of these issues as well..
Comments are closed.