Filming of Japanese miniseries «Magi» for Amazon Prime begins Monday
Salamanca will be transformed into Renaissance Italy for 9 days in this project, which will feature a dozen technicians from the city and a hundred extras.
Salamanca Film Commission has collaborated from the beginning in location scouting and logistical setup of the production.
Salamanca Film Commission has collaborated from the beginning in location scouting and logistical setup of the production.
This Monday, May 14, filming for Amazon Prime of the Japanese miniseries “Magi” begins in the Patio de Escuelas Menores. The work is produced by TBS Vision Inc/Cross Media and the Spanish b-mount Film.
Salamanca will be transformed into Renaissance Italy for 9 days. The story, directed by Japanese filmmaker Shunichi Nagasaki, narrates the 8-year journey through Europe made by the so-called Magi (magical) children, an event considered the beginning of diplomatic relations between Japan and Europe. The mission, which at the time was called the Tensho Embassy, was received by King Philip II and the supreme pontiff.
Location scouting, which began earlier this year, was carried out in collaboration with the Salamanca Film Commission, responsible for discovering possible locations and assisting with the logistical setup of the production.
“Magi” coincides with the 150th anniversary of the beginning of diplomatic relations between Japan and Spain and will premiere in 2018, aiming to reach some 200 countries, and it is not ruled out that it could be used as an anniversary event.
The miniseries represents one of the major audiovisual projects of the year, as it will film in the city's main heritage sites: the Historic University Building, the Patio de Escuelas Menores, the Cathedral, the Pontifical University, La Salina, Fonseca, the Convent of San Esteban, Compañía Street, Anaya Square, San Boal Square, Juan XXIII Square, the Roman Bridge, or the Faculty of Philology, which will be transformed into the Vatican, the headquarters of the Society of Jesus, or Concilio de Trento Square, into Florentine streets and squares such as “La Logia dei Priori” and numerous Medici palaces.
Due to the complexity of the filming, the City Council will collaborate with the work of the Local Police, cleaning services, lighting, civil engineering, maintenance, water, parks and gardens… in addition to ceding the Torre de los Anaya/Palacio de Abrantes as a logistical center for the filming, where makeup and wardrobe have already been set up. The Charrería parking lot will also be used as a base camp for heavy vehicles.
The filming will hardly disrupt the lives of Salamanca residents, as all exterior locations will be filmed together on May 17 and 19. An period carriage will be involved (on the 19th), and there will be temporary traffic disruptions for pedestrians and vehicles at various points in the city.
The project will feature a strong Salamanca presence; 10 technicians from the city are part of the series' work crew. Additionally, this week the production company held a casting call at Torre Anaya for the selection of 100 extras, which saw 576 applicants. Training will also be provided, as three students from the Faculties of Communication at USAL and the Pontifical University have been selected to complete their internships on the set.
The project has the support of various institutions such as the Embassy of Japan, the Salamanca City Council, through the Salamanca Film Commission, USAL, the Provincial Council, UPSA, the Cathedral, and the Convent of San Esteban — in short, a collective effort to allow the miniseries to be filmed in our city.
Salamanca will be transformed into Renaissance Italy for 9 days. The story, directed by Japanese filmmaker Shunichi Nagasaki, narrates the 8-year journey through Europe made by the so-called Magi (magical) children, an event considered the beginning of diplomatic relations between Japan and Europe. The mission, which at the time was called the Tensho Embassy, was received by King Philip II and the supreme pontiff.
Location scouting, which began earlier this year, was carried out in collaboration with the Salamanca Film Commission, responsible for discovering possible locations and assisting with the logistical setup of the production.
“Magi” coincides with the 150th anniversary of the beginning of diplomatic relations between Japan and Spain and will premiere in 2018, aiming to reach some 200 countries, and it is not ruled out that it could be used as an anniversary event.
The miniseries represents one of the major audiovisual projects of the year, as it will film in the city's main heritage sites: the Historic University Building, the Patio de Escuelas Menores, the Cathedral, the Pontifical University, La Salina, Fonseca, the Convent of San Esteban, Compañía Street, Anaya Square, San Boal Square, Juan XXIII Square, the Roman Bridge, or the Faculty of Philology, which will be transformed into the Vatican, the headquarters of the Society of Jesus, or Concilio de Trento Square, into Florentine streets and squares such as “La Logia dei Priori” and numerous Medici palaces.
Due to the complexity of the filming, the City Council will collaborate with the work of the Local Police, cleaning services, lighting, civil engineering, maintenance, water, parks and gardens… in addition to ceding the Torre de los Anaya/Palacio de Abrantes as a logistical center for the filming, where makeup and wardrobe have already been set up. The Charrería parking lot will also be used as a base camp for heavy vehicles.
The filming will hardly disrupt the lives of Salamanca residents, as all exterior locations will be filmed together on May 17 and 19. An period carriage will be involved (on the 19th), and there will be temporary traffic disruptions for pedestrians and vehicles at various points in the city.
The project will feature a strong Salamanca presence; 10 technicians from the city are part of the series' work crew. Additionally, this week the production company held a casting call at Torre Anaya for the selection of 100 extras, which saw 576 applicants. Training will also be provided, as three students from the Faculties of Communication at USAL and the Pontifical University have been selected to complete their internships on the set.
The project has the support of various institutions such as the Embassy of Japan, the Salamanca City Council, through the Salamanca Film Commission, USAL, the Provincial Council, UPSA, the Cathedral, and the Convent of San Esteban — in short, a collective effort to allow the miniseries to be filmed in our city.