Film London Focus On Waterloo In 'The Bourne Ultimatum'

London takes centre stage in new feature film 'The Bourne Ultimatum', directed by Paul Greengrass, which opens in cinemas on Friday 17 August.
Following acclaimed box-office smash titles 'The Bourne Identity' and 'The Bourne Supremacy', 'The Bourne Ultimatum' sees Matt Damon resuming his role as trained assassin Jason Bourne. He is still determined to learn who he is and who taught him to kill.
Following scenes in Moscow and Paris, the London action starts when British reporter Simon Ross (Paddy Considine) receives leaks from a CIA bureau chief. Once Bourne reads his name in a newspaper article, he attempts to reach Ross before operative Paz (Edgar Ramirez) takes him out.
The Waterloo shoot tops a range of action sequences filmed in busy public places. The sophisticated cat and mouse chase took place among real-life crowds and commuters as Bourne tries to direct panicked Ross to safety. Following months of careful planning the British Transport Police and a 20-strong film security force were on hand to assist the shoot as Bourne and Ross are pursued through the station and onto York Road by Paz, armed with a small assault rifle. Feeds from Waterloo' s security cameras were used to lend even more credibility to the scenes.
Tristan Appleby, co-ordinating the shoot for Network Rail, said: "We found a way to accommodate every scene that they requested - no matter how difficult it seemed at first. Filming in a busy station can present significant challenges, particularly with lengthy scenes involving some of Hollywood' s major players. From the production base in the station' s Reef Bar, each segment was so carefully planned that when the cameras started rolling, most of the station' s visitors were unaware of the action going on around them."
Film London co-ordinated a major pre-production planning meeting, for the sequence as Bourne leaves the station, involving the Metropolitan Film Service Police Unit, Transport for London, Lambeth Film Office and London Buses. Film London also attended recces and set visits to ensure the shoot went smoothly.
Filming took place at several other locations in and around London including the disused track and platform at Charing Cross underground station; The Renaissance Chancery Court Hotel; The Thistle Hotel, Barbican; Malmaison Hotel, Charter House Square; York Road; 1950s housing complex The Golden Lane Estate (City of London); office space the Johnson Building, Hatton Garden; and Heathrow Airport.
The interiors of locations in New York, Paris, Madrid, Tangier and Berlin - itself used to double for Moscow - were re-created at Pinewood Studios as well as the set of the CRI (Controlled Resources International) Headquarters. Visual effects for the film were carried out at London-based post-production house Double Negative.
Visit the official website for full information about the movie:
www.thebournultimatum.com
(DS/SP)