Shooting 'Pirates' at Wallilabou
 

by Stephen Russell

Ho Ho Ho and a bottle of rum
Calling all cut-throats, villains and scum
We're putting together a terrible crew
To make our assault on Wallilabou!

Wanted: Toothless, one-eyed, peg-legged, carbuncled, jumbie-looking, rusty people. "Hey, wait a minute, didn't they used to be called cruisers?" Not this gallery of rogues. These are the extras needed as pirates for the filming of Disney's new movie "Pirate of the Caribbean", a swashbuckling blockbuster to be filmed this coming January at Wallilabou, St. Vincent, and due for release in theatres in the summer of 2003.

The movie, produced by Jerry Bruckenheimer of "Pearl Harbour" fame, and made by First Mate Productions, is the latest of the theme-park-and-movie giant's adaptations of some of its most popular rides into feature-length movies. The ride "Pirates of the Caribbean" has been Disney's flagship ride at Disney World since it opened in 1967.
Expectedly, Wallilabou Bay is abuzz with activity as the set, being built by local and foreign workers, is gradually transforming the Wallilabou of the present to the Port Royal, Jamaica, of the seventeenth century. After the British Admiral Penn and General Venables captured Port Royal from the Spanish in 1654, the town became the epicentre of the legendary activities of Caribbean pirates and privateers. After Sir Henry Morgan plundered Portobello, Panama in 1668, he returned to Port Royal, where, according to David Cordingly's Under the Black Flag, "the town was the scene of spectacular orgies of drinking, gambling, and womanizing as the buccaneers blew their money in the taverns and whorehouses." Port Royal was destroyed in a disastrous earthquake in 1692.

While Wallilabou Bay is the principal site in the shooting of this movie, other filming sites include Ottley Hall, Byahaut and the Tobago Cays, with some studio filming in Los Angeles.
The movie will star Johnny Depp ("Chocolate", "Sleepy Hollow" and "From Hell") who plays Jack Sparrow, a gentleman rogue of a pirate, who teams up with the governor's beautiful daughter to stop the evil plan of a ship of dangerous pirates, led by the dastardly Captain Blackheart, played by Geoffrey Rush ("Quills", "Mystery Men"). Also starring is Orlando Bloom ("The Lord of the Rings", "Black Hawk Down") who plays Will Turner, one of Jack Sparrow's allies. Keira Knightly ("Star Wars: The Phantom Menace") has been chosen to play the role of Elizabeth Swann, the daughter of the governor.

"Pirates of the Caribbean" is expected to bring some much-needed economic benefits to St. Vincent. Over 200 hotel rooms will be required, as will dozens of rental vehicles, hundreds of extras and everything from horses and carriages to old wooden sloops and rum barrels. Land has been leased to accommodate numerous 40-foot containers of cinematographic equipment and props. The location manager, Alex Gladstone, who has already achieved superstar status in the nearby villages mainly because of his sweet and generous disposition, has undertaken a number of projects such as the lighting and grassing of the local playing field and refurbishing of the community centre, which will have an impact on area residents for years to come.
We can look forward to the usual pirate scenes of cannon balls whistling overhead and swords flashing as fierce battles are waged and villages are overrun with sinister pirates, looting, ravaging, walking the plank and drinking lots of rum. Well, what do you expect from rascals and scoundrels, villains and knaves?

Editor's note: The anchorage and Customs office at Wallilabou Bay will be closed to yachts during actual filming of "Pirates of the Caribbean" scheduled for mid-January 2003. Alternative arrangements for yacht clearance in Barrouallie will be put in place, and the anchorage at Cumberland Bay will remain available. Call Wallilabou Anchorage on VHF 16 or 68 (tel. 784 458-7270) for more information.
 

Home Copyright© 2002 Compass Publishing