Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 554 The Armed Treatment Provided by Iceland
When the view outside the window of the Gulfstream G650 private jet was no longer an endless sea of ​​clouds, but a desolate landscape torn apart by vast expanses of dark green tundra and deep black volcanic rock, everyone knew they had arrived in another world.

Keflavik International Airport, Iceland.

The June breeze carried a hint of chill, a stark contrast to the sweltering heat of Los Angeles.

The air was filled with a faint, distinctive sulfurous odor, a unique characteristic of Iceland's geothermal activity.

There was no welcoming ceremony, and no media frenzy.

The production team acted efficiently and discreetly.

Dozens of specially modified heavy-duty trucks and Ford F-Series pickups were already waiting outside the tarmac, forming a long steel dragon.

These vehicles were all equipped with snow chains on their tires.
"Director, officials from the Icelandic Film Commission are also on site to ensure the crew's logistical support is flawless." The staff member, having just disembarked, received the news and quickly approached Wu Chen, who had just stepped onto the gangway, to say this.

Wu Chen tugged at the collar of his flight jacket, raising an eyebrow slightly: "Oh? How do they plan to ensure that?"

The answer to this question came in just a moment.

"Buzz."

Two Super Puma helicopters painted with the Icelandic Coast Guard insignia flew directly over.

A powerful airflow whipped up dust from the ground.

Wu Chen looked at the two military-grade helicopters, then glanced at the middle-aged man walking briskly towards them with a big smile, and instantly understood.

"Director Wu Chen! Welcome to Iceland! I am Finn Johannesson from the Icelandic Film Committee!"

The official warmly extended both hands and shook Wu Chen's hands firmly.

"Your arrival is an honor for all of Iceland!"

Trust me, the magnificence of this land will absolutely not disappoint you. From the boundless ice cap of Vatnajökull Glacier to the black sand beaches of the south shore, and the grandeur of Godsfall, every place is a masterpiece of nature.

Johannesson's eloquent speech was less of a welcome and more of a passionate tourism presentation.

Wu Chen listened quietly, his smile perfectly timed, but he knew exactly what was going on in his mind.

Damn, are they trying to get Interstellar to make the most expensive tourism promotional video in Iceland's history?
No wonder.

This Nordic country, which was the first to "go bankrupt" during the 2008 financial crisis, desperately needs a shot in the arm.

Interstellar, a globally acclaimed production with a $2 million budget and a top-tier crew led by Wu Chen, known for his location shooting, was undoubtedly the perfect "savior" in their eyes.

The huge expenses incurred by the film crew during filming can directly inject vitality into the local economy;
Even more far-reaching is the global impact the film will have after its release.

Wu Chen's insistence on shooting on location means that the breathtaking alien landscapes in the film will all have traceable origins on Earth.

For movie fans and travel enthusiasts around the world, this is undoubtedly the most enticing call.

"So, Director Wu Chen, in order to support your artistic creation," Johannesson changed the subject, adopting an extremely humble attitude.

"The Icelandic government will provide all necessary assistance."

This includes, as you can see, military and Coast Guard air support when necessary, support from the National Rescue Team, priority access to all planned filming routes, unconditional access to relevant public facilities, and the maximum tax rebate policy.

The other party's sincerity was evident in that they offered almost everything they could.

Wu Chen responded to this "generous gift" with swift and decisive action.

“No problem!” His smile became much more genuine. “Finn, thank you very much for your strong support. We will certainly repay Iceland’s magnificent scenery with the most perfect shots.”

Before he finished speaking, he had already taken out his phone and, right in front of Johannesson, dialed David Lyndon's number.

“David, yes, just arrived in Iceland. I think we need to increase all the publicity about Interstellar being filmed in Iceland.”

Prepare several batches of high-quality press releases and materials, with the theme of 'Alien on Earth,' combining Iceland's geography and scenery with our film concept." David Lyndon understood Wu Chen well; this was clearly a stroke of good luck in Iceland. So what? He immediately agreed.

Seeing how "savvy" Wu Chen was, even taking the initiative to arrange publicity work before he could even speak, Johannesson's smile grew even brighter, and the approval in his eyes was almost overflowing.

However, no matter how good the attitude or how comprehensive the support, it cannot change the inherent hardships of filming in Iceland.

The support from the Icelandic government has primarily provided a "safety net."
The following day, on the edge of Vatnajökull National Park, a vast expanse of black volcanic sand dunes and a huge lagoon formed by glacial meltwater.

This is Miller's "Water Planet".

Matthew McConaughey and Liu Yifei, wearing bulky spacesuits weighing over 30 kilograms and designed for them, were wading through knee-deep, icy lake water.

Each step required immense physical exertion, and the biting cold seeped through the seams of the spacesuit.
Not far away, a huge spaceship model was half-submerged in water, with a massive glacier standing like a mountain range in the background. Under the gloomy sky, it presented a heart-palpitating sense of oppression.

"Attention all departments! A-plane, follow Matthew closely and capture his exhaustion as he wade through the water! B-plane, wide-angle, include the glaciers and spaceships in the background; I want that ultimate sense of solitude and vastness!"

Wu Chen's voice, calm and clear, was transmitted to every corner of the film set through the walkie-talkie.

Instead of sitting in the comfortable director's tent, he stood with the camera crew on the edge of the cold lake.

"Sissi, watch your breathing! Remember, you're consuming oxygen, so every movement should convey a sense of urgency."

While Wu Chen and others were filming, on the outskirts of the lagoon area;

At a safe distance specially granted by the Icelandic Film Commission, several journalists from Icelandic local media outlets, authorized by the film crew, were excitedly pressing the shutter button, carrying their "long lenses and short cannons".

the next day.

Iceland's largest-circulation daily newspaper, La Maison, published a visually striking photograph on its entire front page with astonishing boldness.

In the scene, the gray-black volcanic sands stretch to the horizon, with glaciers standing in the distance, and the film crew and their pickup trucks hidden in the lagoon.
However, what truly makes this photo stand out is the Super Puma helicopter circling above the glacier, painted with the Icelandic Coast Guard tricolor flag.

The title is concise and powerful: "A Shot from the Future: The Interstellar Crew Conquers an Icelandic Glacier."

The caption reads:

"Wu Chen, one of the world's most watched directors today, from China, has officially landed in Iceland with his team."

Vatnajökull Glacier and black sand beaches have been transformed into a 'gateway' to outer space.

The Icelandic government has deployed its coast guard and national rescue team to ensure the safety of the film crew, marking the largest and highest-level film and television collaboration in the country's history.

Once the newspaper was published, it was quickly reprinted by AFP and Reuters.

Soon after, scanned newspaper images appeared on major European film forums and blogs.

"This is the legendary 'realistic' director."

"Unbelievable, is that the real landscape of Iceland? It looks like an alien planet."

"This isn't a movie promotion, it's an armed patrol! The Coast Guard helicopters have been deployed. Just how much support has Wu Chen received in Iceland?"

Universal's PR department was quick to seize the opportunity, and their press releases specifically emphasized the filming location in Iceland.

However, the most lively activity was still on the domestic internet.

Major portal websites immediately reprinted the photos and content from the Icelandic Morning News, but netizens were more concerned about the "Super Puma" helicopter.

"Wow, that's awesome! When Director Wu was filming in Iceland, the Icelandic government sent planes to escort him!"

"Is this the highest level of treatment? The military is mobilized just to film a movie!"

"I give this operation full marks; the sense of security is off the charts, the treatment is amazing."

(End of this chapter)