Recognising locations

[heleninwales]

The thing about living in Wales is that it's a small country and as we've travelled around it a lot, if a TV drama is set in Wales, we're likely to recognise the location. Last night we watched another episode of "Death Valley". It's not quite a comedy, but we find it quite droll.

From Wikipedia:

Set in Mid Wales, the murder mystery series follows the unlikely crime-solving partnership between eccentric national treasure John Chapel, a retired actor and star of hit long-running detective television show Caesar, and socially obtuse Detective Sergeant Janie Mallowan.

The episode we watched yesterday involved a murder on the set where they were shooting a fantasy film which was supposed to be rather like Game of Thrones, but based on the Welsh myths of the Mabinogion. It didn't take us long to recognise Margam Castle near Port Talbot.

There are probably things that go right over the heads of English viewers, but which raise a smile to anyone who knows Wales. Janie is envious of the young actress playing Blodeuwedd and says she always wanted that part when she was at school, but was always cast as the owl. Also the references to Dan yr Ogof caves which are a popular location for a school trip or family outing.

But now I'm wondering...

We'd heard some time ago that they were filming a fantasy epic in Margam Park. It was said to be somewhat like Game of Thrones but based on Welsh myth. Is there really such a film, or was it actually the filming of that episode of Death Valley? I can't find any links now, though as our daughter-in-law works there, I know that there was publicity at the time.

Comments

[angelofthenorth]

There's been rumours of something based on the Mabinogion for some time, but I don't know if anything feature length has come of it.

[heleninwales]

There's supposed to be a film called Excalibur that will be/is being filmed in Wales, but that wasn't the one I was thinking of because filming happened last year. I'm going down to Port Talbot to see family next month and I'll try to remember to ask our daughter-in-law exactly what was going on. It's possible that people saw actors in fantasy style costumes and jumped to conclusions, but that might have been the film within the TV episode. I certainly can't find any reference to a film now.

[angelofthenorth]

There's been rumours of something based on the Mabinogion for some time, but I don't know if anything feature length has come of it.

[cmcmck]

We were impressed that one of the pubs in Barmouth, the Royal, has scenes from the Mabinogion painted on the ceiling.

[heleninwales]

Oh! I didn't know that. We're not pub goers so we have only been in one Barmouth pub to have a meal once.

[cmcmck]

For future reference the Royal does decent food!

[kaishin108]

That must be so fun to watch those shows or movies after having them filmed near you. There was a show in San Diego like that and it makes it a lot of fun when you notice all the little things.