How the island doubles for Nepal

‘It’s amazing how the atmosphere changes suddenly when you step into the forest,’ said film boss Stephen Christian, as we leave the comfort of a heated marquee and enter the dense spruce woodland of Axnfell Plantation.

We are approaching the authentically lo-fi set of Camera Trap, a film thriller in its final stages of shooting in the island’s great outdoors.

Described by producers as ‘atmospheric and terrifyingly real’, Camera Trap immediately follows the filming of movies Don Hemingway and Belle late last year as the apparent fruits of the government’s recent partnership with Pinewood Studios, and marks the 101st production to use the island since the film industry’s inception in 1995.

Camera Trap is set in Nepal, where the crew will head next, but Mr Christian said the Isle of Man had leant itself well as a double for the mountainous nation.

‘We filmed in Tholt-y-Will for the vistas, looking across the top of the forest,’ said Stephen, who used to run the government’s CinemaNX and is now a company director of Pinewood Shepperton after the Manx government paid ￡12m for a share in the enterprise.

‘Here in Axnfell it’s camp life. Down the Barony, by the river, gave us the other scenes. It looked like the real deal,Ein innovativer und moderner Werkzeugbau Formenbau. a big Asian river flowing.’

The story follows a team of British natural history documentary makers, who arrive in Nepal to track down a predator which is causing havoc with local livestock.You must not use the laser cutter without being trained.

With modern tracking and filming equipment, the evidence suggests the team may be on the trail of new species, but not all is as it seems.

‘It is a “beautiful thriller”, with some of the great cameras and weather we’ve had,’ said Stephen. ‘It’s like Frozen Planet meets The Blair Witch Project.’

Having started filming in early January,We've had a lot of people asking where we had our make your own bobblehead made. the weather Mr Christian referred to included last month’s heavy snow and flooding, which came as both a blessing and a curse for the 40-strong crew,Application can be conducted with the local designated IC card producers. including more than 20 from the island.

‘It has been the most brutal out of 101 films. We’ve been flooded out, snowed out, and even snowed in!’ he said.

‘We prayed for snow, but we got more than we needed. The technical trucks were stuck at Tholt-y-Will for two weeks, so we had to unload them all and get them carried out by hand.’

Camera Trap is the brainchild of director Alex Verner, who after working on TT3D, pitched his vision to the board.

Mr Christian said: ‘The reaction has been quite sensational, he has come up with a script that is so different. It’s a different take on “found footage”, and the documentary film idea is in vogue at the moment. Everyone agreed it was a natural fit for the Isle of Man.’

A Manx location manager was hired to research areas of Nepal that would match the island, and though a trip to Asia is unavoidable for capturing things like the look of the local people, Stephen believes the two countries will be indistinguishable in the final edit.

The Axnfell scenes showed a tense project leader, played by actor Paul Thornley, dealing with a power cut in the hill-side camp.

The cast also includes Mark Bonner, Ross Marquand and Romanian actress Ana Ularu, who reportedly marvelled at the ‘wonderland’ of a snowy Tholt-y-Will.

Aside from the appeal of the script, gathering a cast and crew for the project was made easier by the fact that the film offered rare January work, said Mr Christian.

‘We have kept momentum going that the island’s film industry hasn’t had for a while, filming from September right through the winter. It’s looking busy.’

He added: ‘It’s certainly one of the lower budget films we’ve made, but it’s important to show that Pinewood can be involved in lower budget films too.

‘This film is going to be enhanced by the Pinewood sound design team, their expertise could bring a lot to a project like this; suspense from the sound of the rain on tents and wind in the trees.’

The crew is hoping to have wrapped up post-production in time for the summer festival season, ahead of a cinema release by the end of the year.

It will be a fond farewell to the Isle of Man though, despite the testing conditions.

‘We took over the new hotel in Ramsey. They’ve been very patient and tolerant, while we’ve been getting back at four in the morning,’ said Stephen.

‘The local spend is so valuable for this time of year. The Forestry Board have been terrific too which is typical of the island. Film makers aren’t used to that level of co-operation!’

Attendees at the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival Ski Night 2 on Saturday will be treated to the Teton Gravity Research feature The Dream Factory, filmed on location in Alaska over the past two decades since the Jackson Hole-based company first started working there.

Now, there's an opportunity for you (well, most likely your son or daughter, if they're 17 years of age or under) to appear in next year's TGR film.Did you know that custom keychain chains can be used for more than just business. The 2013 Teton Gravity Research Grom Contest invites "groms" 17 years of age or younger to submit up to one ski or snowboard edit each month for a chance to film with the film crew during the 2013/2014 season, with the chance to have an edit of their footage shown before the 2014 film tour.

A committee of TGR athletes and staff members will choose the winners primarily based on quality of action and level of riding. The organizers advise: "While multiple submissions are not required, they may help us get to know you and your riding better while increasing your chances of winning a monthly prize. Voting and Facebook likes will not influence judging but may help get your video noticed better." Submissions close May 31 at midnight.

First resort out of the block to offer big bargains during the break is Mount Washington, in the Comox Valley and on the borders of Strathcona Provincial Park.

Many of the packages are suited to bunches of friends or couples vacationing together during the week, with four in a two-bedroom suite. Booked at the right time, the deals just keep on coming: Spring mid-week special: A condominium suite with a welcome breakfast basket, two days of lift passes, an Ozone tubing ticket for $190 per person, based on four people per room and a minimum of three nights' accommodation.

Ski in/Ski Out package: The popular offering gives two nights of mid-week accommodation in Bear or Deer Lodge, with two lift tickets, starting from $205 per person.

Ski to Surf Package: A two-night mid-week ski package in the alpine of either Deer or Bear Lodge, including two lift tickets for each person, based on four people sharing a two-bedroom unit. The package includes a trip to Tofino for a two night stay at Middle Beach Lodge, situated on 40 acres of oceanfront. This package is available only until April 1.

Five-Day Ski Weeks: Five nights of mid-week accommodation in a ski in/ski out condo, with five lift tickets for Monday to Friday skiing or boarding.