Chronicles of Narnia – Voyage of the Dawn Treader

nicolasg — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 08:16:16 +0000

Today I was at Movie World on the Gold Coast and went on the newly opened Narnia tour. It takes visitors (approx. 3000 per day) on a trolley bus around the movie sets and stops outside sound studio No.5, where the Voyage of the Dawn Treader has been filmed, we all get out and walk around and all over the ship. Before we boarded the trolley bus, which leaves every 10 minutes we were told that taking photos inside the studio No.5 was okay, not only okay but encouraged (they even had their own photographer taking photos that could be purchased for A$12 each), so you guessed it I took heaps of photo’s. When you look at the pictures below you will see the attention to detail aboard the Dawn Treader is truly amazing. This tour attraction will end the day after Australia Day and the official line is still that the Dawn Treader will be scrapped.

New Studeo Tour Chronicles of Narnia Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Trolley Bus to Chronicles of Narnia Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Stern of the Dawn Treader

Lords of Chronicles of Narnia Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Head of the Dawn Treader

Tail of the Dawn Treader

Oars of the Dawn Treader

Tail Lantern of the Dawn Treader

Ornate Wheel mount of the Dawn Treader

Rope holder of the Dawn Treader

destroyed side of the Dawn Treader and boulders below

Ornate hull of the Dawn Treader

Stay tuned to this site, I will post more of the photo’s from the tour soon.

Chronicles of Narnia – Voyage of the Dawn Treader is a post from: Chronicles of Narnia

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Chronicles of Narnia- The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

nicolasg — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:41:02 +0000

Our voyage through Narnia

Firstly, let me be clear, Douglas requested that we do not take photos of the film sets, we respected that decision. This post is intended to share our excitement for the Chronicles of Narnia and hopefully help in adding to the anticipation of the global release in 2010. We wish the movie every success and thank the cast and crew for their hospitality.

After clearing security at Movie World, we drove past the giant water tank with a suspended blue screen around it, to a car park that was surrounded by props for the movie. This was really like entering a fantasy world – Imagine all of the props look real, however they are made of fiberglass or foam or MDF. There were the larger than life statues of the seven lords, rock walls, trees & boulders that looked like the moeraki boulders on New Zealand’s South Island (Maybe there will be some filming done in that region??) .

We walked across to the giant “studio 5″ where the Dawn Treader is housed. The head, mast and tail have been removed so it can fit in the studio and be moved around on its hydraulic base for all of the action scenes. The Dawn Treader is completely surrounded by blue screens with lots of small “crosses” on them (for reference points for special effects?) Cables running everywhere, mini marquees set up in the studio as a viewing station with monitors so everyone could see the action and ensure that the items they are responsible for are in place, (such as rigging, etc)

We were taken on a tour of the the facility, first stop is still classified (top secret).

Our second stop was the set for inside the hull of the Dawn Treader, up a flight of stairs and entered into another world, visually it all looked so real, the timber could have been 100 year old oak, it was not until you touched it that you knew it was all fabricated. There were wooden oars laid along the floor, large wooden barrels. This is the engine room of the Dawn Treader, when man power is needed to propell the ship. The explanation for why the ship was named of the Dawn Treader, was it always heads East approaching the Dawn.

The next set we were in King Caspian’s quarters aboard the Dawn Treader. It was dimly lit and really looked the part, this was a truly amazing visual treat. There was an ornate wooden writing desk below the large stained glass window which was surrounded by the timber of the boat with a mural on one of the walls. A quick stop for morning tea, I chose a muffin, then continued on to the main studio to take up positions in the directors chairs, about 10 in all. My chair
was reserved for cast, my dad was King Caspian for the day, as he was assigned Ben Barnes’ chair next to me and my Mum sat in Georgie Henley seat. We had several large plasma television monitors to review the action and plenty of computers and digital equipment make it look very hi tech. Actors, producer, cast and crew all mingle while preparing themselves for what is about to come. Chris who plays the Dwarf, is a cool guy and he stayed for a chat and we have a lot of fun. Everyone working on this production were friendly and appeared to really be enjoying their work.

Directly in front of us was the full scale Dawn Treader. First up, before anyone was allowed on the Dawn Treader, was the full speed motion test. This is to ensure everything is working okay, the ship lurched forward and back, side to side, WOW, this is really cool, it would make an awesome theme park ride. Unfortunately as the story goes, unless someone does buy it, the Dawn Treader will be scraped and dumped at the end of filming. As it is made out of MDF and foam it needs to be kept indoors otherwise it will deteriate rapidly. So if you are considering purchasing the Dawn Treader you will need a very large warehouse to store it.

Once the testing had been completed, it was time for the stunt men to take their positions on the Dawn Treader and practice their falling, rolling & sliding across the deck as the boat was tossed from side to side, as if being attacked by a giant sea serpent. Next the actors came in and took up their places around the stunt men and rehersed their falls to the deck.

The director calls action, the boat lurches, the deck is strewn with bodies. Edmond is one of the first to his feet and charges across the deck to the Starboard side of the ship yelling over the side, everyone else follows his lead, ready for a battle.

King Caspian is on the middle port side.

Lord Drinian, the captain of the Dawn Treader, is at the helm.

After several takes it is time for break, the stairs are wheeled up to the Dawn Treader and everyone makes an orderly exit down to where we are to view the scene.

Chronicles of Narnia » Chronicles of Narnia

Chronicles of Narnia – Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Chronicles of Narnia- The Voyage of the Dawn Treader