Official Patrick Swayze International Fan Club

News

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GEORGE AND THE DRAGON ARCHIVE

2nd April 2002: Last week, the Carousel Pictures Location Unit moved to a lakeside location in Belgium where there were to be fighting scenes in the water and then later on to a forest location.

They were in Belgium on Monday and Tuesday of last week and some of Wednesday. Patrick got back to Luxembourg on Wednesday in time to attend a special screening of "Donnie Darko" at the Utopolis Cinema complex in Luxembourg City. The film was being shown as a premiere screening at the 6th Cinénygma Luxembourg International Film Festival. You can visit their website at http://www.cinenygma.lu Some of the Carousel Picture Company also attended the special evening and they told me that at the beginning of the movie, Patrick told the audience that he was enjoying shooting "George and the Dragon" in Luxembourg. He also told everyone that he had made the film "Donnie Darko" as a favour to his friend Drew Barrymore. Mr Romain Roll, the Director of the Film Festival told me, "Patrick is a wonderful person. I just met him the first time last Wednesday at our premiere evening."

The shooting on Friday 29th March took place within the studios in Luxembourg. Then, this week, they are filming more scenes in the forest. Garth's army is travelling with his troops through the forest and they come upon a tree across their path. The troops don't want to jump, but Garth jumps the tree and waits for his men to follow - they don't and when George gallops past, Garth follows him without his troops. The troops take the long route round. The weather on location in the forest was glorious yesterday (Monday) and the outlook is for more sunshine. On Monday, they were all sunning themselves as they ate lunch outside! Most of the main cast were involved in these scenes: Patrick, Piper Perabo and James Purefoy were all there.

At the end of this week they will be filming more scenes in "Crail village" and then they are almost done! What a wonderful shoot this has been! The energy and precision with which the whole project is put together has been fabulous! Thanks to everyone involved for keeping the Official Fan Club up to date with the shooting details! Thanks guys!

23rd March 2002: The filming of George and the Dragon is keeping to schedule and the marvellous cast and crew are all working very hard! They finished up the filming at the "Green Dragon Inn" within the studios at the end of last week. Patrick had a rest day on Friday 15th March and at the beginning of this past week, they were filming out on location at "Torgyle Abbey" (with 150 Nuns), where Princess Lunna and George meet up with Garth again and sparks fly!! Next week, part of the unit moves to a lakeside location where they will film fight scenes and then on to a forest location with the stunt coordinators and also the horses involved in the scenes.

12th March 2002: We have another update on the filming of George and the Dragon in Luxembourg. This Tuesday (12th March) the main cast of the film including Patrick were filming smaller scenes on the "B Stage" of the film studios. These were smaller scenes including one which took place in the "King's Chamber". Garth (Patrick) introduced George to King Edgaar, but it turns out that he doesn't need any introduction to the King because George's father and the King were old friends.

On Wednesday and Thursday of this week they will also be filming a smaller scene set in the "Green Dragon Inn" when George and Garth meet for the first time in the bar of the Inn.

Keep checking up with the movie's Official website at http://www.georgeandthedragonmovie.com for updates.

5th March 2002: More great news from the set of George and the Dragon! If you have been visiting the George and the Dragon movie website (see below), I'm sure you will have spotted the picture of Patrick with Piper Perabo in one of the final scenes of the movie on their movie stills page of "The Movie" section. The story of that part of the film features Patrick's character, Garth, going in search of, and finding Princess Lunna (Piper Perabo) and James Purefoy's character, George, who is also looking for the Princess. But, the Princess is not actually lost, she is hiding with a huge 2 metres (over six feet) high dragon's egg and which has had to be transported around on a cart! The dragon's egg rolls off the cart and begins to hatch............!

Part of the filming last week took place at Brandenbourg Castle which is situated a few kilometres from Diekirch. The castle is a ruin which dates back to the 10th century. The film company carefully built some backgrounds on the site of the castle to make the location right for their filming.

This week the filming is all taking place within the studios of Carousel Pictures Company and today (Tuesday 5th March) they are filming dialogue in a scene where all the main characters are involved, including Patrick's character, in which mercenary soldiers are banging on the door trying to get into the keep of the castle at the top of the hill. The scenes this week will also involve a lot of fighting and stunts too. The set which has been built within the studios to represent the interior of the keep is enormous - over 40 metres by 30 metres (130 feet by 98 feet)! Remember to keep checking the movie's website at http://www.georgeandthedragonmovie.com where they will be adding updates as the shooting progresses.

25th February 2002: The Carousel Picture Company have told us that their website for the movie George and the Dragon is now online and you can visit it at: http://www.georgeandthedragonmovie.com On their site you can read all about the story of the film, the cast and crew and see a teaser clip of the film! They are filming the last two days at "Dunmeade Castle" today and tomorrow. The Castle is very muddy now and looking just like Scotland in winter! This filming at Dunmeade Castle features smaller scenes of mercenaries fighting with each other (Patrick is not involved in the shooting) and then they move to the nice dry studios!! It has snowed and rained almost non-stop since Patrick arrived in Luxembourg, but the beautiful scenery of Luxembourg makes up for it! The rest of the filming this week should be indoor scenes of the keep of the Castle. The Dragon in the film has been "featured" in these scenes they are shooting right now. It is computer generated and when added to the film, will eventually be 32 metres - that's about 104 feet long!!

16th February 2002: Patrick started shooting his first scenes this past week (week ending 15th February) on location in Luxembourg. It has been raining heavily on the set much of the week, so it is just like Scotland, where it is supposed to take place!

They have been shooting scenes at an old castle which represents "Dunmeade Castle" in the film. They filmed there most of this past week. Next week, they will be shooting the final scene of the movie - that happens sometimes in shooting schedules, they film the end scenes before the early scenes!

This past week Patrick took part in scenes involving stunts, fighting with swords and horseback skills, so he has been working really hard! Patrick is dressed as a knight in 12th Century armour! Come back and visit us again for more from the set of George and the Dragon!

5th February 2002: The film company are shooting in the North of France right now, where the weather is terrible! The filming is a continuation of the scenes that were shot in December last year and it shows the uprising of the villagers who take to the beach.

Patrick is not involved in these scenes of the filming. He is in Luxembourg taking part in meetings with the Director etc. and rehearsing his scenes for the film involving stunt coordinators and horse trainers. It's wonderful that Patrick is such a good horseman - he doesn't need any training to handle the horses and does all his own horse-riding scenes. Watch this space for more updates!

31st January 2002: Well, it's all systems "Go!" for Patrick on "George and the Dragon"! His office told us that he left on Tuesday from Los Angeles and he arrived in Europe on Wednesday 30th January (hair extensions and all - he had them added on Thursday of last week in Los Angeles!) to prepare for his role as "Garth" in the film. The film company have told us that the stars are gathering for the start of the film shoot on Monday February 4th! Watch this space for more news!

26th January 2002: Patrick has let us know that his character, Garth, in "George and the Dragon" will have long hair in the movie, and he will kind of have the look of Patrick's character, Bodhi, in Point Break.

2nd January 2002: Great news for all Patrick's fans!! Patrick has told us that he will be shooting the film "George and the Dragon" for Carousel Pictures in February. Patrick plays the part of Garth, and the film is about the legend of George the Dragon slayer. Watch this space for more news about this project!