Black Sails is a pirate tale set in 1700’s Bahamas, with a scene shot on the Keurbooms River last week.
CXPRESS was fortunate to catch up with MICK SNELL – location manager for the popular American-produced television series ‘Black Sails’, of which scenes were shot in Plett, Knysna, George and Mossel Bay during the past fortnight – just moments before the crew returned to their Cape Town headquarters on Monday
CXPRESS: We believe your crew is packing up now after two weeks of shooting in our pretty neighbourhood. Did all go according to plan?
Mick Snell: Yes, it was a very successful two weeks – so much so that we finished filming a day early.
CX: Could you tell us a bit more about the series and its producers?
MS: Black Sails is a fictional tale about pirates, set in 1700s Bahamas. Film Afrika has been facilitating the show for US-company Starz for the last four years, and we are now nearing the end of Season 4.
The show is based at the Cape Town Film Studios, where we have numerous sets, including full-scale ships and a pirate town. We occasionally venture out to west coast beaches, and to sets that we maintain on estates and City property, near the Studios.
This season had a requirement for new scenery so we chose some beautiful areas managed by SANParks, CapeNature and MTO, in Glentana and on the historical private property called Forest Hall.
A digital plate unit also filmed scenes in the Knysna Heads area. All of these locations have contributed immensely to the producer’s vision.
CX: Did your team stay over anywhere else or was most of them accommodated in Plettenberg Bay?
MS: Plett was the obvious choice as a base, with its broad spectrum of accommodation options, excellent restaurants, and just enough local industry to service our needs.
The town was easily able to cope with the requirements of our ‘reduced’ cast and crew of about 200 and, by all accounts, everyone loved the break away from the Studios.
Plettenberg Bay really is a great place to base a film unit. We work long hours – before sunrise ’till after sunset – and came back to great accommodation.
There’s such a range of activities to do on days off, but I suspect most crew sat down at a view somewhere and had a great bite and a drink – what a pleasure.
CX: What were the standout moments, if any, during your two-week Garden Route sojourn?
MS: If I had to choose, I guess the highlight of filming here was travelling up Keurbooms River to work every day – just spectacular. Local lifesavers were involved in these scenes, depicting drowned pirates. Hats-off to them for the hours they spent bobbing in cold water.
Many thanks are due to the people of Plettenberg Bay; to SANParks, Cape Nature, MTO and Forest Hall; and to George, Knysna, Mossel Bay and Bitou Municipalities.
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