It’s a lonely beacon at the edge of the world. The Þrídrangaviti Lighthouse seems almost impossible. Add a scene where a search and rescue team attempts to lift a crew member from the lighthouse perched on the edge of a towering yet tiny island in the middle of the ocean, and the thrill is on.
Take an insider’s look at one of Legendary Iceland‘s most stunning shots — a representation of the vision, partnerships and practical skills that went into capturing the adventure.
The Location
The Þrídrangaviti (pronounced thr-ee-drahng-a-vi-ti) Lighthouse seems like one of the loneliest places in the entire world. A whitewashed lighthouse sits high atop a rocky outcrop, nestled gingerly on the only flat surface. The island itself is located close to the Westman Islands (or Vestmannaeyjar in Icelandic), a volcanic archipelago off Iceland’s south coast. Built right before World War II, all materials for the red-roofed lighthouse were flown in by helicopter and hand-assembled by a crew of men who clung to the side of the cliff in the name of navigation and maritime safety.
The Crew
Each Flyover shot involves a crew of the best-in-industry professionals, ranging from producers and camera operators to directors and helicopter pilots. Also, each shot involves a human element to provide both scale and story.
Flyover’s collaboration with the Icelandic Coast Guard for the lighthouse shot is a perfect example of outstanding teamwork. Once the Flyover production team had spotted the lighthouse, they pitched the scene idea to the Coast Guard and the ball began rolling.
The Story
During pre-production research for Legendary Iceland, the crew came across a photo of the lighthouse and the location was an easy addition to the shot list. The idea was to combine this amazing location with the Icelandic Coast Guard — to recreate a rescue operation in which the Coast Guard pulled a person from the lighthouse up into a helicopter.
“They’re both strong symbols for Iceland itself,” says producer Andre Janse. “A rock in the middle of the ocean, a harsh and dangerous place, where amazingly talented and dedicated people work against and with the elements.”
The Shot
It was a difficult and dangerous operation, Janse says. The fact that the film crew was also shooting from a helicopter only heightened the stakes.
“Our helicopter was equipped with the camera and this enormous orange Coast Guard helicopter was undertaking very difficult choreography to make our Flyover shot work,” Janse says. “This operation only worked because we worked with highly trained professionals.”
Flyover’s film-helicopter pilot Jón Björnsson — a local legend — actually trained the Coast Guard Helicopter pilot, who claimed he learned all he knows about helicopter flying from Björnsson.
The Þrídrangaviti Lighthouse is nearly impossible to visit, yet it perfectly embodies the isolation, resilience and ingenuity of Iceland. Now, you can experience it up close in the thrilling Legendary Iceland immersive flying journey, showing at Flyover in Chicago.
