Hinterland showcases Welsh locations
Detective drama Hinterland films in both English and Welsh, and showcases Welsh locations to the world as it screens around the world, and is available on Netflix.
"When I was asked to do Hinterland we originally thought we were looking for a few places to do exterior shots of remote farmhouses and some green land, and that the rest would be filmed in Cardiff,” said Paul ‘Bach’ Davies, location manager on Hinterland, in comments to the BBC.
“But when we started uncovering these gems we thought this has to be here. It was incredible – we found all sorts of places.
Story locations have frequently been written to suit Davies’ discoveries, which is an unusual practice.
Hinterland is filmed almost entirely on location and isolated, atmospheric parts of the Welsh countryside have become central to the show’s identity in a crowded marketplace.
“The scenery is astonishing,” said Mali Harries, one of the show’s co-stars, in comments to the BBC. “You are taken to places that you have never seen before – places where there are no people for miles and miles. I think it has become a character in itself really – the landscape.”
A focus on remote locations creates production challenges as the 40-strong production team is constantly on the move, often in parts of the country that aren’t easily connected with motorways. Vacant rural buildings are used as improvised production offices.
Ed Talfan, the show’s co-creator and producer, said the rural locations can be “a blessing” but the logistics of getting everyone there “can be a bit of a drag”.
Hinterland was part-funded by the EU MEDIA programme, with just under £400,000 provided to shoot the first series, amounting to 15% of the total budget.
Images: BBC
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