Anna Daniels
Skyfall, the third James Bond movie to be filmed in Istanbul, might be the last after a stuntman crashed a motorcycle into a 330-year-old jewelry shop.
This opening chase sees Bond pursuing the villainous Patrice across the rooftops of Istanbul. It culminates in a dramatic crash through a breakable prop window into the tight, vibrant corridors of the Grand Bazaar. What you don’t see is the immediate aftermath: Swerving to avoid packed throngs of extras, the stuntman lost control of his bike and smashed right through the real crystal glass window of a historic jewelry shop.
It’s incredible how much preparation went into this scene — and how things went awry anyway. Production manager Menderes Demir described the process: “Before shooting, we had to negotiate and convince 1,650 shop owners in the area of Grand Bazaar, the Spice Bazaar, and in between.” The crew also had to secure countless permits from Turkey’s Ministry of Culture, Transportation Commission, and Istanbul’s police department. Finally, the stunt was rehearsed several times to ensure it would go off without a hitch.
Mete Boybeyi, the shop’s owner, said repairs were costly, complicated, and resulted in lost revenue. “This place is regulated by the Council of Monuments. We can’t even change our window without their permission.” Worse, he explained, was the response from Skyfall’s production.
“No one from the movie crew came to ask ‘what are your losses?’ We filed a complaint at the police station.”
Written by: Looper
