Namib-Naukluft National Park, Namibia

 
In the film THE CELL, the FBI calls on Dr. Catherine Deane (Jennifer Lopez), a child psychologist conducting experimental research into a virtual reality treatment for coma patients. The FBI hopes to use this technique to locate a young woman who has been abducted by Carl Rudolph Stargher (Vincent D’Onofrio), a serial killer who is currently in a coma.

The Cell, 0:01:18

Deane is treating Edward Baines (Colton James), a young man with schizophrenia who is in a coma. The opening scene of the movie shows her making contact with him in a virtual reality environment. Director Tarsem Singh chose striking locations for this scene: Sossusvlei and Deadvlei in the Namib-Naukluft National Park in Namibia. As far as I know, this is the first time this national park has featured in a feature film.

We visited this national park on the last day of our tour of southern Africa, and it was one of the highlights. Namib-Naukluft is Africa’s largest protected area and encompasses both desert and mountains.

Namib-Naukluft National Park, 26 July 2026

The day began very early. Before sunrise we were already on our way because it can get very hot in the desert. It was almost an hour’s drive from our lodge to Sesriem Gate, the entrance of the park. Our first stop was Dune 45 in Sossusvlei, an area with tall, orange-red sand dunes. ‘Vlei’ is Afrikaans for ‘lake’ or ‘marsh’. Dune 45 takes its name from its location: it is situated 45 kilometres (28 miles) from Sesriem.

In the film, Catherine Deane arrives here on a black horse, wearing in a white dress. As she dismounts and walks up the dune, the horse turns into a statue. I have not been able to find out what this means. Judging by the shadows, this scene was filmed at the end of the day. When we arrived here in the morning on our safari truck and walked up the dune ourselves, the sun was already higher in the sky.

The Cell, 0:01:08

Dune 45, Sossusvlei, Namib-Naukluft National Park, 26 July 2026

The Cell, 0:01:22

Dune 45, Sossusvlei, Namib-Naukluft National Park, 26 July 2026

A flash of light catches Catherine’s attention. She sees Edward holding a mirror that reflects the light, standing in a landscape of dead trees surrounded by dunes. This is Deadvlei, also known as Dodevlei, about 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Dune 45. This clay plain is more difficult to reach. 

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Deadvlei, Namib-Naukluft National Park, 26 July 2026

We travelled the first part of the way by truck, but when it could not go any further due to the bumpy road, we were transferred to an off-road vehicle. After a few kilometres, we were dropped off at a car park. From there, it was another 20-minute walk through the loose sand to reach Deadvlei, where the temperature had risen considerably by then. Around 900 years ago, the climate in this area became much drier and the shifting sand dunes cut off Deadvlei from the river. Without water, the camel thorn trees died and Deadvlei became a white clay pan. The extreme aridity prevented the trees from decomposing. Instead, they were scorched black by the intense desert sun. The trees have not been fossilised.

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Deadvlei, Namib-Naukluft National Park, 26 July 2026

When the sun shines on the landscape, the dunes turn orange and the plain a pale yellow. Together with the dark trees and blue sky, this creates a surreal landscape reminiscent of a painting by Salvador Dalí or Giorgio de Chirico. Looking in the opposite direction, this effect is less pronounced but still striking.

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Deadvlei, Namib-Naukluft National Park, 26 July 2026

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Deadvlei, Namib-Naukluft National Park, 26 July 2026

Prior to our visit, I was curious to see if I could spot the dead trees that appear in the film, but that turned out to be no problem. Only the stump that Edward leans against was not there, but this must have been a prop. Visitors are not allowed to touch the trees.

The Cell, 0:03:08

Deadvlei, Namib-Naukluft National Park, 26 July 2026

This is one of the most extraordinary places I have ever been to. It was not easy to get there, it was hot and the grains of sand made the camera lenses dirty – but it was well worth the effort.

Deadvlei, Namib-Naukluft National Park, 26 July 2026

Screenshots © Katira Productions

Ballintoy, Northern Ireland

Filming for the second series of GAME OF THRONES in 2011 took 106 days and, as well as in the studio, was shot on location in Northern Ireland, Croatia and Iceland. In the second episode, “The Night Lands”, Prince Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) returns to Pyke, one of the Iron Islands where he was born. He has been living with the Stark family at Winterfell for nine years.

Game of Thrones, season 2, episode 2, 0:38:15

Theon hopes that his father, King Balon Greyjoy (Patrick Malahide), will form an alliance with them. However, the king intends to attack the North now that it is poorly defended. Theon chooses to remain loyal to his father and thus betrays House Stark. The king humiliates him by giving Theon command of just one ship, whilst his older sister Yara (Gemma Whelan) is given thirty ships at her disposal.

The scenes set in the harbour of Lordsport – the largest town on the island of Pyke, where the king’s castle is also located – were filmed in the small harbour of the village of Ballintoy in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. When we arrived here in the afternoon, it was very busy. All the parking spaces were taken and there were also cars parked along the road leading to the harbour. We tried again in the evening and had more success, most of the day-trippers had left.

The harbour is first seen when Theon arrives in a small boat. A young woman offers to take him to the castle. It is Yara, but Theon does not recognize her and she gives nothing away.

Game of Thrones, season 2, episode 2, 0:32:01

Ballintoy Harbour, 13 July 2024

Game of Thrones, season 2, episode 2, 0:32:13

Ballintoy Harbour, 13 July 2024

Game of Thrones, season 2, episode 2, 0:33:29

Ballintoy Harbour, 13 July 2024

In “The Ghost of Harrenhal”, the fifth episode, Theon returns to the harbour where the ship he now commands is moored. To make matters worse, the crew are unruly. His first mate, Dagmer (Ralph Ineson), tells him that the Ironborn do not follow orders and that he will first have to prove himself to the men.

Game of Thrones, season 2, episode 5, 0:15:49

Ballintoy Harbour, 13 July 2024

Game of Thrones, season 2, episode 5, 0:16:09

Ballintoy Harbour, 13 July 2024

Game of Thrones, season 2, episode 5, 0:17:01

Ballintoy Harbour, 13 July 2024

Ballintoy Harbour is one of ten locations with an interpretation sign about the series. Due to the weather conditions, the board has become difficult to read. 

Interpretation sign Game of Thrones, Ballintoy, 13 July 2024

Screenshots © Home Box Office, Inc.

London, England

       

In 2018, I wrote two blog posts about the Hawaiian islands O’ahu and Kaua’i. Both locations feature in the film PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES, the fourth instalment in the film series about pirate captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp).

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At the start of the film, Jack Sparrow meets the British King George II (Richard Griffiths) and Captain Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) in London. The king has heard that the Spanish are searching for the Fountain of Youth and wants Jack to lead a British expedition to be the first to find the mythical spring. According to legend, whoever drinks from or bathes in its waters become young again.

The scenes set in London were filmed in England, both on location and in the studio, from September to November 2018. After the opening credits, a court in London around the year 1750 can be seen. In reality, this is the Old Royal Naval College in the borough of Greenwich, where hundreds of films and TV series have been filmed; see also my blog post about The Crown. The image has been significantly digitally altered: the tower of the Painted Hall has been replaced by a statue of Lady Justice, and the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral has been added. The day before, we had photographed this cathedral from Waterloo Bridge.

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Old Royal Naval College, London, 3 May 2025

St Paul's Cathedral seen from Waterloo
Bridge, London, 2 May 2025 

After the trial, Sparrow plans to escape in a waiting carriage with his former first mate, Joshamee Gibbs (Kevin McNally). This is the courtyard of Queen Anne Court at the Old Royal Naval College. He has bribed the coachman (Robert Stone), but the man turns out to be corrupt. They are captured by the British army. This scene was filmed at Hampton Court Palace, which we did not visit.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On stranger tides, 0:06:47

Queen Anne Court, Old Royal Naval
College, London, 3 May 2025

Sparrow is taken away by two soldiers, who drag him through a large hall. Once again, it is the Old Royal Naval College, this time the Painted Hall at King William Court.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On stranger tides, 0:09:09

Painted Hall, Old Royal Naval
College, London, 3 May 2025

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Painted Hall, Old Royal Naval
College, London, 3 May 2025

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Painted Hall, Old Royal Naval
College, London, 3 May 2025

This set photo shows more of the Painted Hall. The paintings were created in the early eighteenth century by Sir James Thornhill.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On stranger tides, set photo	Painted Hall, Old Royal Naval College, London, 3 May 2025

The soldiers chain Sparrow to a chair ahead of a meeting with the king in the dining hall. This also appears to be the Painted Hall, but is in fact a set at Pinewood Studios in Iver Heath, about 18 miles (29 kilometres) west of central London. It is possible that a set was chosen because Sparrow manages to escape via a chandelier and a balcony, neither of which are present in the Painted Hall. St Paul’s Cathedral can once again be seen in the mural.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On stranger tides, set photo

Painted Hall, Old Royal Naval
College, London, 3 May 2025

Sparrow manages to escape from the palace and ends up on a passing carriage. After a brief and amusing encounter with an English lady, played by Judi Dench, the carriage travels through London. It appears to be a long street, but it is in fact College Way, which is only 985 feet (300 metres) long and runs between the buildings of the Old Royal Naval College. It was filmed from various angles.

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Old Royal Naval College, London, 3 May 2025

Pirates of the Caribbean: On stranger tides, 0:17:00

Old Royal Naval College, London, 3 May 2025

Pirates of the Caribbean: On stranger tides, 0:17:11

Old Royal Naval College, London, 3 May 2025

Pirates of the Caribbean: On stranger tides, 0:17:15

Old Royal Naval College, London, 3 May 2025

After hopping onto a second carriage, Sparrow ends up on an undertaker’s cart and then jumps onto a coal merchant’s cart.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On stranger tides, 0:17:23

Old Royal Naval College, London, 3 May 2025

Pirates of the Caribbean: On stranger tides, 0:17:32

Old Royal Naval College, London, 3 May 2025

Pirates of the Caribbean: On stranger tides, 0:17:41

Old Royal Naval College, London, 3 May 2025

The coal merchant falls off the cart and Sparrow carries on alone. The soldiers fire at him and hit a lantern, causing the coal to burst into flames. The gate through which the cart passes carrying the burning coal is on Middle Temple Lane, near Temple Gardens, close to the River Thames.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On stranger tides, 0:18:13

Middle Temple Lane, London, 2 May 2025

Middle Temple Lane appears in the film for just two seconds, and little can be seen of the area. The set photos below show more of the street and the beautiful gateway. The building dates from 1879 and the sculptures were created by Calder Marshall. Above the entrance, two cherubs hold a medallion bearing a portrait of Queen Victoria.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On stranger tides, set photo

Middle Temple Lane, London, 2 May 2025

Pirates of the Caribbean: On stranger tides, set photo

Middle Temple Lane, London, 2 May 2025

During our visit to the Old Royal Naval College, we took the Film Tour, a guided tour providing information about the films and TV series that have been filmed here; for up-to-date information, please check the Old Royal Naval College website under All Events. Our guide pointed out the entrance gate. Producers had asked if Johnny Depp could enter via this gate rather than the busy main entrance. However, the gate would no longer open; over the years, the lock had become seized up with rust. That was no problem for the producers, and for £ 1,000 the gate was repaired and opened again. Johnny Depp, however, decided to go in through the main entrance.

Old Royal Naval College, London, 3 May 2025

Screenshots and set photos © Walt Disney Pictures