The Pendragon Cycle: Production Diary Week 6 - Atlantis, Merlin, and Bard Songs

Filming Locations and Set Design

• 🏰 The production utilized Fosanova Abbey in southern Italy, reimagined as Inis Aavalac, the home of the Atlantean refugees.
• 💡 The location, a historical cathedral built in 1134, was chosen for its elevated and elegant feel, aligning with the imagined sophistication of Atlanteans.
• 🎨 Set design involved hiding existing church elements and creating a 'trronium' with a costume-made throne, emphasizing whitish and off-white colors for brightness.

Directing and Performance

• 🎬 Director Jesse V. Johnson took the lead with the Wolf Unit, directing key scenes for the first time in this production week.
• 👂 A director's primary role is to listen for truth and authenticity in dialogue, ensuring belief regardless of the subject matter.
• 🎭 The cast is highlighted as exceptionally good, with the director taking responsibility if anything goes wrong.

King Avalac and Character Portrayal

• 👑 Daniel Fathers delivers a sensational performance as King Avalac, the patriarch of the series, whose work is concentrated in this week.
• ⚔️ King Avalac embodies wisdom from war and experience, contrasting with the 'barbarians' who invade his utopia, reflecting relatable internal struggles and classist views.
• 🌍 The character's conflicts and internal struggles are presented as totally relatable to modern societal issues.

Prop and Food Design

• 🍽️ A significant scene involved detailed food preparation, using large leaves instead of tablecloths to reflect the period.
• 🥧 The prop team's favorite was a medieval-style pie with a bone stuck in it.

Bard Music and Battle Sequences

• 🎶 The production created the first bard song for the series, with a melody composed using an iPhone keyboard app and lyrics adapted from Lawhead's stories.
• 🎤 The experience of hearing 50 people sing the new melody in the ancient abbey was described as surreal.
• 💥 Meanwhile, in Hungary, the second-largest battle sequence of the season was filmed by the hawk unit.

Merlin's Magic and Physical Challenges

• ✨ The Merlin in this series is distinct from traditional portrayals, with his magic stemming from a force known as the Awin, which can be used for good or evil.
• 🤕 The actor playing Merlin faces exhausting and physical challenges, relying on support from the stunt boss and coordinator.
• 💥 Scenes depicting Merlin's wrath involved extensive rubble and fires, creating an incredible visual effect of a demolished landscape.