Location, Location! Michael Mann Movie Locations

Whilst browsing around I fell onto the topic of location for Michael Mann movies. Lots of previous posts feature locations, but here are a few for your interest. No doubt over time this post will grow as I add more links. To get you in the mood, see below a CBS news piece on being a location scout... Peter - are you reading this??! Peter, a Facebook friend, perhaps known to other readers, scouted the famous opening scene for Heat, which also is used as a location in Collateral.



Here are a few filming locations. It's a humble list, but a start to whet your appetite, if you are a location buff.


Filming Locations:

Public Enemies:
http://www.itsfilmedthere.com/2010/11/public-enemies.html

http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/p/PublicEnemies.html

Heat:
http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/h/heat.html

Miami Vice:
One of MannFan's favourite locations
http://www.movielocationsguide.com/Miami_Vice/filming_locations/Safe_House.php

http://madeinatlantis.com/miami_vice/production4.htm

The Insider:
http://www.filminamerica.com/Movies/TheInsider/

http://www.filmaps.com/films/the-insider-ref-1301/

Collateral:
http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/c/collateral.html

Manhunter:
http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/m/Manhunter.html

Michael Mann shooting difficult boat scene

Always great to find something new. I found this amazing YouTube clip of the Miami Vice film crew shooting the racing boat scenes that were supposed to feature at the start of the movie. I have only ever seen the original movie version and have only Standard Def DVD, so never saw the spoken of racing scene that Universal forced Mann to cut from the final edit to shorten the movie. Looking at this spectacular footage it was madness to cut it. Some shots are just stunning. Was this footage included on new bonus features for the BluRay edition?

You have Dion Beebe rigging up the cameras in the hull of the boat, and Michael Mann behind the cameras as they shoot that famous crane shot as the camera surfaces from beneath the bubbling water to reveal the boats speeding past. Great footage! Enjoy.



Also, I have never seen this featurette before... is this a BluRay edition? This is notable for watching Michael Mann location scout a guys house with a, errr, rather interesting "bed". I just think its great seeing Michael passionately looking at every detail with his DSLR. Us photographers are all the same... running around like rabbits finding aesthetic details under every rock!

Michael Mann directing Colin Farrell and Gong Li

Can anyone tell me: Is this a featurette for the HD version of Miami Vice? I don't have a HD TV (whimper), so have never seen Miami Vice in HD on TV for my crimes. I only have the double disc standard edition DVD, and this featurette isn't on it (unless I have totally forgotten?!). So, this fantastic little clip is new to me! Amazing to see Michael Mann physically directing/choreographing Cuban dance! He is telling super cool Colin Farrell how to dance ... watch it, and you will see what Colin tells Mann. Hmmmm ... Is there anything Mann cannot direct? One thing shows in this featurette - a clear chemistry between Colin and Gong Li. Oh yes...

Previously unseen footage of Colin Farrell receiving fight training for Miami Vice

Mick Gould is Michael Mann's technical advisor on fight scenes and use of weapons. Ex special forces, this video clip shows Mick Gould training Colin Farrell for that opening scene in Miami Vice. The scene has a similar flavour to the nightclub scene in Collateral where Tom Cruise does a similar floor crunching move. For the girls, see a sweaty, topless Colin Farrell... if you must!

I have to say, Mick Gould shows the moves with frightening efficiency.