Bourne Fever!

Its 'Bourne Legacy' fever over the Metro as the first big time Hollywood and globetrotting production,’ Borne Legacy’ finally made a stop in the Philippines to shoot vital scenes in Manila, the country’s capital. With the mega million budget, the film was shoot in many locations from France and Italy to India and Morocco, adding Philippines to its roster.

Jeremy Renner and Rachel Weisz topbill 'The Bourne Legacy' (Photo courtesy of screenrant.com)

 Bourne Legacy top billed by Jeremy Renner, who also appeared in Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol along with the beautiful Rachel Weisz will be filming the fourth installment of the Hollywood action thriller spy film “Bourne” series in the country which was based on the best-selling novel by Robert Ludlum.

This Robert Ludlum's franchise stars Matt Damon in The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, and The Bourne Ultimatum. But at the fourth installment, The Bourne Legacy, it will be Jeremy Renner who will take over as the new Jason Bourne.

Scheduled to be released in theaters Aug. 3, the latest installment in the spy series was written and is being directed by Tony Gilroy,who penned the first three films.

‘Legacy ’will be the first Hollywood blockbuster film to actually feature the Philippines as part of its storyline Although a few smaller-budget independent movies used Philippines as a film production location every now and then, but often takes no more than the role of stand-in double for other cities.

Manila served as Jakarta in Peter Weir’s 1982 drama “The Year of Living Dangerously,” Bangkok in Jonathan Kaplan’s 1999 thriller “Brokedown Palace,” and Panama City in Showtime’s 2000 biopic “Noriega: God’s Favorite.” 

Film shooting

As the camera rolls, a crowd of onlookers gathered around the shooting area to take a glimpse of the multimillion film and reports have said the ‘Borne’ stars are very friendly to the onlookers. The shooting began in Manila last January 11, 2012 and will be probably finished before the mid of February. 

 Jun Juban, Philippine point man for the “Bourne” shoot, said the Hollywood film will be shooting in the country for 40 to 45 days. He also said the scenes shot in Manila will run for about 20 to 25 minutes of the film. Scenes have already been shot in New York and Alberta, Canada, since filming began last September. 

Juban stressed that the beauty of Palawan will be highlighted in “Bourne.” He said it was the Filipinos’ hospitality that tipped the scales in bringing the Hollywood movie’s production crew to the Philippines.

Boosting Opportunities

The movie sets on a good timing as the Philippine Tourism which is promoting the slogan “ It’s more fun in the Philippines has gained best results. This is a great chance for other countries to notice what our country can offer and definitely a good exposure for tourism. It also shows it’s safe to go in the Philippines and will help in elevating the country's profile in Hollywood.

Aside from Borne helping boost our tourism, it also boosts to generate jobs as they call auditions to those who'd like to appear as one of the thousands of extras needed in the film. Many Filipino actors and actress who passed the auditions for cast will take part in the movie. Also, several houses were rented and renovated for filming and all the improvements will be left after. Residents were very excited to see the crew prepping for the shoot. Some of the residents even became extras and are given a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of a Hollywood film.

Shooting locations

 

With this, the city of Manila has granted the closing of roads that will be affected by the shooting. So, herewith are tips, shoot locations, schedules and traffic re-routing information for you, provided by MMDA.

Know which roads to avoid or where to stalk the actors.

Bourne Legacy shoot locations:

Ayala Avenue (Makati), Intramuros (Manila), at Jones Bridge (Manila), Marikina City Market, Navotas Fishport (Navotas), and Pasay Taft Rotonda in Metro Manila, and in Palawan.

 

Bourne Legacy Shoot Schedules:

Wednesdays to Sundays, break on Mondays and Tuesdays

The following shooting locations and dates are based on the list of GMA News Online.

Jan. 11 to 13 - Leveriza St. from Quirino to San Andres

Jan. 11 to 13 - San Andres St. from Orosa to Guerrero

Jan. 14 - San Andres St. from Guerrero to Taft Ave.

Jan. 15 - Leveriza St. from Ilang-ilang to Quirino Ave.

Jan. 15 - Quirino Ave. from M. Adriatico to Bagong Lipunan

Jan. 18 and 19 - Jorge Bocobo St., corner Remedios Circle

Jan. 18 and 19 - Remedios Circle

Jan. 25, Feb. 17 and 18 - Sta. Lucia St.

Jan. 25, Feb. 17 and 18 - Real St.

Jan. 25, Feb. 17 and 18 – Riverside Drive

Feb. 5 - Jones Bridge

Feb. 8 to 15 - Ramon Magsaysay Blvd.

Traffic Re-routing:

Wednesday (January 11) to Friday (January 13), Leveriza Street will be closed to traffic between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Intermittent traffic control will be implemented along Quirino Avenue and San Andres from 7 a.m. to 5 a.m.

The following alternate routes were announced by the MMDA:

- Along President Quirino Avenue from Roxas Boulevard to Taft Avenue:

All vehicles must turn right at M. Adriatico, left at Bagong Lipunan, right at President Quirino to destination

- Along President Quirino Avenue from Taft Avenue to Roxas Boulevard:

Take San Andres, right turn at L. M. Guerero, left turn at Remedios, left turn at Maria Orosa, right at San Andres, left at M. Adroiatico, right at President Quirino to destination

- For buses along Roxas Boulevard – Coastal Road to Manila:

Right turn at Vito Cruz, left at Taft Avenue to destination

- For buses from Taft Avenue – Manila to Roxas Boulevard – Coastal Road:

Right at Vito Cruz, left at Roxas Boulevard to destination  

Source: MMDA Official Website