Steven Spielberg already in Wrocław [PHOTOS]

The business class Boeing 737-7BC BBJ, with just several tens of seats reported to Wrocław airport in the middle of the night. On board of the luxurious aircraft was Steven Spielberg.

(photo: Marcin Szpak)The airplane will remain on ramp for the next three days. Unofficially, the famous director is staying at the Monopol Hotel, however no one wants to share the details of his stay. One thing is certain, though: today shooting for his film starts. The set has been prepared at ul. Miernicza, Ptasia and Kurkowa.

Let us remind that the cast of the Wrocław-made film features such Hollywood stars as Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Amy Ryan, Alan Alda and Eve Hewson. Constructing the film's stage design has commenced at Kurkowa St. The filming starts in the second half of November.

The film will be a spy thrillers from the times of Cold War. The working title of the production is "St. James Place"; it tells a story of Francis Gary Powers, a pilot, whose U2 plane was shot down in 1960 by the Russians during a reconnaissance flight. The films chief character is a lawyer, James Donovan, who after being hired by the CIA, suddenly finds himself at the very heart of the Cold War and negotiates releasing the pilot with the Russians.

The authors of the script are Joel and Ethan Coen , based on the original text by Matt Charman, and the cinematography is by Janusz Kamiński.

What scenes will Spielberg shoot in Wrocław?

Wrocław will re-create a part of 1950's and 1960's Berlin.Since May this year Wroclaw Film Commission has been taking part in preparations to completion of Wrocław part of the shots. The committee has been called by the local governments of Lower Silesia and Wrocław to assist film crews who are interested in making their films in the region.

Municipal services make sure everything goes smooth for Spielberg's filming crew. Also, the officers do their best to limit to the maximum all potential impediments (e.g. closing of streets) brought to the residents and drivers by the process of film making.

Shooting for Steven Spielberg's film started on September 8th, 2014 in New York's Brooklyn. The following ones will take place in, among others, Berlin, Potsdam and Wrocław.

The film's key scene will feature exchange of prisoners at the Glienicke Bridge on Hawela river, where a Cold War border between Western Berlin and Eastern Germany used to be. It is there that on February 10th, 1962 the first exchange of spies between superpowers took place. The USA set free a Soviet spy, colonel Rudolf Abel, in exchange for pilot Francis Gary Powers.

When will Spielberg's film be released?

Steven Spielberg's new film is made in American-German co-production. The USA première of the film is planned for October 2015.

Steven Spielberg visited Wrocław in 2004, when he was searching for sets for his film "Munich", but he did not decide to shoot a film here at the time.

The filming will involve some traffic disruptions and changes in public transport. Many areas in ul. Kurkowa were banned from parking, and commencing at 17:00, the part of it from junction with ul. Kaszubska to no. 61-63 will be closed for traffic. Starting from Monday, closed will be also a part of ul. Komuny Paryskiej, and a part of ul. Ptasia, facing the market, from Wednesday.

Also, public buses no. 114, 120, 900L i 901 will have their routes slightly changed on Monday and Friday, due to the filming.

Agnieszka Kołodyńska