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Bob Hoskins and Rhona Mitra filmed in the street
Bob Hoskins and Rhona Mitra filmed in the street
 

BURNT-OUT cars, gun-toting soldiers in black uniforms, boarded-up windows and Welcome to Hell' daubed on a tenement door - that was the scene in a usually quiet Glasgow street.

But as the shocked residents rubbed sleep from their eyes, it all became clear - the war zone on their doorstep was really the post-apocalyptic set of a £15million blockbuster.

Hollywood came to Haghill yesterday as filming began in Marwick Street for the sci-fi movie Doomsday, set in Glasgow in 2033.

And on the pavements of the East End community stood actor Bob Hoskins and Nip/Tuck actress Rhona Mitra.

John Wilson, 32, of nearby Appin Road, got a shock when he woke up after a night out to see the view from his window.

He said: "It was like wow, it's a war zone out there - it's so real!'.

"When I got the letter about it I couldn't believe it.

"I've probably got the best view. Zombie movies and sci-fi is my thing - to have it at the end of your street is amazing."

One couple's home was right in the middle of the action, and the outside of George and Ann White's ground-floor flat was transformed.

George said: "My wife passed the time of day with Bob Hoskins and a woman upstairs got a kiss from him.

"Our dog Bruno was bemused - when I took him outside he was lost. It was as if he'd been taken somewhere else.

"It's a one-in-a-lifetime experience to see how a film is made.

"We'll definitely go to see it when it comes out."

Residents had been warned not to be shocked to hear gun battles during the filming, which has been months in the planning and continues tomorrow night.

They watched as a major scene involving a helicopter - simulated by a giant wind fan - was shot in the street.

The film paints a grim portrait of a Scotland cut off from the rest of the world in the wake of a deadly virus.

During a 30-year quarantine Scots scientists develop a cure for the disease but the victims have been forgotten by the rest of the world.

Most of the film, which also stars Greenock actor Martin Compston, has been shot in Cape Town, South Africa.

Publication date 01/05/07

Posted by: Davie Doo, Greenock on 12:09pm Tue 1 May 07
It sounds like Port Glasgow on a Monday afternoon!

Plenty of Bob Hoskin look-alikes floating about the Port, Plenty of Guns and Helicopters too!

Port Glasgow is what you call ****!
Posted by: Pat, Glasgow on 1:12pm Tue 1 May 07
So Haghill looked like a war zone. HA HA thats funny
I used to live in Appin Rd www.itat.co.uk/files/hhill.jpg
My kid is at the window (far left, 1 up).
it'll be a war zone again once they leave
Posted by: hodgie on 2:47pm Tue 1 May 07
stayed and 29 was there on Sunday night , wondered what had happend . Thought a mini riot had taken place
Posted by: Incentive, Glasgow on 3:09pm Tue 1 May 07
The production company must have spent a packet on this scene... I'm sure the neds would have done it for a bottle of buckie each! (if not, for free).
Posted by: Jim, Vancouver Island on 7:12pm Tue 1 May 07
Davie Doo.............what a wonderful ambassador for Greenock you are.............I am sure all the readers on the world wide web are now much more enlightened regarding the Port...........numpty!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Jimmy, Haghill on 12:35am Wed 2 May 07
Of all the streets in Haghill they use Marwick, Which is full of Junkies.
The place actually just looks normal, John Wilson must see this sight everytime he looks out his window
Posted by: june, hanwell,london on 5:40pm Fri 11 May 07
arrived from london to surprise my sister who lives in aitken street.got a taxi from airport only to find that her street had been destroyed and windows boarded up cried all the way to my brothers before i found out they were making a movie.
Posted by: p evans, Temple, Texas USA on 6:40pm Fri 11 May 07
Sorry the locals were upset at the state of their street. My son is a producer on this film, so we were excited to see the "set" he was working on that day. Hope all has returned to normal (except for any stray junkies, that is), and that everyone there had some fun from the experience. My son loved Glasgow and working there.
Posted by: security team, glasgow on 1:27pm Mon 21 May 07
hey i was working as part of the security team on this film it was great to work here we had the neds n junkies sayin am gawny dae iss n at wen really they were too busy trying to see what was happening to do anything funniest thing was a smackhead shouting "HOLLYWOODS CAME AE HAGHILLL" lol was great to work there and on the film set back to workin on still game set now but lol
Posted by: Old resident, Glasgow on 2:27pm Sun 27 May 07
It was fascinating walking up Marwick Street and seeing all the props strewn over the street. I was born in the street and got some great pictures of the set. Will certainly be going to see the movie when it comes out -
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