Hello everyone

Why am I in Lithuania you may well ask? Apart from the fact that it is a truly beautiful place, its major city (Vilnius) is also the setting for the latest Highlander film: The Source. So - I am in Vilnius thanks to Adrian Paul and Davis-Panzer, waving a large flag of encouragement and support. I am also looking after the two winners of the set visit to Highlander: The Source. Laura Feingold won the Giveaway and Ruth Kaufman won the PEACE Auction item. Ruth's journal will be published on the official The Source website and Laura's on Highlander WorldWide's. Both of these winners are not due to arrive until Sat 12th so I am on my own on the evening of Friday 11th.

Now the challenge in writing a report from a film set is in trying to convey the atmosphere and the excitement without actually giving away any of the plot lines, characterizations, costumes etc etc. I will do my best...

Nov 2000: Six years ago I was sitting on what had become 'my' chair, in my long black coat, in the lobbied marbled surrounds of the 'Hilton Athenee' in Bucharest. Suddenly I heard the deep strains of Peter Wingfield's voice coming towards me... followed by a resonance that could only be Jim Byrnes. Highlander: EndGame was being filmed and I was there for a few days to witness at first hand the trials, tribulations and occasional joy of pulling something together that was huge, in impossible circumstances.

All of this comes back to me... how it will once again soon be Thanksgiving and Jim knowing just the right bar to go. (Peter is convinced that there isn't a worthwhile club or bar in Europe that Jim doesn't know.) These memories of that time come back to me as I wait in the lobby of our hotel in Vilnius, Lithuania - another Eastern European location, chosen for the shooting of the 5th film in the franchise: Highlander: The Source.

I am pulled out of these remembrances by those same resonances and moments later Peter and Jim were there in front of me. Amidst the laughter and hugs were 3 heads shaking at how it could possibly have been 6 years ago that we had repeated that scene? A few drinks in the bar later we left Jim entertaining the locals and Peter and I headed out for a very long night shoot in an incredible forest outside Vilnius.

I should say at this point that Vilnius is a stunning city, one that I would love to come back to (I feel a Highlander location tour coming on!!) - magnificent old churches and city walls, settings that would cost a fortune to construct for a film set.

The drive out is filled with discussions about life, love and the whole darned thing, but the underlying thrum of the entire conversation is that Methos is alive - and rearing to go.

As we pull into Base camp we see the main trailers and food tent that have been established. All is feverish activity with rows of trailers and tents lined up. There is no doubt that Highlander is very much alive and the energy levels are palpable.

In front of us is a trailer with 'Methos' on the door - no doubts about who lived here! It is 7pm and we are asked what we would like for breakfast. I order what Peter orders, thinking that it would be very welcome 12 hours later to have a large bowl of hot porridge and a plate with the 'lot' delivered and consumed. Imagine my surprise when ten minutes later it is delivered to the trailer and I am inducted to the world of 'night shoots'. This was the start of our day and at 12.30am we would break for lunch!

Peter's costume is carefully laid out for him and he quickly dons it and even though it isn't the quintessential long black coat or sweater, there is no denying who this character is. The deep color of the long sleeved t-shirt looks stunning against his coloring: "Why do so many people describe Methos as alabaster white when he has such a great Mediterranean skin?" I inquire, which leads to an interesting discussion on the number of Spanish who had migrated to Wales over the centuries and conclusions that Peter definitely has Mediterranean ancestors.

Peter takes me to Duncan MacLeod's trailer where I am greeted by Adrian, Alexandra and a very, very large Budino - their 'very' well behaved Rottweiller. Did I say he was large? Budino has two thirds of the trailer! LOL! Adrian has had a sign made for unsuspecting callers: "Beware of the dog!" I would certainly not like to be the one who burst into that trailer unannounced only to discover Budino waiting with interest. With Adrian and Alex there though he is as gentle as a lamb (the occasional Hungarian command maintains his calm demeanor).

I'm convinced that somewhere there is an attic with an Adrian, Peter and Jim portrait which is genuinely aging, because their flesh and blood counterparts appear to have discovered a genuine fountain of youth. Put simply they all are well and truly up to this movie not only in a physical sense but also in an emotional sense.

I accompany Peter to Make Up and a hair trim ("...to keep the continuity right..."). A long sleeved thermal spencer is added to his wardrobe to go under his t-shirt and then a very warm coat for between takes. All of them will spend a good deal of the night running between trees in light clothing and it is already bone chillingly cold.

As we head back to the car, to go to the actual forest for the shoot, Adrian comes towards us and I can't look at him without seeing Evil Duncan - he has the exact beard growth that we saw in "Deliverance" and when he puts on his warm coat for between takes it is the exact length and look that Evil Duncan had. This is a darker Duncan, no light-hearted Fitz party animal in this movie or in this place and time.

I am pleased because I have always thought that this look and character portrayal gives Adrian much more leeway to stretch himself dramatically and from what I have been told about the story, there is no doubt that the brooding Scottish hero will be very much in the forefront.

I want to know from Adrian how make-up can possible keep the beard growth at the right 'shadow' and length (given that scenes are shot out of context) but Alex tells me that Adrian looks after this himself after studying the Call Sheets for the day.

Picture a thick forest of Caledonian pines - long thin trunks with the fur at the top, swaying in the wind. It could be Scotland. I have 'never' seen such effective lighting and everyone is raving about the skill of the Director of Photography (Steve, an Aussie) and his crew. Brett Leonard has a superb eye for shot placement and composition and I enjoy standing behind him and Steve looking at what they are shooting for the screen.

Large, powerful horses stand snorting and pawing by the trees, ready for their many takes. The visual is stunning as hot moistened air clouds around their heads as they breathe out the night air.

Adrian and Peter disappear to start rehearsing for their first scene tonight. They will be required to race through the trees, escaping certain pursuers and I am reminded of "One Minute to Midnight" as they jump from tree to tree.

The galloping horses soon join the rehearsal, in pursuit of their quarry. The ground is very uneven and care has to be taken as pot-holes are discovered (painfully).

Soon 'ACTION' is called and we are away. Duncan MacLeod and Methos are once again joined in action, Methos desperate to survive and Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod determined to save him and himself and the world at large. God is in his heaven and all is right with the world.

Stay tuned for what else transpires that night as Peter reminds everyone what tricks can be learned in 5,000 years "Hey! I just channel Methos. Okay!") and Adrian continues to be everywhere at once: fighting off hordes of baddies; viewing the Takes on the Director's monitor... and watching a certain Mr Wingfield do his tricks..

Carmel Macpherson

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