5000 years ago...

I watch the scene in which Perlman, as Conan’s father, is killed by Stephen Lang’s Khalar Zym, the latter fresh from his high-profile performance in Avatar. Lang, who plays the part of the murderer with quiet but deadly relish, tells me he did not think much of the original Conan film from 1982, although the movie is quite highly rated.

Given Hollywood’s penchant for reworking classics, I am reminded of Michael Caine’s quip – regarding remakes of such films as The Italian Job and Get Carter – that he would rather that someone remade the BAD films rather than the good ones.

One of the surprises to a novice on set like myself is that scenes are not shot chronologically –  i.e. a death scene that could appear at the end of the film could be shot on the opening day. Another eye-opener is that the script is not carved in stone but constantly evolving. The set is impeccably crafted, a tribute to the props department’s eye for detail as they recreate the world of 5000 years ago in which our story is set.

Conan, a Lionsgate production, is clearly one of Nu Boyana’s highest-budget flicks to date, a real monster of a movie. And talking of monsters, between scenes we have plenty of free entertainment from actor Bob Sapp, a former kick-boxing champion and American football star. Clearly the joker in the pack, Bob quips with the make-up people as they spray fake sweat onto his neck. "What are you tying to do, asphyxiate me?" growls Sapp playfully, a gentle giant with a deep baritone laugh who makes Mr T from the old A-Team series look small.

Filming is a crazy business requiring great concentration and also a tremendous amount of patience as you wait around between shots. Yet there’s an undeniable thrill to be had from seeing a story such as this unfold. I look forward to seeing the finished product and come away persuaded that its film industry is one of Bulgaria’s biggest assets. 

*Principal photography Conan started on March 15. It moves to another set in Bistritsa in a few days. Jason Momoa, cast as the adult Conan, is nominally the main star but he was not present on the day that I visited. Rose McGowan and Rachel Nichols, other stars in the film, were also away but thanks to Dona, I got a valuable insight into filming with the other actors.