Iceland is a country that looks like a thousand countries and a few planets. This incredible place is home to glaciers, Viking waterfalls, geysers, and the most serene landscapes overall. Documentary production in Iceland is exciting, revealing, and simply magical for all who are involved in it. And for the viewers of the final product!
A short guide to documentary production in Iceland
What’s it like doing documentary production in Iceland? For starters, it’s a tad more expensive than in continental Europe. Why? Because Iceland is at least three hours away by plane from anywhere else in Europe. This means you’ll have to carry around everything by air to your destination, including gear and actors. Iceland being so remote, prices are also higher than anywhere else in the country of long, complicated volcanoes names. You are going to get your money’s worth out of your production, but before that, you do need to know it’s expensive to film there.
Another important aspect of documentary production in Iceland has to do with the general weather of the country. Being one of the most unpredictable countries on Earth when it comes to the weather, you can enjoy great sun one moment, just to be rushed away by a storm the next second. This is why hiring a professional to look after your schedule in terms of temperatures and possible storms is a common thing to do for filming crew shooting in Iceland. It’s not cheap, again, but it’s going to save you from a lot of trouble.
Finally, shooting a documentary in Iceland is all about you and your team doing your homework and respecting the heritage and culture, as well as the natural wonders that this country is offering. Wherever you’re filming, make sure you’re following not just the law but also local traditions. Listen to the people, and they will tell you what to do, and whatnot.
Facts about Iceland that are worth documenting
Documentary production in Iceland is all about taking those unique facts about the country and turning them into a video worth watching and sharing. Did you know that Iceland was the very last place on this planet to be populated by humans? Almost two-thirds of the population of the country has settled in Reykjavik, the capital city of the country, ever since their discovery of the place 1.000 years ago. With an incredible Nordic culture and traditions, the Icelandic people are surely a great documentary topic.
It’s no wonder then that Icelandic folks believe in things like trolls and elves. Before you laugh, remember that you believe in Santa and his elves, so there’s not much difference there! And if you think about Icelandic Christmas, it’s not just -30 degrees frozen souls. The hot springs you can find everywhere in the country are open to the public all year round and are a wonder of nature for sure. Dare to take a swim? Make sure you go in slowly.