James Bond film crew to close part of Istanbul

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

A number of scenes in the latest installment of the James Bond series are being made in Turkey. The film team will be Istanbul’s Eminönü for three weeks.

Scenes for the latest installment of the 007 James Bond series, “Skyfall,” will be filmed in one of Istanbul’s busiest and most crowded neighborhoods, Eminönü, following filming in the southern province of Adana. 

Starting April 16, an Eminönü street will be closed to traffic and pedestrians for three weeks. The production company will pay the owners of shops on the street 750 Turkish Liras a day to cover their three-week loss. The owners will open their shops but will not be able to make sales. 

Permission for the shooting has been obtained from the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Culture and Tourism Ministry, Istanbul Governor’s Office and Fatih Municipality. The film team is expected to arrive in the city on April 30. The shooting will continue until May 6. 

For the film, the Mısır Çarşısı (Egyptian Bazaar), Yeni Camii (New Mosque), Old Post Office, Bankacılar Avenue, Sultanhamam, Balat Kiremit Avenue and the Grand Bazaar will be turned into a natural film platform. 

The production company has already begun preparations in coordination with the Transportation and Coordination Center (UKOME).