Emporio Square in Thessaloniki’s Ano Ladadika neighborhood has been turned into a movie set by the crew of the film “The Bricklayer,” which began shooting in the city yesterday.

The production crew included cameramen filming from balconies and with a drone circling above, while protagonist Aaron Eckhart and his co-stars patiently awaited and followed the instructions for the first shots of the spy thriller, which is directed by Reni Harlin.

The scenes take place on a summer day, and despite the low temperatures right now in Thessaloniki, the actors are dressed in light clothes, Bermuda shorts and short-sleeved shirts, and can be seen constantly moving between takes, in order to keep warm.

“Take off your jackets! Get in position!” the production managers shout after a series of repetitions. The final take is successful, and congratulations are shared.

Stalls selling used books, vintage jewelry and rosaries have been moved to the sidewalk, and extras are portraying customers at the tables of surrounding restaurants.

The American actor Aaron Eckhart was present at the shoot in the morning, while his co-star, Bulgarian-born Canadian actress Nina Dobrev, is expected to join the crew later.

Pedestrians were not allowed in the area around Emporiou Square during the shoot, which was expected to last until the afternoon. In the upcoming days, scenes are set to be filmed in Aristotelous Square, the Kapani Market, and the Ano Poli neighborhood.

In the “The Bricklayer,” by Millennium Media, Nu Boyana Film Studios Hellenic and Nu Boyana Bulgaria, someone blackmails the CIA by killing foreign journalists and setting it up to appear as though the service is responsible. As the world begins to rally against the United States, the CIA must bring its most brilliant – and revolutionary – agent back from retirement, forcing him to face his turbulent past while solving the puzzle of an international conspiracy.

For the purpose of shooting a specific important scene, the Thessaloniki City Hall is to be transformed to resemble the headquarters of the CIA. The particular rooms which will feature in the blockbuster have already been scouted by the filmmakers, and filming here will be carried out over the weekend, when the municipal staff have been asked to evacuate offices to be used. Producers have not shared many details about the scene with the municipality, but they have said that it will contain an important revelation.

“Thessaloniki takes the lead as a protagonist, featured in the movie. The city is being used as a live studio for a flurry of action scenes and intense interactions featuring the stars of the film,” Thessaloniki’s Deputy Mayor for Finance Michalis Koupkas told the AMNA radio station, “Πρακτορείο 104,9Fm.”

According to Mr. Koupkas, shooting permits for all locations were granted to the production company last year. Among them, Aristotelous Square, where filming will take place over two days, stands out, as does the Thessaloniki Concert Hall.

The contribution of the local authorities is important for the shooting of the film, especially that of the Governor of Central Macedonia, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the Deputy Regional Governor for Culture and Tourism, Alexandros Thanos, the Mayor of Thessaloniki, Konstantinos Zervas, the Film Offices of the region and the municipality, the Deputy Minister of Interior for Macedonia – Thrace, Stavros Kalafatis, and the President and CEO of EKOME, Panos Kouanis.

Source: AMNA