Written by new-contact on Mar 7, 2013. Posted in On Location

Namibia Film Commission disputes Mad Max 4 location filming damage claim

The Namibia Film Commission has disputed claims that Mad Max: Fury Road damaged desert landscapes during its shoot last year. George Miller’s sequel filmed on location in the Namib Desert, but an environmental report accuses the production of causing permanent damage.

“They added tracks in untouched areas,” local tourism operator Tommy Collard told news agency AFP: “What is worse is the film crew tried to remove the marks they left themselves by dragging nets over them, ripping plants out ... One cannot rehabilitate the landscape of the Namib Desert.”

The Namibia Film Commission said it had “no reservations” after a series of set visits during the Fury Road production. It criticised negative media coverage of the shoot, describing it as “unjust rhetoric” that was “completely unacceptable”.

The rehabilitation process [at each location] took place during filming and continued well after filming, [and] the process is scheduled to be finalised by the end of March.

Namibia Film Commission

“We must state for the record,” the commission added, “[that] the rehabilitation process [at each location] took place during filming and continued well after filming, [and] the process is scheduled to be finalised by the end of March. Hence, it appears premature for the activities to be assessed until work is completed.”

The commission added that the Mad Max team spent at least USD11 million in Namibia and employed more than 900 local people.

To find out more about filming in Namibia click here.