Hydra has officially been moving to Hollywood rhythms since 10 a.m. on Thursday, as Brad Pitt arrived on the island by catamaran to take part in the filming of the movie “The Riders,” in which he stars. Parapolitika.gr secured exclusive photos of the famous actor’s arrival, while, according to the same sources, Brad Pitt is staying in a shipowner’s villa above the Hydra Municipal Stadium. In fact, in order to get there, he was reportedly escorted by 20 people. A lookalike of the actor has also arrived on the island. It is noted that the U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, also appears to be heading to Hydra, as she has a friendly relationship with the Hollywood star.
See the exclusive images secured by parapolitika.gr from Brad Pitt’s arrival in Hydra (Photo Credit: NDP – Nikos Zotos – Pavlos Karabatsis):
As of today, visitors to the island of the Saronic Gulf will apparently be walking the same alleyways as Brad Pitt and the rest of the actors and crew of “The Riders.” “The island will remain fully accessible during the filming days, and daily life in Hydra will continue as normal, without restrictions for residents and visitors,” George Koukoudakis, Mayor of Hydra, told parapolitika.gr. “Anyone who comes to Hydra for the Clean Monday long weekend may end up walking alongside Hollywood actors,” he added.
Of course, the production team and technical crews—numbering around 300 people—have been on the island for days, as parapolitika.gr first revealed with exclusive images and information. Since last week, they have been working intensively to prepare the locations and install special systems, equipment, and sets that have been unloaded onto the island in recent days from open-type ferry boats, so that everything will be ready for the start of filming.
The central meeting point for the entire production is in front of the old “Hydrousa” hotel, where changing screens for the actors have also been set up. Parapolitika.gr also secured video footage from the areas where all members of the production are working, as well as from the moment the actors’ costumes arrived on the island on Wednesday night, so that everything would be ready by Friday. According to parapolitika.gr sources, the film’s shooting schedule will include both morning and evening scenes, while the action scenes to be filmed in the alleyways and in the mountains of Hydra are eagerly anticipated, as a large water tank has already arrived on the island to be used for artificial rain.
Hydra transforms into a 1970s film set
Well-known corners of Hydra have been appropriately adapted to serve the needs of the film without altering the island’s aesthetic. Those responsible for executing the production, in close cooperation with the Municipality of Hydra and local business owners, have arranged to lease several shops at the island’s port, which will be used either as storage spaces for equipment or as natural sets for the filming itself.
The film will also feature around 70 supporting actors, including many Hydra residents, to provide the necessary sense of authenticity to the scenes. Speaking to parapolitika.gr, Dimitris Tsagaris, a local businessman who owns the well-known and beloved pastry shop “Tsagaris,” famous among Hydra visitors for its traditional Hydra almond sweets, said that all supporting actors have already signed contracts and will be paid for their participation. As he mentioned, he will appear in about three scenes in which he will have an active role and speak in Greek, and he is awaiting Friday’s meeting to learn more about his role. Scenes will also be filmed outside, possibly even inside his pastry shop, which is located in one of the island’s most characteristic alleyways—something that will add extra touches of authenticity to the film, given that the pastry shop has been operating since 1930.
Filming will also take place at Hydra’s oldest taverna, “Lulu.” As owner Irini Kalamaras told parapolitika.gr, “Lulu” will serve as the setting for the final scenes featuring Brad Pitt on the island. The well-known taverna, established in 1865 and the first to be built on the island apart from the grocery stores that existed at the time, will be suitably adapted for the production’s needs and transformed into a period-style café. As she noted, during Brad Pitt’s stay in Greece, the production team has taken every possible measure to ensure that no one can approach him, and she hopes she might be able to take a photo with him.
