It’s an exciting time in Cadiz, with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz set to hit the city for filming this Sunday, residents are waiting with baited breath for a truely Hollywood experience – the film’s called “Knight and Day” and is set to be a sure fire hit!

San Fermin at our Spanish School!

There is some controversy surrounding the arrival though – after seven bulls escaped from the film’s set to run riot around the city, lightly injuring two women and prompting the town hall to place a temporal restriction on filming, saying how the production team’s new security plan needs to be bettered before they can continue.

The dramatic events unfolded on Sunday when the town hall suspended filming after the bulls escaped thorugh the secured doors and ran through the historic city centre.  Though word from the producer has confirmed that filming will begin again on Wednesday, the permissions for the Sunday – when Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz will be filming their scenes – is still inthe air due to the fact that the town hall has still not approved the production teams security plans.

Tom Cruise and his Spanish connection, his ex Penelope Cruz

At the moment the Hollywood stars are far from the drama – they are filming footage in Austria.  The part filmed in Cadiz is a recreation of the sanfermines festivals (which in real life actually take place in Pamplona, another Spanish city).  In the Spanish scenes, the bulls with chase the motorcycles and vehicles through the streets of the city.

It will be an exciting series of scenes though the actors themselves will not be putting themselves in front of the animals – that will be the job of their doubles given the risks involving stunts.

The last day of filming is scheduled for 23rd December 2009 – leaving, according to the director of Spanish production, José Luis Escolar, an investment of 7 million Euros in Andalucia – great news for the province and another example of how Spain is gaining prominance in the movie industry.  We’ll have to wait some time to see it though – the release date for the US is not until 2 July 2010!

Of Cuban roots, Cameron Diaz even speaks some Spanish

So until then you have the chance to visit the beautiful Spanish Cadiz, see where the filming took place (and maybe even see some filming if you’re lucky) and then on seeing the film, you’ll be able to recognise where you’ve been!  And whilst in Cadiz, it’s a great opportunity to take advantage of a chance to learn Spanish and so really get a feel for the city!