When director Luc Besson wrote the first version of the script for Lucy 10 years ago, he intended for the action to be set in Taipei, Taiwan. He had gone to the city in 1997 on a promotional tour for The Fifth Element and loved the people and the feel of the city. When the time came to scout locations for this action-thriller, the filmmakers considered a few different Asian cities in which to film the picture — for budget and logistical purposes. Says Besson: “The funny thing is that, in the end, we shot in Taipei and picked the very hotel I’d stayed in 20 years ago. I couldn’t have come up with anything better than what I had on my mind all those years.”
The director enjoyed the shooting conditions in Taiwan, and he actively encourages other filmmakers to film their movies there. “The people who live in Taipei are the gentlest people I’ve ever met,” Besson enthuses. “The authorities are trustworthy and helpful with film crews. As well, you have all kinds of real locations — city buildings, seascapes, beaches, forests, mountains — all within 100 miles.” He pauses, “On top of that, this place has the best dumplings in the whole world.”
Making Lucy marked star Scarlett Johansson’s first time filming in Taipei. “I just loved being able to explore that city,” she says. “It was so welcoming. In some ways, just the fact that we were all so tired and jet-lagged and out of our element added to the disorientation of my character and the place she’s coming out of when she starts being affected by this drug.”
In Taiwan, it is customary to say prayers and give offerings to the spirits at the very beginning of any film production. Producer Virginie Besson-Silla recalls that experience: “On the first day, we had a table set up with food and drinks. When I came on set, I was like, ‘What is this table in the middle of the set?’ Someone said, ‘It’s for the spirits.’ It was a great experience, and I loved being able to go to another country and explore the local culture. I believe it brings a lot to the crew and to the film.”
Besson also fell under the spell of the country’s traditions and recounts his memory of the production’s first day: “Everyone was holding sticks of incense in their hands and said a prayer in Chinese. Then we bowed, facing north, west, south and east, to chase all the demons from the set. And it worked because we never had a single demon for the entire production. It was so sweet and touching to see that. No matter what your religion, communion is something common to everyone.”
Lucy is available starting Jan. 20 on Video On Demand. Check your cable system for availability.
© Universal Pictures Credit: Jessica Forde
