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In addition to the wild landscapes, there are financial reasons to shoot in Iceland. Tax incentives lure filmmakers, as the government operates a generous reimbursement program. Visiting film productions could get reimbursed up to 20 percent of their production costs while filming on Icelandic soil, a substantial benefit on films costing tens or hundreds of millions of dollars. To qualify for the rebate, filmmakers must establish a company in Iceland, or create an Icelandic branch of an existing company. The filmmakers then send details about the film to Iceland's Ministry of Industry, along with an estimate of production costs. Eligible production costs do not include wages for employees who pay tax in another country. "We wouldn't stand a chance without this rebate," said Dagfinnsson. While Iceland's environment is beautiful, it's very unpredictable. Weather patterns change rapidly, and foreign production crews have to be ready for anything. During filming for Ben Stiller's "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," actors and crewmembers were in a battle against fierce winds. "We were filming Walter Mitty August into September," said Dagfinnsson. "We had strong winds coming down in September when cold glacier air meets warmer air. We had Sean Penn's trailer capsize in the wind. We had to dig through (his possessions) and collect his weights so he could train in his hotel. It was that kind of weather where we were held inside the hotel for two days."
[Associated
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