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Jacqui, our staff member from the UK has been in correspondence with Johnny, an Extra working on the new Mads Mikkelsen film Valhalla Rising. I have created this page to share Johnny's experience with his kind permission. These are exclusive updates you will find only on MadsOnline.net and I ask they not be reproduced without consent. If you would like to share the information please feel free to link to this page.

Thanks to both Jacqui and Johnny for their contributions.

Diane

Valhalla Rising – A look from the other side

We are proud and privileged to introduce you to Johnny Guitar from Scotland, musician, singer/songwriter and actor, who is currently working as an extra on the set of the long awaited ‘Valhalla Rising’ being shot in the beautiful wilds of the Scottish Highlands as I type!

Not only is Johnny an extra, he has also composed a beautiful piece of music titled ‘Valhalla Fog’ which you can listen to on Johnny’s website here - Johnny Genetic.

It is a haunting piece which, as Johnny describes, invokes an eerie sense of the crew stranded aboard the Viking ship following their escape from Scottish shores. The electronically produced rhythm sections create the atmospheric sounds of crashing waves and seagull calls as the crew drift uneasily through the fog towards the unknown shores and the waiting native tribes of Louisiana or Newfoundland.

Do make sure you visit pay Johnny a visit – when there, click on the ‘Valhalla Fog’ link in the media box on the top right hand side of his page and enjoy! Johnny would also welcome any feedback as he has already submitted a demo of this to the powers that be. So please let us know what you think.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Johnny for giving us this unique and exciting insight and of course bringing us news of our favourite actor, Mads! We appreciate it more than you could know!

June 26th 2008

Hello Jacqui.

Yes we are having a good time here on set coping with the rain which Nic (Nicolas Winding Refn - short for typing only) loves! We got a bonus for the fight scenes one day when it was pouring down and these scenes may be used for the trailer! The location/views here are fantastic. I am Scottish and have not seen better!

Mads gets on great with everyone and at mealtimes we are all always together, with picnic meals being delivered to the set. Mads actually carried a tray of puddings up the hill which was received with warm feelings by all!

We Extras admire Mads for his patience and conviction, especially in this cold rain and through other difficulties like having to remove granite rocks, etc from the set, which he may land on during filming! Even though he is beside us, we all let him concentrate on his acting without distraction.

Gary Lewis is on set and is happy to hand out the tea!

The principle boy (who’s first acting experience this is) is in good humour and even has his own trailer! He hides from make-up whenever possible and knows when he is distracted when on camera and says so. He greets everybody with smiles and chats confidently. He’s loving it here too, even in this tough weather, but the hot chocolate keeps him going!

That’s it for now; I will be back on shoot around the 11th July when I will be playing the part of a Pagan clansman from the Clan Ranald. They are the ‘beardiest’ men and their chief is the owner of the ‘creature’ (Mads!) – I may be killed by the creature if it escapes….!

PS. They are filming for a ‘making of’ DVD and there will be only one woman on set!

~Johnny

Hope you continue to have fun out there, Johnny and we wish you every success with the demo! Enjoy your break; we are looking forward to hearing from you soon.

by Jacqui