In addition to producing some superb directors and films, the Czech Republic and Prague have moved with the times and found another niche in filmmaking – location, location, location. As you wander Prague’s streets, you will no doubt encounter at some point, a slew of caravans and trucks snaking electrical wires into buildings, fans blowing wind or rain on an otherwise cloudless day or night, and if you’re lucky, a famous actor or two…

Even before the 1989 Velvet Revolution, films were being made here – in 1983 Barbra Streisand came to Prague to make Yentl and 1984 unusually saw Prague locations actually being used as the real thing by Miloš Forman in the film Amadeus. The beauty of Prague and the Czech Republic is that it can and has been used to stand in for countless other locations from Slovakia (Hostel) to London (From Hell). One of the biggest names in Czech filmmaking is Barrandov Studios, one of Europe’s oldest and largest. The studio was built in 1931 by Václav Havel (the ex-President’s father) and his brother Miloš and thus the country’s filmmaking status was set. Another name that is synonymous with filmmaking here is Stillking, a production company founded in 1993 and which often works in conjunction with the studio. With films, commericals and music videos being produced and shot, Prague has been making a name for herself in cinematic circles but many in the industry here admit that it was Brian de Palma bringing Jon Voight and Tom Cruise over to film Mission: Impossible in 1996 that really sealed Prague’s fate. Barrandov has gone from Nazi confiscation in 1939, making propaganda, to hosting (with Stillking) James Bond. Czech filmmaking continues to go from strength to strength: Jiří Menzel has just finished shooting another Bohumil Hrabal book; I served the King of England. The Red Baron (with Joseph Fiennes) is using local locations, as is – allegedly – a new version of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray. Ed Norton’s new film The Illusionist was co-produced by Stillking, and it benefits not just these big industry names when films are made in Prague and the Czech Republic; crew and actors get work too.

It doesn’t all go according to plan though. In September 2006 there was supposed to be a two day party and shoot on Charles Bridge for Louis Vuitton with Madonna providing a much anticipated free outdoor show as part of the documentary. The closure of the bridge for the event was initially approved but revoked later as ministers, politicians and travel agents bemoaned the loss, albeit temporarily, of Charles Bridge for tourists.

To be able to say “Hey, I’ve been there…” take a look at these films and play spot the location: Immortal Beloved, Blade II, From Hell, Casino Royale, Van Helsing, The Omen, Hellboy, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Shut Up and Shoot Me, The Bourne Identity, Eurotrip and XXX, among others. Mission: Impossible of course did get to use Charles Bridge as a location, as did Kanye West shooting his music video for Diamonds. Matt Damon is a regular in Prague, as is Elijah Wood. Heath Ledger has been known to party hard in the city that never sleeps, along with Vin Diesel, Liev Schreiber and David Thewlis. Prague 1 is the place to star spot, from the big spenders at Kampa Park to southern comforters in Red Hot & Blues. See if they’ll buy you a drink at Tretters, Ocean Drive or Barock and celebs love to club at Radost, Mecca and some even slum it at Roxy. Let’s see if the newly renovated Café Imperial will attract the stars like it used to.