COLABS x PEGASUS PICTURES FAM TOUR 2024 - Iceland: Portal to Another World
No sooner had we touched down at Keflavik Airport, had we found ourselves ready for another takeoff - this time aboard an all-terrain 4x4 with so much vertical lift it required a running start to ascend. Our mission? A scouting assignment out of this world - five action packed days documenting the Land of Fire and Ice. Iceland is a mystical, mythical destination, one which had spent decades captivating our imaginations onscreen, and one which would leave an indelible mark on our hearts (and multiple memory cards) in the days to come.
The host and captain of our vessel was Elli Cassata of Pegasus Pictures —an affable fellow with a playful sense of humor and boundless sense of adventure. Within moments of climbing aboard Elli’s elevated chariot to begin our scouting journey, one thing became certain - Iceland’s reputation among the most visually arresting film destinations on the planet is completely justified. With our heads on a swivel bypassing the lava plains and geothermal plumes outside Keflavik, we arrived at our first destination - Reykjanesta, or "smoking point," the outermost spot on the Reykjanes Peninsula. Here, the rugged coast and rhythmic Atlantic waves create an ideal film location, one which still bears a memorial piano from its role in Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. Elli informed us the flat igneous mesa we were scouting upon serves as basecamp during productions here — a clear sign our host had crafted a thoughtful itinerary with logistics in mind.
“I’ve sat in every seat around the production table,” Elli shares. Beginning his career at Pegasus Pictures in 2003, Elli gained experience in a variety of roles, from managing rentals to gripping. After ten years as a freelance Cinematographer in commercials and features, Elli returned to Pegasus, where he leads the Production Services division.
Continuing our tour of Reykjanes Peninsula’s scenic gems, we landed amongst the emerald crowned dunes of Sandvík - which doubled for the black sand beaches of Iwo Jima in Clint Eastwood’s war epic ‘The Flags Of Our Fathers’. Characterized by a diverse range of natural marvels—mineral-laden geysers, seaside cliffs, volcanic rock fields, and a hidden canyon of tectonic proportions - this region was the perfect introduction to Iceland’s dynamic charm. It’s no wonder Reykjanes has been featured in a wide range of prestige dramas, from Game of Thrones to Succession, Sense8, Black Mirror, and of course True Detective: North Country, which earned Iceland Film Commission the 2024 LMGI Award for Film Commission of the Year.
Passing through Reykjavik, we met Einar Tomasson, Iceland’s award-winning film commissioner—a warm, dignified advocate for their film industry—who shared insights into the country’s streamlined, production-friendly incentives, including easy application processes and quick fund retrieval. This simplicity, paired with government support and robust infrastructure, allows Iceland to meet Hollywood-level demands while nurturing a thriving local film culture. Over time, incentives have grown to stay globally competitive, with renowned auteurs like Christopher Nolan, Darren Aronsofsky, and Ridley Scott returning to capture Iceland’s cinematic landscapes.
Elli’s final transmission prior to our departure from Los Angeles was simple: ‘PACK. YA. DRONE’. In Iceland, where the landscape itself often serves as the antagonist in the story, aerial photography can paint a more ethereal picture. On day two, we roved a dusty trail through monochromatic volcanic fields along the F208 Road, stopping for drone deployment along the way. One launch revealed a trio of volcanic cones with red-laced rims, remnants of Iceland’s largest recorded eruption, just 600 years ago. Squeals of delight were impossible to suppress, so we didn’t bother trying. ‘Duuuude, what am I even looking at?!’ was an oft-exclaimed giddy refrain.
Ljotipollur, an adjacent crater lake, offered drama with its smoky turquoise water bordered by textured burgundy rock. From there, we touched down lakeside at Frostastaðavatn, with its brilliant azure waters. The glassy surface abuts stark remnants of lava flow, stacked against the shoreline like an accordion frozen in time. As if the tableau which lay before us couldn’t have been more captivating, our reverie was broken by the sound of hoofbeats approaching in the distance. Moments later, we spun around to witness a caravan procession of the island’s famed miniature horses galloping across the landscape, wild and free. Cue aforementioned squeals of delight.
On day three, we explored Iceland’s stark south coast, including Reynisfjara Beach—a blanket of polished black pebbles with columnar basalt reaching skyward to form a natural cathedral, and macabre rock towers jutting up from the outer tidal zone. You may recognize this locale from its starring role as Eastwatch-By-The-Sea in Game of Thrones. Across a marsh, Dyrhólaey Cliffs rest above the Atlantic with breathtaking views of its iconic arch rising dramatically from the ocean, and to the west, mossy cliffs overlook a moody horizon. In Vik, we grabbed a quick bite at a pizza joint slash outdoor gear shop, where Elli snagged hard hats, crampons, and a piping hot margherita pie. Next stop: Katla Ice Caves. Inside the cavernous shimmering blue walls, the ethereal light created a surreal, magical atmosphere. Outside the ice caves, our aerial images tell a tale of the elements: lava flows, wind erosion, glacial carving of basalt, and water making its veiny impression into the landscape on its voyage to sea. Continuing east along the coast, we discovered Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon’s icy panorama. Standing at the edge of the lagoon, the massive glacier resembles a painted backdrop. This epic location has a storied legacy in action films, playing host to James Bond chase scenes in A View to A Kill and Die Another Day, and doubling as a remote village in Siberia for Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. The glacial flow continues past Diamond Beach, where ice fragments adorn the shoreline like prismatic gemstones.
On day four, we were dazzled by one of Iceland’s under-filmed locations, a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered. Ingólfshöfði Nature Reserve, a flat, expansive floodplain, defies description. We were treated to a private tour aboard the owner’s tractor driven stagecoach—a wooden-planked, open air trailer designed to envelop visitors within an endless panorama. At the end of the line, with firm, wet sand beneath our feet, we exhausted every lens while discovering the watercolored landscape around us. Ingólfshöfði is a cinematic masterpiece, where scale ceases to exist, and the interplay of water, light, and shadow enhances the raw, untamed beauty of the natural world.
On our final day in Reykjavik, we toured the Pegasus office, meticulously bedecked with prized memorabilia. When asked to describe the secret to a successful dynamic with wife and Pegasus business partner Lilja Ósk Snorradóttir, who works as a producer and in development, Elli replied, “We bring out the best in each other. Her strengths are my weaknesses, and my weaknesses are her strengths.” We never did pinpoint any of Elli’s supposed weaknesses, despite spending twelve hours scouting with him for five days straight. Our immersive education in Iceland was peppered with adrenaline, jaw-dropping destinations, and an abundance of laughs.
Peagasus Pictures Memorabilia - Zippy Downing
As we returned to the tarmac where our adventure began, we were inspired by Iceland's narrative potential more than ever. Iceland isn’t just a place that a story gets told, it's a place that tells a story.