Spielberg to use Swiss town hall for television series

Reports say Steven Spielberg plans to shoot part of an upcoming television series in the Bernese Oberland. The series is to be based on Spielberg's successful film set in World War Two, "Saving Private Ryan".

Tourism officials in the region said the American director had decided to set part of the series, “Band of Brothers” in the town hall square in Unterseen, near Interlaken.

The Bernese Oberland tourism director, Hannes Imboden, did not say how much Spielberg’s film company would pay for the right to use the square, but said it had given the company permission to darken the facade of the recently renovated town hall.

The film company will cover the costs, estimated at SFr50,000, to paint the exterior to fit Hollywood’s image of a World War Two building, and restore it to its 21st century makeover when the filming is complete. The scenes set in Unterseen will be shot in September.

Imboden said he wanted to promote the filming to attract more tourists to the area. However, the association of Swiss film producers said they were angered by the leak to the media because a final agreement with Spielberg has yet to be reached.

swissinfo with agencies