When Canadian director Sturla Gunnarsson and his crew set upon Iceland to film Beowulf & Grendel in 2004, they expected the usual complications involved in making a movie, but what they encountered made them wonder if the Norse gods were actually working against them. It turned out to be the most difficult project any of them had ever been a part of. While filming, the production team faced one disaster after another - the set and vehicle destroying weather, ill-fated pagan blessings and repeated financial crisis. Halfway through the production, the financing had not closed, the film was seriously over budget, and the bonder was alarmed enough to send a representative to Iceland. The entire production was put under intense scrutiny, while the cast and crew were fighting the onslaught of a ruthless Icelandic winter and diminishing daylight. The storm tore roofs of buildings and swept away equipment and Gunnarsson slowly seemed to take the characteristics and physical appearance of a troll as he struggled to fight gigantic obstacles. Two days before the end of principle photography, producer Paul Stephens admitted that it was a "miracle" that they were about to complete the shoot without having to close the 'bank'. The strong determination of the filmmakers was the one thing that seemed to be able to steer this troubled ship through the storms and guide it to harbor. ~www.waterfrontfilm.org