Hungarywood or Hollybud - Which Sounds Better?

Jó napot kivánok everyone,

It’s nice to be back and blogging about where to go and what to do, and what to look out for in the Hungarian capital; and beyond, to all of Central Europe.

In the next few weeks I’ll help you plan your Mittel-European White Christmas, with for instance an overview of some of the best Christmas markets, plus a look at some of the best New Year’s Eve experiences. This as we make our way properly out of the two-thousand-noughties and into the twenty-teens.

But first, an update on what I like to call Hungarywood. It’s not just hype anymore. Eighty million dollar sound stages like Raleigh Studios just outside Budapest are doing brisk business, and Angeline Jolie is generating controversy with a movie she is producing here about the Balkan wars. She has set up camp high in the Budapest hills with Brad Pitt and an army of security guards, hangers-on and assistants in attendance, as well as all her children. But Brangelina aren’t the only big stars to have visited Budapest this year. 

Jeremy Irons has been back in town, and was seen hob-knobbing with none other than Robert DeNiro when he opened the latest in his worldwide chain of upscale Japanese fusion restaurants, NOBU – right here in Budapest.

Anthony Hopkins had a mild stroke while shooting the exorcism thriller ‘The Rite’ here in Budapest, saying the role had really taken it out of him. You can see a trailer here, if you dare.

Budapest can stand in for a lot of cities – Rome this time obviously. But it also has a unique flavour you can only experience by living the movie of your life, and popping over for a visit soon.

Scott Alexander Young is a Writer and Character Actor living in Budapest. His children's book The Wild Cats of Piran (Chronicle One) comes out in December.