Rupert Friend films 'Youth' in Sant Elm – film glamour between fishing boats and café tables

Rupert Friend films 'Youth' in Sant Elm – film glamour between fishing boats and café tables

HBO production with Palma Pictures brings camera work and local hosting together

Yesterday afternoon the usually quiet Sant Elm briefly turned into a small film set: trucks with equipment, lights, cables, voices on loudspeakers and excited passersby stopping to watch. Amid the activity, British actor Rupert Friend prepared for scenes of the new HBO series "Youth"; the production is working together with the local company Palma Pictures.

Anyone who drinks their morning coffee at the harbour knows the sound of the boats, the longing for distant places in the air and the smell of the sea. The set fit unobtrusively into this backdrop: technicians, lighting crews, flatbed trucks, but also neighbours still carrying their shopping. It was not a big show with red carpets, but concentrated work between the pier and café terraces – exactly what briefly enlivens a small place.

The series the team is helping to produce tells the story of a woman in her fifties searching for new paths after a separation, caring for elderly parents and struggling with an adult son who is not yet truly independent. The director is British artist Dawn Shadforth; according to announcements, the series' tone will blend sharp-witted humour with an honest family portrait.

For Mallorca this means: on days like this small businesses benefit, as detailed in Our office is the island: When filming becomes an opportunity and when it becomes a burden for Mallorca. Hotels host additional crew members, restaurants provide catering, and local craftsmen assist with sets and props. The presence of an international production brings temporary traffic and traffic regulations, but it also generates income and experience for local service providers.

Passersby reported an uncomplicated approach by the film crew: barriers were explained, routes kept clear and schedules arranged so that the fishing operations were hardly disturbed. Young technicians from Palma mixed with international colleagues, and the sight of a well-known actor like Rupert Friend was a pleasant diversion for many.

Productions choosing Mallorca as a filming location also have an image effect. Scenes shot here show the island not only as a holiday backdrop but also as a working place with crafts, gastronomy and people living their everyday lives. Such impressions can later contribute to reputation and new projects – a small cultural export, so to speak.

Of course, balance is important: residents want to keep their rhythm, and the production must show consideration. From the observations on site the balance on the shooting day appeared surprisingly pragmatic: crew and locals found ways to get along, and the sounds of the equipment were calibrated so that the shooting day in Sant Elm did not turn into a state of emergency.

A positive, almost banal observation: children throwing stones on the beach stopped and pointed at the cameras; the owners of the little café on the square kept serving sandwiches and cola; in the evening tranquillity returned as the lights went out and the crew drove to the next location. These scenes are what made the shoot a pleasant memory for many.

For the island's residents, encounters with film crews can also be inspiring: workshops, short-term jobs or contacts with creative professionals often arise alongside the shoot. Those who work nearby learn the routines, from logistics to makeup – small learning effects that can last longer than a single day of filming.

Outlook: more scenes are expected in the coming days. For Sant Elm this means being prepared for further days of film activity – perhaps with different shots, different characters, but the same basic feeling: an island that works and remains deeply itself.

And for those who happened to pass by yesterday: the evening ended as usual, with the sound of the sea and the scent of grilled fish. Only some people continued to talk about the man who had performed in front of the camera that day – and about how Mallorca also has room for series stories.