"Big Bend National Park on the Texas/Mexican border is one of
America’s least visited National Parks whilst also being one of its most
spectacular. The issue is that it’s just not that easy to get to, even
for Texans who consider a three-hour drive as a work commute. There is
no commercial airport within a four-hour drive of Big Bend and those
living near the entrance either appear to be in a cunning witness
protection programme or auditioning for Breaking Bad. It’s all a bit
sketchy down on the border.

"To my eye, the most visually
dramatic part of the park is the Santa Elena Canyon where the Rio Grande
has shaped towering cliff faces worthy of such a storied and relevant
National border line. There is no need for a wall when the canyon runs
1000 feet deep.

"The problem with filming here and many,
including the Oscar winner Tommy Lee Jones have tried, is that it has to
be an early start to get into the canyon pre-dawn and pre-tourists. I
think we left our motel at 3 am.

"There is something rather
special about filming on the Rio Grande. We could cross back and forth
into Mexico by wading out a few steps from the bank. I sense the
proximity to the border makes for tough folk in this part of Texas and
it certainly adds to a sense of belonging. As John Steinbeck said 'Texas
is a state of mind. Texas is an obsession. Above all else, Texas is a
nation in every sense of the word.'" - David Yarrow