Shanghai Noon was my first time working in Canada, and looking back now, it was one of those jobs where the location and the experiences away from the set became every bit as memorable as the film itself.

I was out there with Peter Skehan, my dad, Steve and Alan Poole, filming in Calgary and across the surrounding Alberta locations. The scenery was absolutely jaw-dropping. For someone seeing that part of Canada for the first time, driving out to work each day through those huge landscapes was an experience in itself.

The film starred Jackie Chan, Owen Wilson and Lucy Liu, and getting the opportunity to work alongside Jackie and his stunt team was something very special. Watching the way they constructed action was a real education. Their timing, precision and inventiveness were extraordinary, but just as impressive was the trust and understanding between the members of the team. They seemed to know instinctively what everyone else was going to do.

Brad Allan was part of that team on the film. He was an extraordinary performer and action designer who went on to become one of the most respected people in the stunt industry. Sadly, Brad is no longer with us, which makes the memories of watching him and the rest of Jackie’s team working together even more significant.

For us there was plenty of practical work — gunfire hits, steam effects, breakaway props, wagon rigs and all the controlled chaos that comes with a Western action comedy. Working so closely alongside Jackie’s team also showed me another way of approaching practical action: effects, stunts, performance and camera all being developed together rather than as separate disciplines.

Away from filming, Calgary itself was fantastic. We were lucky enough to be there for the Calgary Stampede — “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth” — and that was an experience in itself. The whole city seemed to embrace it, and it added another dimension to an already memorable location.

There are certain jobs where, years later, the memories aren’t just individual effects or sequences. You remember the country, the people, the scenery and the life you had while you were there. Shanghai Noon is definitely one of those for me.

Great practical work, an unforgettable introduction to Canada, and the privilege of watching Jackie Chan and one of the finest stunt teams in the world operating at the top of their game.