Sam Mendes shares Skyfall secrets

London - Sam Mendes' previous directorial experience has been an "apprenticeship" to making Skyfall.

The 46-year-old filmmaker - who has previously made movies including American Beauty and Jarhead - is having his first experience of making a British film with the new instalment of James Bond, starring Daniel Craig and Naomie Harris, and he admits it feels like he has completed a course in directing and can now enjoy the fruits of his learning.

In a video blog posted on the official James Bond site, Sam said: "I've never made an English movie. I've made six movies and this is the first time I've shot in this country, which is an extraordinary thing.

Local shoot

"So I feel like the American years were my apprenticeship for doing the Bond movie."

Also seen in the video are shooting locations in the UK including outside Westminster Underground station and at an airport.

Skyfall is believed to have suffered budgetary issues meaning many of the planned foreign trips had to be cut in favour of a more local shoot.

The 23rd instalment in the James Bond franchise is set to be released later this year.

Watch Sam Mendes talk about the making of Skyfall here: