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Interesting! I am already now eager to see that!
$3m Young Cleopatra begins Egyptian shoot
Antonia Carver in Dubai
18 Sep 2007 21:46
UK film, TV and theatre company Stagescreen Productions begins shooting The Young Cleopatra, the first in a series of historical features, in Egypt on November 4.
The shoot will take place at the Egyptian Media Production City (EMPC), a partner in the project, and on locations in Alexandria and around the Nile.
The $3m film, billed as the story of how " young Cleopatra, Princess of Egypt, fights for her life, discovers love, and emerges as a goddess", is directed by Richard Platt. DoP Ken Brinsly will work with a largely Egyptian crew.
The EMPC has sales rights for the Arab world, and a 25% share in world rights outside the UK and Australia.
"We could shoot anything in Egypt," said Stagescreen founder and producer Jeffrey Taylor, who is now casting in London for the lead roles. "If you're looking for exotic locations, it's the place, and it's inexpensive."
Taylor, whose previous credits include Gurinder Chadha 's What's Cooking? ( with Lionsgate, 2000), i s planning to shoot around half his Young Legends series in Egypt.
Youssef Cherif Rizkallah was appointed head of the international sector at the EMPC in January this year, charged with cutting the red tape and competing with Morocco, Tunisia and Jordan as a destination for foreign crews.
The EMPC became a free zone four years ago, but Egypt has struggled to shake off its reputation for unwieldly bureaucracy and censorship. Rizkallah emphasises that the process has become more streamlined.
"We've been in a slight slump for a few years – films like The English Patient, which went to Tunisia, and The Mummy, could've been made in Egypt," he told Screendaily. "We hope that The Young Cleopatra and other productions will give a clear sign to producers that we can accommodate these kinds of films."
John Heyman's $120 million production Nefertiti is scheduled to begin shooting in spring 2008, although the deal with the EMPC is yet to be confirmed.
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