- Title: EGYPT-MORGAN FREEMAN Morgan Freeman films at Egypt's pyramids
- Date: 23rd October 2015
- Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (OCTOBER 23, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF GIZA PYRAMIDS ACTOR MORGAN FREEMAN AND FILM CREW FREEMAN WALKING WHILE BEING FILMED FREEMAN POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS VARIOUS OF FREEMAN VARIOUS OF FREEMAN WITH EGYPTIAN MINISTER OF TOURISM, HESHAM ZAAZOU FREEMAN POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) EGYPTIAN MINISTER OF TOURISM, HESHAM ZAAZOU, SAYING: "There is a directive by the government to decrease the cost of production for international films. I think [Morgan Freeman's] presence here will help us move towards that direction." PYRAMIDS
- Embargoed: 7th November 2015 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Egypt
- Country: Egypt
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA8ME3YRL3LD7CIG12U57F4IJ94
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman, known for "The Shawsank Redemption", "Million Dollar Baby" and "Batman Begins", arrived at the Giza Pyramids on Friday (October 23) to shoot his documentary "The Story of God".
Freeman is an executive producer of the feature, along with Lori McCreary and James Younger of Revelations Entertainment and National Geographic Channel. They announced in June that it would be a new global series exploring mankind's quest to understand the divine.
Freeman, who is also presenting the documentary, is said to be embarking on an exploration and reflection of God, immersing himself in religious experiences and rituals all around the world, as well as becoming a test subject in scientific labs to examine how the frontiers of neuroscience and cosmology intersect with the traditional domain of religion.
The crew's presence in Egypt caused a stir during the week when the country's censorship authority reportedly questioned Freeman's activities, said state-owned media Al Ahram, adding that no filming permits were applied for.
State Information Services, however, declared that the crew have been cleared for filming.
Egyptian Minsiter of Tourism, Hesham Zaazou, met Freeman at the pyramids, saying that the government is working on decreasing costs for international filmmakers.
"There is a directive by the government to decrease the cost of production for international films. I think [Morgan Freeman's] presence here will help us move towards that direction."
In addition to Egypt, Freeman will be filming in Jerusalem and India.
"The Story of God" is expected to air on National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo Mundo in 2016 in the U.S. and globally in 171 countries and 45 languages. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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