- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: A LOOK AT THE FILMING OF 'THE ADVENTURES OF SINBAD'
- Date: 23rd August 1996
- Summary: CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA (AUGUST 23, 1996) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) FILMING OF SEQUENCE FOR "THE ADVENTURES OF SINBAD"/ACTORS ACTOR ZEN GESNER SAYS IT WAS A BIT LIKE WINNING THE LOTTERY. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE THINGS TO BE OFFERED AND I'M HAVING A BLAST TO BE HONEST. SINBAD IS EVERY LITTLE BOY'S DREAM AND IT'S BEEN MY DREAM FROM WHEN I WAS FIVE YEARS OLD. (ENGLISH) A
- Embargoed: 7th September 1996 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVAARMF7I047GRSW4PYCJ0MF19K0
- Story Text: A high-spirited version of the ancient legend of Sinbad the Sailor from "A Thousand and One Nights" has gone into production in Cape Town, South Africa.
Conceived by science fiction author and screenwriter Ed Naha, creator and writer of "Honey I Shrunk The Kids", the first series of "The Adventures of Sinbad" begins in magical and mysterious Baghdad, the centre of the known world in ancient times.
The series, produced on location in Cape Town and Toronto, Canada, stars Zen Gesner ("Dumb and Dumber") as "Sinbad", the swashbuckling sea captain of ancient Baghdad.
Gesner said of being chosen to play the lead role, "It is one of the most incredible things to be offered and I'm having a blast.
To be honest, Sinbad is every little boy's dream and It's been my dream from when I was five years old".
George Buza ("Quest For Fire", "Due South") plays the part of "Doubar", Sinbad's protective and fun-loving older brother.
Jacqueline Collen, ("Hercules", "Baywatch") is "Maeve", the beautiful and feisty sorcerer's apprentice who is on her own secret mission.
The dashing and daring Sinbad leads a band of valiant adventurers on voyages over unknown waters to mythical lands where he must confront terrifying monsters and match wits with evil sorcerers, winged harpies and powerful genies, all in the service of good over the forces of evil.
The lush and richly textured fantasy world of romantic Arabia reflects the Victorian painters impression of what region was like at the time; fantastic, exuberant and colourful.
Production designer and a coproducer of the series, Gary Mitchell is responsible for the overall visual look of the production.
"Because it's a fantasy period piece everything has to start from scratch ... and all these characters don't exist on a daily basis in present day so everything, literally everything has to be started from scratch." said Mitchell.
"The reason for choosing the main location in Cape town was simple", said series producer Jonathan Hackett ("Kung Fu - The Legend Continues", MOWs "Derby"), "We've got some really fantastic varied locations".
The ancient tale will be brought into the 90's by state-of-the-art computer animation and special effects.
Production began on the initial series of 22 one-hour episodes in mid-June. Release dates are; in Canada on September 7, the United States September 16 and worldwide by March 1997. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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