EUROPEAN FILMMAKER TO SHOOT FANTASY MOVIE IN KENYA

Kees Kasander, one of Europe’s most prolific film producers will be on a fact-finding mission to Kenya come June. He will be scouting locations for a major feature film he has in pre-production, and he will also be exploring Kenya as a filming destination more generally. Kasander will be travelling with co-producer and long time friend Charles Liburd, who has executed several projects in Kenya.





Kasander’s latest project is a €5 million fantasy feature film. He will be visiting locations where some of the scenes from the film could be shot. Kenya is famous for its locations, boasting a wide range of geographical zones, competent film crews and great climate.
It is notable that the flow of international films looking to shoot in Kenya has dried up since the heyday of 2005 which saw high profile projects like The Constant Gardener, Transit and The White Masaai.





This is in a large part explained by the introduction of the South African Film and Television Production and Co-production Incentive, which provides tax rebates to international productions. Introduced in 2004, this has led to several films opting to work in South Africa as opposed to Kenya. The recent blockbuster film Inception featured a number of scenes that were set in Mombasa, but were filmed in Morocco.




It is clear that Kenya is missing out on significant opportunities in international film. Kasander himself will be shooting most of his film in South Africa.
The second agenda on Kasander’s trip is therefore to consult with leaders in government and in the private sector, to see how Kenya can improve its competitive edge in the global film industry.
Kasander is the winner of 4 Golden Calf awards and in 2010 he won an Outstanding British Film Award at BAFTA for the film Fish Tank. He has produced over 100 films in an illustrious career in film and television.
In the rapidly changing world of international film, Kasander and Liburd are very well connected and a seeking ways to make official co-productions viable in Kenya.

KEN WATANABE WAS SHOOTING IN KENYA BEFORE INCEPTION ROLE

The Japanese actor Ken Watanabe gave an interview recently during a day-long press junket for “Inception,” the new film from director Christopher Nolan which opened July 16.
Watanabe, 50, spoke about his role in the new film, a part written expressly for him by Nolan.
“I had no reason to decline this project,” Watanabe said. “I was shooting a Japanese film last year in Kenya when I was asked to come to L.A. When I heard it was from Chris Nolan, I said, ‘Okay!’”
Watanabe said Nolan, with whom he worked on the inspired 2005 blockbuster “The Dark Knight,” is keenly familiar with his style of acting. Also, the chance to play a contemporary character that was not based on being Asian—such as in “The Last Samurai”—was irresistible.
In “Inception,” Watanabe plays Saito, a wealthy and connected Tokyo businessman who offers thief of the subconscious Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) an arrangement he can’t readily refuse: the chance to earn his way home. Watanabe said that he recently received a call to discuss being in a new movie with one of his “favorite directors,” but he wasn’t at liberty to reveal the name. He insisted that he makes it a point not to look too far ahead, and to be ready when the next quality role comes up.
“I try not to set any goals for my next project,” he explained. “New projects come suddenly, so I need to leave my canvas wide open. I’ll go anywhere.”

INCEPTION HAS A MOMBASA SCENE SHOT IN MORROCO

Inception the movie said to be a contemporary sci-fi actioner set within the architecture of the mind, will be out soon. It has scenes shoot in Morocco to look like Mombasa.
The scenes take place in Tangiers which doubled for Mombasa, where Leonardo DiCaprio’s character Cobb, hires the characters Eames and Yusuf. A foot chase was shot in the streets and alleyways. This was shot in August, 2009.
On location, the movie has a shop labeled, Nyoike limited Kenya. Anyho, it also has a semblance of local shops selling African fabrics, and the architecture is also supposed to be very coastal.
In the scene, there is a chase pitting Cobb against dreamt-up pursuers. Cobb is known for diving into people’s dreams to extract information.