Angelina Jolie Film Tests Kenya s Appeal as Shooting Location

Kenyas attractiveness as a popular film location is undergoing its biggest test ever as the country attempts to secure location rights for the Richard Leakey film scheduled to commence shooting later this year. South Africa is among the major contenders and is said to be waging a major campaign to secure the project.

Four other countries are in contention for the project which film industry experts say may be the biggest wildlife-based film ever. Already actress Angelina Jolie (Tomb Raider) is assigned to direct the film which is expected to attract a major Hollywood cast.

Titled Africa, the film is based on Leakeyaa efforts to save the elephant which culminated in the torching of ivory in the 1980s.

The script is by Eric Roth, best known for the Academy award-winning movie Forrest Gump. He developed the story from four books on the life of the world-renowned conservationist.

But the Leakey film is more crucial for Kenya due its prospects for tourism promotion that could spar massive interest in elephant viewing in Kenya. I expect it to have same effect as the 1980s Dion Fossey story, Gorilla in the Mist, had in driving interests in primates in Rwanda, said Jim Shamoon MD of Bluesky films. His company is in negotiations for the film.

He said the story has the potential to outstrip the academy winning 1985 movie Out Of Africa by the sheer personality of Leakey and the current relevance of the conservation of elephants that he has championed for many years.

Shamoon sees the film injecting vital impetus in the conservation efforts as it generates huge ripple benefits for Kenya tourism.

Shamoon sees good prospects for the entire film being made in Kenya and is pursuing all possible avenues to ensure that the film is shot here. We have all the original locations cited in the Leakey story and a more superior scenery and I believe we have the capacity for the film, said Shamoon

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