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Lucas to start shooting Star Wars episode II in Tunisia in September
Rick McCallum, producer of the Star Wars trilogy, explained “the assistance received from the Tunisian crew and from all the people of Tunisia as well as the breathtaking settings in the Tunisian desert made our shooting experience exceptional. We are in fact looking forward to coming back to Tunisia in the new millennium for the shooting of forthcoming episodes of Star Wars.”
For those who thought that Planet Tatooine, childhood home of Anakin Skywalker, was just special effects, a trip to southern Tunisia, near the sleepy oasis town of Tozeur is in order. Growing numbers of Star Wars aficionados are traveling to this part of Northern Africa to see with their own eyes the surreal lunar-like surroundings. Tunisia offers tourists guided tours to sets left behind from the original “Star Wars” productions that are located in different places throughout the country. Tourists can meet Tunisians who were involved in the productions, stay in the hotel where Lucas and his crew slept, and dine Bedouin style around the set.
The relationship between Lucas and Tunisians started in the 1970s. The first Star Wars episode was filmed in Tunisia. Lucas is said to appreciate the special lighting in the desert. McCallum noted “ there is a feel to the light, the buildings, the architecture, it is unique in the world.” The relationship between Lucas and Tunisia has grown stronger throughout the years and could be characterized as one of mutual benefit. The receipts from the ticket sales for the first showing of Episode One: The Phantom Menace in Tunisia were donated to the National Solidarity Fund, which benefits impoverished areas in Tunisia.
Tunisians are especially proud that a Tunisian was the art director on the set. Taieb Jallouli has become one of Tunisia’s best promoters and is traveling around the world to spread the word. His work is paying off and Tunisia is becoming a magnet for international film productions. The country’s rich and varied landscapes, the availability of good technical crews and the stability of the country all have contributed to the growth of the industry. The costs are relatively low; movies can be made for 90 percent less than in France.
The Tunisian desert lends itself particularly well to futuristic scenes. More recently, it served as the apocalyptic scenery for a futuristic dark comedy filmed by Cedric Klapish, a French director. An entire neighborhood of Paris in year 2065 was re-created in the middle of the Tunisian desert. Steven Spielberg also chose Tunisia to film “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and Anthony Minghella used the desert to re-create wartime North Africa in the critically acclaimed film “The English Patient.”
Aside from lending its landscape to international filmmakers, Tunisia has made its own marks in the international film industry. Tunisian directors and their movies are recognized more than are those from any other Arab country. Among the country’s best- known directors are Moufida Tlatli’s whose “Silence of the Palace” won the special prize at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival and Faid Bougdir whose film about religious tolerance “La Goulette” received international acclaim. Director Kalthoum Bornaz’s “Keswa,” a film about a recently divorced Tunisian woman, also has received international recognition.
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Table of Contents A crash course in 3000 years of world history |
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In September, the desert of Tunisia will once again become the backdrop for the shooting of another episode of Star Wars.