Previous productions such as Ridley Scott’s Exodus: Gods and Kings and high-end TV dramas Tutankhamun and Tut, all opted to shoot quintessentially Egyptian stories in locations other than Egypt.
This is a clear reflection on Egypt's recent turbulence which is deterring many filmmakers. At the time of going to press, many Western governments are still advising their citizens not to visit certain parts of the country.
These problems will of course pass and Egypt's long history in film and TV production, its exceptionally well trained below-the-line crews and production support will once again come into play.
Egypt offers a huge variety of beautiful locations and landscapes. From exotic beaches, soft sand dunes, rugged deserts and oases, to mountains, lakes, temples and historical sites (Pharaonic, Christian, Islamic, Roman and Greek).
In the course of a 90-minute tour I saw all the sites of Egypt - ancient and modern, urban and rural - and not only Egypt but the terrain and environment of any Middle Eastern or desert locale could easily be staged in the comfort of this state-of-the-art studio complex.”
Lynn Fero, VP, CBS TV Distribution
Egypt has two seasons - a mild winter from November to April and a hot summer from May to October. The only differences between the seasons are variations in daytime temperatures and changes in prevailing winds. In the coastal regions temperatures range between an average minimum of 14C in winter and an average maximum of 30C in summer. Temperatures vary widely in the inland desert areas, especially in summer, when they may range from 7C at night to 43C during the day. During winter, temperatures in the desert fluctuate less dramatically, but they can be as low as 0C at night and as high as 18C during the day. The average annual temperature increases moving southward from the Delta to the Sudanese border.
