Rio de Janeiro is the setting for Pel, production supported by Filme Rio-Rio Film Commiion

Filming on Pel , an Imagine Entertainment production, in partnership with Seine Pictures, about Edson Arantes do Nascimento, forever Brazil s soccer king, on his way to success, began in late September. Supported by Filme Rio-Rio Film Commission, the picture shows the ace athlete s journey from childhood up to the 1958 World Cup, when, at just 17, he scored Brazil s winning goal in the championship. The 10-year old Pel is played by Leonardo Lima Carvalho. From age 13 to 17, he s played by Kevin de Paula. Both were selected after two solid months of auditions.

The cast also includes Seu Jorge (playing Pel s father, Dondinho); Emmy-nominee Vincent D Onofrio (MIB, Ed Wood and Full Metal Jacket), in the role of Vicente Feola, Brazil s coach at the World Cup; Mexican star Diego Boneta (Rock of Ages), playing rival Jos , the man who gave young Edson the nickname that would become world-famous; and Colmn Meaney (Get Him To The Greek), as Sweden s team coach. The film is written and directed by brothers Michael and Jeff Zimbalist, nominated for an Emmy in 2010 for their The Two Escobars documentary.

In order to be used in this story about the poor boy who becomes the world s greatest soccer player of all time, the city and state of Rio de Janeiro underwent some transformation. The city of Mag and the Curicica district, in Rio, where chosen to portray Bauru, the city in the state of S o Paulo where Pele was born and raised. In turn, the 1958 World Cup matches were reenacted in club stadiums such as Campo Grande, Am rica and Portuguesa. SESC Quitandinha, in the city of Petr polis, is used as the hotel that hosted the Brazilian team in Sweden. Filming continues through November 28 and includes locations in the Urca Fortress and the Pal cio Capanema building, in Rio s city center.

I ve always been for exploring the theme of genius. And Pel is genius itself. He s an inspiration to his country , says Imagine Entertainment producer Brian Grazer. I am honored to be a partner of Imagine Entertainment and to tell the story of Pel s infancy and youth, the story of the origin of one people s hero and the soccer king, a man whose life inspired so many and who will now inspire a new generation , adds Seine Pictures Ivan Orlic.

The production includes other top professionals , among them Academy Award-nonimated cinematographer Matthew Libatique (The Black Swan, Iron Man and Iron Man 2), art director Dominic Watkins (The Bourne Supremacy), editor Naomi Geraghty (Limitless, Reservation Road, Hotel Rwanda), costume designer In s Salgado (City of God) and casting directors Marcela Altberg, Maria Vernieu (Silver Linings Playbook, The Black Swan) and Gail Stevens (Zero Dark Thirty, Slumdog Millionare).

The feature is scheduled for a May 2014 release.

LINK:	http://www.riofilmcommission.rj.gov.br/news/rio-de-janeiro-is-the-sett...
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