The life of the great master painter and sculptor El Greco, or Domenicus Theotokopoulos, a Cretan-born artist of the Spanish school, is to be the subject of an ambitious Greek-Spanish co-production that is to begin filming later this year.

In an interview on Monday, director Yiannis Smaragdis said that everything was ready to begin shooting on location in the Autumn, starting on the island of Crete and then on to Venice and Spain.

Also involved in the project is Italy, where El Greco spent a major part of his life, while British actor Nick Ashdon has been cast to play the artist at the age of 27, shortly before he begins his journey to the western Mediterranean, and UK writer Jackie Pavlenko has co-written the script that was based on the award-winning book by Dimitris Siatopoulos, "God's Painter".

According to Smaragdis, the budget for the film is far beyond the means of the Greek Film Centre but he did not reveal the exact amount.

The film will also feature local actor and comedian Lakis Lazopoulos, who will play a Cretan shepherd that was Theotokopoulos' companion and protector in his travels, as well as other local actors, while the cast will also include several Spanish actors and the music will be written by Vangelis.

Source: Athens News Agency

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