Hold the Oscars! Presidential Classic in the Works

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 14 January 2016)


"Next time, cover your head!". Leading lady gets instructions.

Filming of the movie 'Reis' (Chief), about the life of Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, will be done in Cyprus.  In this
regard, there is a rush to build a small 'Kasımpaşa' (the neighborhood
in Istanbul where Erdoğan grew up) in the village of Iskele.

Production will begin on 22 January and so Iskele village is being
made to look like the Kasımpaşa of the 1950s.  The producer of 'Reis',
Ali Avcı, told Hürriyet that "we put aside 4 million dollars to build
the set in Cyprus, where the climate and environment are right
for filming. Our director Hüdaverdi Yavuz will come to the island
tomorrow and I'll go there on the weekend. Monday we'll start filming
and it will be in theaters in March."


                    Tall order for a little guy.

"The film begins in the 1950s and covers Erdoğan's life up until his
imprisonment in 1997. More than 'President Erdoğan', the film will
portray Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Kasımpaşa." The role of Erdoğan's
wife will be played by actress Özlem Balcı to whom Emine hanım
once said "you're my favorite player. I see myself in you."

The childhood Erdoğan will be played by Batuhan Işık Gürel. As for
the role of the grown up Erdoğan, 200 candidates were auditioned and
the role ultimately went to Reha Beyoğlu.


Working on getting the Kasımpaşa swagger just right.