Though Morocco is a tiny corner of North Africa, it boasts a rich and diverse topography. Guarding the Strait of Gibraltar, it borders both the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The snow-capped Atlas Mountains stretch across its center, while the vast Sahara Desert lies to its southeast. By the time the film industry flourished in the 20th century, people with cameras had discovered this place and began setting up camp in Morocco to shoot movies. Cities, mountain villages, and desert regions in Morocco gradually became recurring scenery on the silver screen, and the local location-shooting industry prospered as a result. That said, Morocco indeed possesses all the conditions a natural filming location needs. There is abundant sunshine all year round—the weather is "so good it’s frustrating"—with vivid color contrasts: the red Marrakech, the red Aït Benhaddou village, the red desert... and the snow-capped Atlas Mountains slicing across Morocco create a complex terrain and diverse landscape. All of these are backgrounds most favored by blockbuster directors like Duke. Ouarzazate, a small town on the edge of the Sahara Desert, has been inhabited by Berbers for generations. Ever since Hollywood directors discovered this feng shui treasure, the landscapes here have frequently appeared in the films of top Hollywood directors. Locals built a film studio where these directors shot, known as Atlas Studios. The ever-expanding studio now covers more than 150 hectares. Many films not only use this place for exterior shots but also build interior sets here. Just like Bollywood in India, this place has been jokingly dubbed "Mollywood." One chase scene in Inception was shot in the small town of Ouarzazate, chosen by Duke. Although the script set the scene in Mombasa, Kenya, Duke would not film in that country. In fact, nearly all Hollywood crews behave the same way. Most African scenes in Hollywood films are shot in Morocco. The crew cordoned off an alley and part of a street for shooting and temporarily closed the area. Relevant staff busied themselves preparing the set while Duke sought out Leonardo DiCaprio, the key actor in this scene. He stood beside an extremely narrow wall gap, repeatedly measuring the width with his hands, trying to gauge if he could squeeze through it during the shoot. Duke walked up behind Leonardo and offered a suggestion. "I think it’s better to use a double." Leonardo turned his head, looked at Duke, then at the narrow gap, as if he understood something. He widened his eyes, "Hey, Duke, do you think I can’t fit through that?" He glanced at the wall gap, then at Leonardo’s much broader frame. Duke said nothing but had a tacit look on his face. "You really think I can’t get through!" Leonardo confirmed, circling around Duke. "I’m telling you—I can do it!" Duke shrugged and patted Leonardo’s arm. "If you get stuck in there, I’ll hire a demolition team to get you out." Whatever the reason, the once-slim Leonardo DiCaprio evolving into a middle-aged man with a dad bod was undeniable. Compared to Duke’s somewhat lean build, he could indeed be described as broad and hefty. Once preparations were complete, shooting began quickly. Leonardo, chased by someone, darted into the wall gap from the alley, trying to squeeze through... Just as Leonardo entered the gap, a camera assistant immediately set up the camera on the opposite side to capture a front-facing shot. Inside the wall gap, Leonardo struggled forward. Although Duke had teased that he wouldn’t fit, the crew had already tested the site beforehand. Even though Leonardo had gained a lot of weight, he could still make it through just fine. Besides, no crew would let a mega-star like Leonardo DiCaprio take any unnecessary risks. After squeezing through with effort, Leonardo ran a few more steps forward, and Duke finally called the shot complete. Immediately, Ken Watanabe and James Franco, who had been on standby, entered the scene, and the crew got busy again with filming. Filming in Morocco wasn’t as tight-scheduled as in Japan. Besides, Duke had visited Kyoto many times before, whereas Morocco was relatively new to him. He made time to hire a local vehicle and driver and went sightseeing with Leonardo and James Franco. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝⁂𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖⁂𝕟𝕖𝕥 For a film-savvy tourist like Duke, traveling through the valleys between Ouarzazate and the Sahara Desert felt like stepping into a movie scene. Faint memories of various film visuals emerged—it seemed many movies had been shot here. Driving along the roads through the Atlas Mountains, their driver, who clearly recognized Duke’s group, professionally pointed out filming locations: this spot was from that film, that corner from another. But Duke and the others had their eyes glued to the scenery outside the window. As the car drove on, the views outside flickered past like scenes from a blockbuster. The already stunning landscape, paired with cinematic associations, took on an extra layer of mystique. To Duke, the view in front of him was no longer just scenery it was imbued with stories told through film. In the long, narrow valleys of the Atlas Mountains was that where the protagonist of Babel had walked? That ordinary village at the foot of the mountain—was it Jerusalem in Kingdom of Heaven? Among those majestic peaks were those ancient Egypt’s pharaohs, Cleopatra, and even God’s "Heaven"? These lands of yellow and red soil, jagged rocks, and gentle streams at the foot of the mountains truly possessed the grandeur of an epic film. Thanks to "Mollywood," many locals made a living through film. Cheap labor was another major reason why European and American film crews favored this place. During a lunch break, the driver took Duke and the group to a Berber village to see them weaving carpets. James Franco was convinced the homeowner looked very familiar—he swore he had seen him in a Hollywood blockbuster. Finally, Duke’s group visited the Atlas Film Studios’ exhibition area, though the Inception crew didn’t shoot there. Perhaps Duke’s bodyguard had tipped generously, or maybe it was because of Leonardo DiCaprio’s superstar presence—whatever the case, their driver-guide Imad was especially warm and talkative, eagerly explaining every building or scene they encountered. Walking through Atlas Film Studios even when facing professionals like Duke, Leonardo, and James Franco Imad continued to chatter on enthusiastically. "We have abundant sunlight, diverse scenery, and much lower costs than in Europe and America. We also have extras who show up at a moment’s notice—perfect for shooting Hollywood blockbusters," he said. "This patch of barren land has provided a livelihood for over three thousand people." Although the visitor area of Atlas Studios wasn’t large, every hall and scene introduced by Imad had a noteworthy backstory. The solemn Roman-style palace was the judgment hall in The Last Temptation of Christ. Not far from there stood the ancient Egyptian temple from The Mummy Returns, its blackened walls appearing war-torn. Turning into a courtyard, the elders in Alexander once held meetings there. A row of mud-brick houses next to it served as the slave market in Gladiator. Opposite them stood an ornate palace that belonged to the seductive Cleopatra in the French film Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra. As for the mirage-like castle in the distant desert, that was the Jerusalem Royal Palace from Kingdom of Heaven... In fact, every structure seen here no matter how exquisite or solid they might appear were all, in the eyes of professionals like Duke, just wooden and plaster replicas. The sun was gradually leaning westward. Duke and Leonardo stood on a high platform, gazing into the distance. In the slanting rays of the setting sun, three riders dressed in Arab robes sat steadily on horseback. From the distant "Jerusalem," they gracefully approached, passed the "Karnak Temple," then circled around a few ruins of ancient Greek temples before heading straight toward a Tibetan-style lamasery—which was where Martin Scorsese shot Little Buddha. This time-traveling tableau seemed like it could plunge a person right into the world of a Hollywood fantasy film. Morocco didn’t have much to do with words like backward or chaotic. Perhaps it was due to its unique geographical ties to France, or maybe because it was too close to Europe. In any case, what attracted not only Hollywood directors but also fashion photographers and designers were its rich colors and striking contrasts. While in Atlas Studios, Duke and his group also encountered a fashion crew. Under the photographer’s direction, many female models were shooting a fashion campaign. Seeing those models, Leonardo was the first to stop walking. Then Duke and James Franco also came to a halt. The reason was simple—they recognized someone among the models. Leading the group was none other than Victoria’s Secret Angel Candice Swanepoel. "Should we go say hello?" Duke asked Leonardo. The blonde with long legs was exactly Leonardo’s type. Leonardo shook his head. "Let’s go. They probably won’t finish anytime soon." When Candice Swanepoel nodded toward him during a break in shooting, Duke responded with a slight nod as well. Then he and Leonardo DiCaprio left Atlas Studios. Candice Swanepoel clearly wasn’t shooting a Victoria’s Secret campaign, but rather one for a different brand. In reality, ever since reforms in the early 2000s, being a Victoria’s Secret Angel no longer meant exclusivity to just one brand. Models who signed Angel contracts with Victoria’s Secret only worked for the brand a few dozen days a year—the rest of their time was free. And compared to the first generation of exclusive Angels like Heidi Klum, the pay today from Victoria’s Secret wasn’t very high. The most popular earned hundreds of thousands of dollars per year, while others made less than a hundred thousand. Compared to their income from other sources, that money was negligible. Yet many models still fought tooth and nail to become signed Angels, because a deal with Victoria’s Secret meant greater exposure and more fame. After shooting in Morocco for less than a week, Duke led the crew on to Paris. Hi For access to additional Chapters of Director in Hollywood (40 chpaters) Made In Hollywood (60 Chapters) Pokemon:Bounty Hunter(30 Chapters) Douluo Dalu: Reincarnated as Yan(40 Chapters) Hollywood:From Razzie to Legend(40 Chapters) The Great Ruler (30 Chapters) Join pateron.com/Translaterappu