Quincy Jones planning movie on Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - American music producer Quincy Jones is developing plans to shoot a movie about Brazilian music during next year's carnival celebrations, something he called one of the most spectacular events on the planet.

"You'd be surprised how many Americans don't know about Brazil's carnival. It's one of the most spectacular spiritual events on the planet," Jones said Thursday while doing prep work for the movie, tentatively entitled "Brazilian Soul."

Carnival begins in Rio Friday when the mayor hands the key to the city over to the Rei Momo, or carnival king.

Jones said the movie would be shot on high definition video and directed by Brett Ratner, who is currently filming Rush Hour 3.

The film would be shot both in Rio de Janeiro and in Salvador da Bahia.

The carnival in Salvador, a seaside city some 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) to the northeast, has become a growing attraction for foreign tourists in recent years because most of the action takes place on the streets, rather than in a stadium as in Rio.

Jones who has been visiting Brazil since 1956, visited Salvador's last year.

"This is life force music, that's why it's so powerful," he said.

posted by nscafuro @ 8:36 PM