![\"timurbekmambetov-a\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/227\/2015\/04\/timurbekmambetov-a.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nTimur Bekmambetov is currently out there promoting the horror movie Unfriended<\/i>, which he produced, and along the way he has been fielding questions about the remake of Ben-Hur<\/a><\/i>, which he is currently shooting in Rome. And, just as Unfriended<\/i> was inspired by Skype, Bekmambetov has revealed that his own version of Lew Wallace\u2019s \u201ctale of the Christ\u201d will be influenced by social media too.<\/p>\n Bekmambetov discussed his plans with Thompson on Hollywood<\/a>:<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m using more of YouTube videos to find ideas and style for the camera work and how people behave,\u201d the director admitted. \u201cThe chariot race today is like Formula 1. It\u2019s a different technique, with a lot of whip pans and zooming [and VFX by Mr. X].\u201d And there\u2019s an assortment of digital cameras being used on the movie (Red, Alexa, GoPro).<\/p>\n \u201cBut it\u2019s a real race with 32 horses running in a cloud of dust and the actors love it,\u201d Bekmambetov said about the six-week chariot shoot. It\u2019s been scary, as is occupying Fellini\u2019s old office at Cinecitt\u00e0. But he\u2019s trying to bring \u201cBen-Hur\u201d into the 21st century. \u201cUnfortunately, everyone knows the name but only the chariot race and naval battle (being tackled by Scanline VFX).\u201d<\/p>\n However, this adaptation of the Lew Wallace novel by Keith Clarke and John Ridley will be more about forgiveness than the more revenge-minded best picture Oscar winner directed by William Wyler and starring Charlton Heston.<\/p>\n \u201cWe live in the Roman Empire today \u2014 we share the same values they had 2,000 years ago,\u201d Bekmambetov emphasized. \u201cAnd it\u2019s so relatable, so contemporary and so scary. It\u2019s about who we are and very political too. It\u2019s the same drama happening in the same locations as the Roman Empire.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Incidentally, several journalists are visiting the set of Ben-Hur<\/i> in Rome right now. One of them is my friend Steven D. Greydanus, who hasn\u2019t said anything about the set visit itself, per se<\/i>, but has been blogging and tweeting from Rome here<\/a> and here<\/a>.<\/p>\n James and me, not on a set of BEN-HUR, but randomly passing by a set of HBO's \"Rome\": pic.twitter.com\/pZpXdf2nDx<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Steven D. Greydanus (@DecentFilms) April 14, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n