Tom Cruise meets Colombian mayor to discuss 'Mena'

Medellin (Colombia), Aug 23 (IANS/EFE) Hollywood star Tom Cruise met the mayor of the northwestern Colombian city of Medellin to discuss the filming of his upcoming movie "Mena".

"It was a friendly and productive meeting that lasted more than an hour," said mayor Anibal Gaviria, adding that Medellin Film Commission members and Dynamo Producciones executive Andres Calderon also participated in the meeting.

Cruise plans to spend a few more days in Medellin to get some work done on the shooting of "Mena", the mayor said.

The 53-year-old actor thanked officials for their support and said he felt "comfortable" in the city, Gaviria said.

Cruise plays Barry Seal, an American pilot who worked for Medellin drug cartel leader Pablo Escobar and later became an informant for the US Drug Enforcement Administration, in "Mena".

"Cruise is living in Medellin. He's gone to different restaurants to eat and has spent time with the people," the mayor said.

The Hollywood star was impressed with the "beauty of the mountains" in Medellin, Gaviria said.

"His comments about the city were positive and he has an extremely positive impression of Colombia."

Cruise shared some ideas about how to turn Medellin into the "film industry capital of Latin America", the mayor said.

--IANS/EFE

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