Oliver Stone closes Alexander set

Oliver Stone has summoned 20 armor-clad elephants and hundreds of actors to central Thailand to shoot scenes for his latest epic, Alexander. But apparently, the writer-director doesn't want anyone else around. "It's a closed set," said publicist Michael Singer. "It's to allow the production to go ahead without distractions." With few exceptions, the media has been barred from visiting the set of the film about Alexander the Great, which stars Colin Farrell as the gay Macedonian conqueror. Furthermore, cast members said they'd been warned not to take their own photographs of a battle scene being filmed this week in Lopburi province, 71 miles north of Bangkok. "We've been warned that if Oliver sees us with a camera, he'll storm over, stomp all over the camera, and personally escort you off the set," said an actor who asked not to be identified. The team is shooting scenes in which Alexander confronts an Indian king, Porus, during his invasion of India in 325 B.C. More filming is planned in northeastern Ubon Ratchathani province in coming weeks. Filming also took place on location in Morocco and at studios near London since the production began last September. The film is scheduled for release in November. Alexander costars Angelina Jolie, Anthony Hopkins, and Val Kilmer. It was unknown whether any of the stars will be filming in Thailand.