Jamal Al Sharif, Managing Director Dubai Studio City and Chairman Dubai Film and TV Commission.
DUBAI FILM AND TV commission (DFTC) recently completed a successful year since its launch at the Dubai International Film Festival in December 2012. Created with the aim of putting Dubai on the global map as a leading hub for film and TV production and to develop local talent DFTC has achieved much in a short span.
It’s been a good year for the team, Jamal Al Sharif, Managing Director Dubai Studio City and Chairman Dubai Film and TV Commission tells us. “On the productions side, DFTC worked closely with other government entities last year to facilitate smooth production processes for film and TV-makers. This was most keenly demonstrated with the Bollywood movie, Happy New Year, whose all-star cast filmed many scenes in Dubai last September. We worked in collaboration with Atlantis, The Palm, where a majority of the scenes were shot; Emirates, who flew the crew to Dubai; and the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), who provided logistical support to simplify the entire filmmaking process.
He adds: “Several other Indian films were also shot in Dubai in 2013. As a testament to the popularity of Dubai among Indian filmmakers and film fans alike, the production team for Welcome returned to the emirate in December to film its highly anticipated sequel, Welcome Back.”
The Happy New Year cast even sent DFTC a t-shirt signed by the stars and producers during the first poster launch of the film. Jamal says, “It was a pleasure to host the Happy New Year team. The production is a major milestone for Dubai’s credentials as a film location, with the story also being centred around the city. This is further proof of the special and long-standing bond between Dubai and India that spans across all major industries. Whilst filming here, the cast relayed to us that they found the city to be a glorious host and a perfect location in which to shoot.”
Hollywood actor Andy Serkis who came to Dubai for DIFF 2013 while talking to us told us why he thinks Dubai is an important place for the entertainment industry.
“Dubai is so perfectly placed considering the access to various cultures that it has. Filmmaking is a global thing, we work across all time zones, and you can be directing a film from the other side of the planet and have a connection, via technology, to access a stage somewhere else. Dubai is a fantastically expanding city and rightly so. It is balanced between Hollywood and Bollywood.”
Jamal echoes this thought: “The crew members and talent that came to Dubai for Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol have since become our ambassadors, conveying their experiences and opinions on shooting in Dubai to other film and TV-makers, their fans, and the public. This word-of-mouth publicity, particularly from filmmaker to filmmaker, helps to affirm and market Dubai’s production capabilities, consequently encouraging more Hollywood producers to consider Dubai as their shoot location. Geographically, Dubai is ideally positioned between India and the US, resting firmly between the two film industry giants, Hollywood and Bollywood.”
Vision of DFTC for 2014
DTFC also plans to encourage initiatives that promote home-grown talent and content, not just on a local level, but globally, too.
“In the first quarter of 2014, we are to launch Dubai’s first Production Directory, a key resource that will contain all the information needed to successfully shoot in Dubai, including necessary contacts, and listings of Dubai’s production entities.”
When it comes to crowd control DFTC works closely with local authorities to ensure smooth and safe on-location shooting. “Dubai Police, in particular, are extremely committed to helping those shooting on location. They offer all sorts of support including cordoning-off crowds and locking down locations.”
“Dubai has a perfect balance of everything needed to make a film look grand on celluloid,” Firoz Nadiadwala told City Times while shooting for Welcome Back last year. “Some of the locations here do not have a parallel in any other part of the world. Over here we get the right mix of prime cities of the world like Los Angeles, New York, Las Vegas, Melbourne etc so coming here resolves a lot of creative decisions. Plus the government is very supportive. Jamal Al Sharif and his entire team have been very helpful. I speak on behalf of the entire film industry, when I say, we feel very much at home here. When you are relaxed, it automatically reflects in your work,” Nadiadwala added.
According to Jamal, the advantages to shooting in Dubai compared to India are the diverse locations that Dubai offers.
“Every location has its own charm. Dubai has been blessed with a diverse and stunning landscape ranging from modern skyscrapers, turquoise seas and rose-tinted sand dunes to well-worn alleyways, gilded mansions and rugged mountains. As a result of this great variety of locations, Dubai possesses the advantage of being able to make any imagined location a reality and can also double for virtually any place in the world. On top of its locations, the emirate now boasts three recently completed and now operational sound stages. Those choosing to shoot in Dubai can take advantage of the locations and impressive infrastructure that we have here, whilst also shooting scenes meant to be set in India – the streets of Satwa and our luxurious hotels have previously been used to represent Indian markets and palaces, for example. In addition to the resources Dubai can offer, DFTC has been very successful in making Dubai feel like a home away from home for cast and crew.”