Looking for a Location Expert in the Middle East

[Nick Gardner]

Give it up. He isn't serious. That was clear when he couldn't narrow it down to less than the entire middle east. He'll learn through doing. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him think.

Edit, Hey Tom, We are happy to help you, if you want, but being vague, and mysterious is bullshit and helps no one. I Have shot in -

Israel
West Bank
Gaza Stirp
Egypt
Syria
Jordan
Bahrain
Iraq
Iran
Lebanon
Your net is wide so lets include Turkey,
And many of the countries that border on these countries. it's complicated and hard. Honesty is the best policy.

Just sayin.

Nick

[Meryem Ersoz]

These are very, very different countries with major differences in religion (Sufi, Sunni, Shite, Druse, Zorastrian, Christian, Jewish) different languages, and different feelings about Americans from place to place. In Lebanon, for instance, it makes a big difference if you have a Muslim fixer and you are shooting in a Christian neighborhood, or the reverse. It is critical that you get a fixer you can really trust about money, because he will be telling you how much things cost, how much permits cost and how much to bribe or how to handle gifts. The fixer must understand the government in order to get clearances and permissions and keep you out of trouble. In some places there is still shooting going on (the kind with bullets). In a way, your request is like asking for a fixer or location manager in Europe. Europe is a big complicated place and so is the middle east. I'd narrow it down a little...

This is a very good summary -

You want a fixer for each country you shoot in - even each region within these countries - the local governments can be very disparate.

It is probably impossible to find one fixer who can navigate that entire side of the world effectively. You will want local guides you can trust who understand the politics and know the players.

[Tom Hamilton]

If you need help with Saudi Arabia, PM me.

[Tom Lowe]

Let me try a different approach. I am looking for a location researcher to help us find locations in the middle east. That includes lots of countries, but I cannot be specific about countries. Is this more clear? It might be nice if that person spoke Arabic, but it's not a requirement. I am not looking for any fixers... at least not yet.

And Nick, you should really watch your tone.

[Abdelhay Elanbassi]

Hi Tom,
If you need to shoot in Morocco or you need some photos please let me know we have many photo galleire to see just shoot me an email abdel (@) morocco-film-production.com

www.onlyMFP.com

Thanks,
Abdel

[Nick Gardner]

Copy you. Tone is toned down. No offense meant. I think you are the kind of guy who is going to do what you are going to do, and you will learn from the result. That is all.

If you are shooting in any of the countries I have been to, shoot me a PM, I'll pass along my contacts. you most certainly will need a fixer in every country you go to.

Have fun,

Nick

[Steve Das]

....you most certainly will need a fixer in every country you go to.
Have fun, Nick

Sounds like you have alot of experience...just wondering what do the fixers do ?..I guess bit of anything and everything.

[Ash Worth]

Sounds like you have alot of experience...just wondering what do the fixers do ?..I guess bit of anything and everything.

Primarily they will help you not get, killed, arrested, kidnapped or robbed. After this they will save you a ton of money, pay the right people to get you permits or not, find subjects and locations. This is the Middle East we are talking about. If you are on a professional shoot you need a local fixer to help you. No discussion. If you don't get one you are stupid. Simple.

[Nick Gardner]

yup.

[Rob Gardner]

Tom, look, nobody can help you if there is no context. If you want architecture (like the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem or Petra in Jordan) then that is one thing. If you want deep desert scenics, or natural rock formations, then that is another. If you want camels or wild life, or remote village life, then that is another. I can tell you that I just finished a 90 minute documentary about the art and architecture of the Islamic world (it was just broadcast on PBS nationally last Friday night) and every building and every country was a different set of challenges. Remote production in the desert can be particularly dangerous (I have had a camera truck stuck in deep sand in the western desert of Egypt and we barely got it out). I have had lenses stolen in Jerusalem, and food poisoning in Iraq. There are many challenges and the safety of the crew and the success or failure of the production is directly related to the experience of the local people who are supporting you. You will have no problem finding people in any of these countries who will be happy to take your American dollars and tell you all kinds of nonsense about how connected and skillful they are. Many of those people will leave your bones to bleach. If you are really planning on doing this, you will need to get serious.