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Looking for a Location Expert in the Middle East

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Tom Lowe

Tom Lowe

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Anyone know a good location scout/manager or location researcher in the middle east? Might be nice if they spoke Arabic as well.
 
The middle east is a big region ;-) I've shot all over and may be able to send you in the right direction. Where are you looking to shoot?

Nick
 
The middle east is all i can say. Need someone whose job experience is in finding locations there.
 
There is an indie film maker in Kurdish Iraq who I think has recently bought himself a Scarlett. His English literacy is good. I'll prompt him to respond to this post.
 
Here is a copy of conversation I just had on facebook for your information.


Ahmed Jaf

This is cool but where in the middle east?
I speak arabic and kurdish :)
blank.gif

Are these Red One guys? You think i can get a discount on a red ��


14 minutes ago
Bob Hart

  • They are red guys from what I can tell. I had thought you had a scarlett but it might have been one of the japanese 35mm format cams. I have initially mentioned you but not by name in case that caused problems for you.



12 minutes ago
Ahmed Jaf


  • it’s okay you can mention me, but no i don’t have a scarlet, i wantd to buy it but people told me not to , i have the NEX FS 100




11 minutes ago
Bob Hart

  • If you cannot post on reduser I can lost details for you. It usually takes a few days to get posting rights after you sign up to the forum. You don't have to be a RED owner. They let me in, even though I operate a SI2K.

    I'll let them know and pass on that you are on facebook. Do you want to give your email address or just let them search facebook for you?



10 minutes ago
Bob Hart

  • Correction to above reply. I can "post" details for you in a reply on the reduser forum.



8 minutes ago
Ahmed Jaf


  • i am not on reduser

  • sure

  • email is fine

  • facebook also

  • :)
    blank.gif

  • i dont know what they need exalty but I woudl be happy to help if they are in the area




5 minutes ago
Bob Hart

  • What is your email address.



5 minutes ago
Ahmed Jaf





5 minutes ago
Bob Hart

  • They are looking for locations and from your images from northern Iraq, there are some good places there.



4 minutes ago
Ahmed Jaf


  • yeah there are many nice places depending on what they are looking for




4 minutes ago
Bob Hart

  • Okay. I'll pass those details on for you. How's the post-production on Eve coming along?



2 minutes ago
Ahmed Jaf


  • thanks

  • well still in post

  • working on syncying music now

  • then we’ll see what well do




a few seconds ago
Bob Hart

  • Thanks for the news. Looking forward to seeing the final cut. I'll go now and post a reply to the reduser message.

    Cheers.



a few seconds ago
Ahmed Jaf


  • thanks a lot bob for remembering me

  • cheers

Just so the forum knows where his sympathies lie see attached image which was captioned - "Probably the best camera n the world at the moment the "Epic” from red."

 

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  • AHMAD JAF WITH EPIC.jpg
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Last edited:
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...
 
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
 
Rob Gardner said:
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...
Click to expand...

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

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.
 
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.
 
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