Making movies...

Just over 3 years ago a group of keen writers and film aficionados pulled all their skills together to film a chapter of Paulo Coelho's book, The Witch of Portobello.

Nabil Alaihi, a Bedouin living in the desert of Dubai, age unknown, recounts his relationship with the mysterious and enchanting Athena, the Witch of Portobello. We've just made it public for the world to see for the first time since it was shortlisted for the DIFF in 2008.

This is an amateur production...we did it purely through an enthusiasm to create, whilst sharing skills, passion and drive to reach our objective under the artistic visions and directions of Maitha Bin Demithan. No specialist equipment was hired and we operated on a 0 budget with volunteers. The Emirati Film director, Waleed el Shehhi kindly supplied the Sony cameras and the film was edited at the English College, Dubai on minimalist equipment in the College's music room!!!

The film is an attempt to present Nabil Alaihi through the eyes of the people who inhabit the Gulf region. The physical presence of ‘being’ found in a harsh but beautiful desert landscape embraces an element of surrealism and it is the cultural, emotional and spiritual layers found in the respectful and colourful Bedouin lifestyle of the Emirati people, the local inhabitants of Dubai, which are recreated with authenticity.

Through the character of Nabil we have been able to promote Dubai from a local perspective. We wanted to show the world through the visuals, the soundscapes and the meanings they give, that the desert way of life in its simplicity and hardships can stop and make us pause to think and enjoy all that a given culture in its natural environment can provide. Tourists are not often given a chance to see the real Dubai and we feel this is a chance for us, even though small, to convey the message and to show the spirit of the desert from an Arab perspective, from people who live and work here and are part of the region.

Credits

Director: Maitha Bin Demithan

Assistant Director: Rawdha al Shafar

Producer: Buthaina Al Marri

Assistant Producer: Hend Bin Tamin

Screenplay writers: Maitha Bin Demithan, Ania Sikora

Storyboard Artist: Amnah Belhoul, Maitha Bin Demithan, Maryam Lootah

Cinematography: Maitha Bin Demithan

Location Manager: Maryam Al Shafar

Sets/Props Team: Latifa Al Gurg, Mada Al Suwaidi, Elsie Gilmour, Nada Ibrahim, Hessa Tamim

Equipment Manager: Noor Belhoul

Costume/Makeup Artist: Maryam Lootah

Art Advisor: Isabelle Hemphill

Production

Director of Photography: Waleed al Shehhi

Photography: Maitha Bin Demithan, Buthaina al Marri

Lighting: Ahmed Hasan Ahmed, Hend Bin Tamin

Audio: Aasem Abdulrahman, Hend Bin Tamim

Film Editor: Maryam Lootah, Buthaina al Marri, Rawdha al Shafar, Ania Sikora, Paul Sikora

Sound Mixer/Editor: Ania Sikora, Paul Sikora

Equipment Advisor: Dhahi Khalfan, Osama

Cast

Nabil Alaihi: Robert H Edwards

Athena: Elise Bailey

Viorel: Abdulla al Shirawi

Desert Soul: Grainne O’Mahoney

Calligrapher: Salah Sherzad

Sheikh: Ahmed Khaled al Mansouri

Sheikh’s entourage: Abdukraoof Bahadori, Jack Brear,

Omar Harb

Investor: Armelle Mansard Tainsh, Piers Tainsh

German Tourist: Oliver Miocic

Tourists: Gulden Bailey, Megan Cousins, Yolande Cousins, Thalia de Sa, Bryony Gale, Emelie Mard, Magali Moulin, Eddie Smith, Jo Whiteford

Special thanks to:

Dubai Ladies Club

The English College, Dubai

Latifa School for Girls

We know it has its faults, but we embrace them all and move ahead taking with us what we have learnt...



Nabil and Athena in Dubai


Now I want to go and make another movie...Let's start writing...