Friday 14 January 2011

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...