1. Commercial
Saudi extreme temperatures up to 52°C. The local
production crew were highly motivated,
experienced professionals. They were
counter culture
fantastically helpful and solved potential
problems before they had time to
manifest. I truly enjoyed the positive
energy that abounded during the shoot
and the opportunity to make a positive
contribution to Saudi unemployment.”
B
ayareq, the Saudi-based non- the commercials, he quickly established
profit organisation, recently positive team work ethics. “We created an
Crabtree ordered the stock from Kodak
commissioned a 10 spot television amazing level of trust in our production
Cinelabs Dubai, one of the latest additions
campaign with a message of hope suppliers and a solid commitment within
to the growing network of Kodak Cinelabs
for the young. The commercials convey our hand-picked team. More and more
in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
Bayareq’s belief in traditional work ethics film professionals signed up and enabled
“Rob had many technical questions and
and values and reinforce its objective ‘to us to strike a productive balance of talent
appreciated the fact that we always
transform Saudi - and eventually global - between the creative minds of Bayareq
responded quickly. He said we gave him
youth into a powerful and positive source and the blue-collar workers we hired for
the feeling he was in good hands in
of innovation, energy and leadership’ each spot.”
our facility,” states Manager Christian
through hard work, team work and a
Award-winning South African Director/ Richter. In addition, Kodak Cinelabs
sense of pride in every job.
Director of Photography, Terence Maritz, Dubai processed the stock and undertook
Rob Crabtree, English Executive was alerted to the project by his agent, telecine transfer through to full grading
Producer of international production Brigitte Janoschka of View-finder in with in-house colourist Dan Mitre.
company Europa Films produced Düsseldorf. “The campaign needed a
“Rob is very calm, precise and well
the entire project. He admits he felt different approach and Terence combined
organised, so it was easy to define his
committed to the “valid cause” after a distinctive look and feel. His trademark
needs,” says Richter. “We supplied negative
hearing only a few minutes of the initial gritty sense of reality was vital to the
film stock via our night box, which meant
discussion and was determined to roll up tonality of each spot,” remarks Crabtree.
the crew got the key to a box in which
his sleeves and lead by example. Taking
After a week of constructive boardroom they dropped the negatives for processing
time at the outset to explain to crew
meetings, the crew set off to shoot in outside our regular opening hours and
members the reason behind the project
numerous locations in and around Dubai, picked up raw stock for the next day’s
before discussing the
including steam-filled boiler rooms, an shoot. They always had access to film
style of
elementary classroom and the Formula stock stored under perfect conditions: a
1 racetrack, which Art Director, Brendon big advantage in our very hot climate.”
Poole, and his team magically transformed Kodak Cinelabs Dubai also provided daily
with steam and smoke effects. rushes on DVD, together with a report
on the negative. Richter concludes: “Rob
“I needed a versatile film that could was very pleased with our one-stop-
handle the different looks and lighting shop package. It was ideal for him.” To
conditions and Super 16mm Kodak which Crabtree responds: “Christian was
VISION2 200T 7217 proved to be my ideal extremely helpful, providing the best film
stock,” says Maritz. Choosing a mixed stock and a smooth service.”
lighting package, from 12kW flicker free
HMIs to Kino Flos with daylight and Post-production was completed in the
tungsten tubes, he combined the more Netherlands by Europa Films’ in-house
directional HMI Cinepars with soft Kino editing facility with additional 3D effects
Flos to achieve the final look. Maritz’s by company Renescent. ■
Below: 52 degree heat -
main tool was the Steadicam. “Richard Blue is cool - Mechanic TVC,
Rolf, the Steadicam Operator, was a the Dubai Autodrome tarmac
is melting so the production
pleasure to work with and my gaffer crew wet down the area for
and his team were great; there was the shot.
never a task too large
for them - even in
tough terrain and
40 InCamera April 2006