FILMING GOLD DIGGER

The team shot in various locations across Dubai.

Dubai investor comes forward to fund Italian feature film

Gold Digger concluded production in Dubai last month. The Italian feature film, whose cast includes Oscarwinners Danny Glover and F Murray Abraham as well as well-known Italian actors and actresses, was produced by Marvel Group’s partners Dr Abdullah Alshaibany and Sherif Thomas. The Line production for the project was undertaken by Dubai-based Icon Art Production and its CEO Zak Zorro, who is also executive producer on the project.

“This is the first project I have invested in, and I believe this movie has the ability to make it big on the international scene,” explains Alshaibany, who is also Chairman and founder of Emirates International Investment. Passionate about films, the Emirati national says this is only the first of several investments he is planning in feature films. “We are a private investment company and we make it our business to know about good projects. I have always been passionate about films so when we heard about this project, we decided to get involved in it.”

According to Alshaibany, at least 30% of the shooting for the film was completed in the UAE while the rest of the production took place in Italy.

The team shot for 14 days in Dubai and six weeks in Italy. “This movie is in keeping with the cultural sensitivities of our people and is like a family action movie, so we are sure it will also do incredibly well in this market.”

One of the big aspects of this project was the line production.

“We did the entire line production including location scouting, transportation, sourcing the venues, providing the technical team, equipment, art, stunt team and so on. Apart from the main characters’ roles, most of the cast was sourced from the UAE and they were from different nationalities. In fact, we had more than 200 local cast throughout the film schedule on set as part of the cast,” explains Zak Zorro.

One of the big challenges was securing permits on time.

“We are so grateful to all the support provided by the various government authorities in Dubai including the Dubai Film and TV Commission, Dubai Police, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Airports, RTA, Ministry of Defence and Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, RTA – Abra Waterways and so many other entities, all of whom supported us. We shot in 15 to 20 different locations across Dubai such as the airport, SLS Hotel Dubai, Meydan Hotel, the Emirates Grand Hotel helipad, Sheikh Zayed Road, Qudra Desert, Dubai Skylines, Meydan Bridge, Business Bay, Sheikh Zayed Road, Meena Bazaar, RTA Abra and so on. We had only five days to secure all the permits and all the relevant departments in Dubai ensured we got them on time.”

Zorro says what makes this production important is the involvement of a private Emirati investor. “Very few private investors have come forward from the local market to fund a film, so Mr Alshaibany has set the stage for new beginnings in the market.”

The Gold Digger team had a press conference last month to announce the conclusion of the Dubai segment of the shoot.