Nurturing rising talent

Importing heavyweights from the world ofmusic and film isn't exactly rocket science. Anyone can do it, given the right contacts. But use the expertise of those high-punchers to pick up a few tips and create top-quality exports all of your own, and you begin to deserve some recognition.

That's exactly what the UAE did this year, taking things one step further by not only nurturing stars of music and movies for the country and region, but also sending them out to the world.

The UAE has long been famous for jetting in superstars from Hollywood, Bollywood and beyond. But 2010 has been different, as seeds planted by bringing in the A-listers to help inspire, teach and encourage local musicians and filmmakers have finally started to grow.

For the past six years, it has been the vision of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) to produce international film directors, producers and actors. Enter Emirati Ali Mostafa, who this year saw his film — the first feature-length local production to be set in Dubai — released to a global audience.

Mostafa picked up his first cheque from DIFF as an Arab filmmaker competition winner and the money produced his first feature film, City of Life. The movie received critical acclaim throughout the region. Now Mostafa is heading onwards and upwards and was even spotted dining with actor and comedian Sasha Baron Cohen earlier this year at Caramel, DIFC. Export number one, ready for Hollywood, flying the UAE flag.

Emirati Abdullah Al Ka'abi could hardly believe his luck when after just a year in Paris to study filmmaking he found himself shooting his first short, starring celebrated French actor and Hollywood regular Jean Reno. Now he's ready to take to the world.

"I have been blessed," said Al Ka'abi, a former model and TV presenter. "I always knew I wanted to be behind the camera. I guess it shows that if you really want something that bad, it will happen."

The first stop for Al Ka'abi is the Dubai International Film Festival this month, where Reno and the other cast and crew of his film, The Philosopher, will walk the red carpet at the premiere. The film's script is an adaptation of Baggio's Story, a short story by American author Charlie Fish, about a man determined to give up everything he owns but who finds out it's not so easy.

"I read the story and knew it would be perfect for a film," recalled Al Ka'abi. "So in April, I contacted Charlie [Fish] to ask if I could adapt it. He immediately agreed. And I set out to write the script.

"The underlying themes are very Middle Eastern in a way," he added. "It's about companionship, brotherhood, friendship and hospitality — things that are ingrained in Arabic culture."

Export number two. With producer Cyril Deleye and actor Reno on board, plus a budget of Dh810,520, Al Ka'abi is going places.

Deleye said the film is a credit to the talent in the UAE. "We are excited to bring it to Dubai to show this amazing work by a very talented Emirati."

Having spent his teenage years in Dubai, Lebanese film maker Mahmoud Kaabour decided Abu Dhabi would be the obvious home for his movie company, Veritas Films. In October, Veritas Films scooped multiple accolades at the world premiere of Teta, Alf Marra (Grandmother, a Thousand Times) at the Doha Tribeca Film Festival. The Audience Award for Best Documentary scooped him an impressive $100,000 (about Dh367,245), along with a special jury mention for Kaabour himself.

The 48-minute film, a UAE-Qatar-Lebanon co-production, was made possible by the financial support of the Doha Film Institute and Screen Institute Beirut but also marked the first film to be made by Veritas Films' new Abu Dhabi office at twofour54, Abu Dhabi's dedicated content creation community.

Twofour54's Chief Operating Officer, Wayne Borg, said 2010 has been a year to remember. "This year we have generated more than 1,000 jobs and now have more than 100 companies operating from our media freezone for content creativity. We wanted to provide filmmakers and other media the right infrastructure and framework to excel in the region."

That's exactly what's happened with National Geographic, Financial Times, CNN, film companies and other media outlets all opting to work from the Abu Dhabi base.

"It's about developing a media and entertainment hub, encouraging talent and diversifying creativity, especially for the young people," added Borg.

This year brought success for Kaabour but it's onwards and upwards from here. On receiving the awards, Kaabour said he was "humbled by this honour and deeply moved".

It's the first of many tales he plans on telling. "I hope that this recognition will serve to remind my audiences of the labour and love of grandmothers the world over. This is just one of the many previously untold stories that my films will bring to the world in the future and I look forward to filming them soon."

While the local and regional talent is making waves, we can't ignore the fact that Hollywood and Bollywood bigwigs are also bringing the movies to Dubai.

Just last month A-lister Tom Cruise led a stellar cast of talent into Dubai for the filming of Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol (MI4). The film is one of a handful of Hollywood productions to be shot in the UAE, but local authorities have ramped up marketing efforts to bring more productions to the country. MI4 is scheduled for release across the US in December 2011 and it is widely expected the film's UAE premiere will be at the Dubai International Film Festival next year.

Jamal Al Sharif, Managing Director of Dubai Studio City and Dubai Media City, said, "Dubai attracts so many kinds of film projects. Last year, we approved 1,100 shooting permits — some films, documentaries, TV shows, music videos. Bollywood is a big part of that, it's very important. Dubai can handle so many other things. This year, there were eight or nine films made in Dubai."

That's thanks to a serious push and attractive incentives offered to filmmakers by Dubai Studio City, says Al Sharif. "For the past five years, Dubai Studio City has been marketing itself to develop the local film industry worldwide."

That includes another of the world's big film industries: Bollywood. Plenty of Bollywood filmmakers hit our shores this year. The Will You Marry Me crew featuring Shreyas Talpade and Mugdha Godse shot a chunk of their romantic comedy in Dubai and Fujairah in June, while, Salman Khan's blockbuster Dabangg was the first film to be shot on location at the Dubai Metro in May. A honeymoon sequence replete with the lovers enjoying the Metro ride was the highlight.

 Taking music to the world

The export of music has been just as successful this year with a number of artists taking the sounds of the UAE to the world. Artist and music producer Dion Mavath was once the DJ who supported the big acts when they came to perform in the UAE. Renowned for his club nights in Dubai for more than ten years, he worked tirelessly to build a strong base for the local dance scene.

But 2010 was Dion's year: In May, he was approached by the Sony International record label who wanted him on their books. A music video and number one single later, Mavath is making waves as a UAE export. Originally from Australia, Mavath considers the UAE his home having spent almost all his life here.

"I cannot believe I have been given this opportunity to take my music to the world. I am happy to fly the flag for the UAE on an international platform," he said.

Teenager S1 hit headlines in September after shooting his first music video with hip hop legend Flo Rida. Having always dreamed of a career in the music business, rivalling the likes of Sean Kingston and Justin Bieber, the UAE-bred student said he thanks the country for his success.

"Dubai is a place you can find support. It's a place you can launch a music career. People have helped me here."

Now signed to Music Master Middle East, along with other internationally recognised artists with UAE ties such as Therese Neaimé, Zaravo and Abri, S1 said the local distributor gave him endless support.

Edward Bagnall of Music Master said, "We are committed to bringing the best international music to the Middle East but we are also determined to help talented local artists where possible. We're committed and 2010 has been a bumper year."

The exports tell just half the story, as almost all of them said they were inspired to aim high having witnessed the stars on stage in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Rod Stewart, Spandau Ballet, Tinie Tempah, Stromae, Jermaine Dupri, Tom Jones, David Guetta, Harry Connick Jnr and many others have all come and gone in 2010.

Abu Dhabi-based Flash Entertainment seems to have single-handedly cornered the music market in the capital.

Last month it was Prince, Linkin Park, Kanye West, Kelis, Gabrielle, Sugababes, Corrine Bailey Rae, Sean Paul, Chris Willis, Chipmunk, Fabolous, Basement Jaxx... the list really does go on and on.

Flash director John Lickrish says it's all been about making things affordable in 2010. "I think the economic downturn has made everybody more aware about the value of money, which can only be a good thing. We've all had to make decisions and be more conscious. The big thing for us was about continuing to provide first-class entertainment at affordable prices. Something I believe we've managed."