Nicolas Chartier may one day film an international television series in Abu Dhabi, it was revealed exclusively to tabloid! by the French-born producer of such films as the Oscar-winning The Hurt Locker.
This was just a small part of an exclusive interview that took place on the sidelines of The Circle Conference, where Chartier participated as a panellist.
Are you considering using Abu Dhabi as a shooting location?
Yes, I'm in talks to shoot a television show about art thieves or something similar. Abu Dhabi has everything: luxury, international jet-setters... What's interesting about the city is that it's much more international than people expect.
When everything is finalised, I would like to scout for a multinational cast, including Emiratis.
You shot The Hurt Locker in Jordan. What do you think may be the greatest challenge being faced by large production houses, especially from Hollywood, interested in filming in the region?
We were lucky that the Jordanian Royal Family is very passionate about film and they helped us every step of the way with getting all the permits and the crew. Also, many Jordanians joined our crew and I was impressed by their level of enthusiasm to work and train so they can learn everything hands-on.
I don't think that there are many challenges in terms of getting permission to film, in that many cultures around the world are very similar with regards to what is and isn't acceptable for them. For example, if a production company from the US wanted to film in France but the subject is something that may be considered offensive for us, their permit request would be denied.
I've also learned that if you approach people with a good idea and ask nicely enough, you are most likely to be successful.
What is your impression of the film industry here?
There is passion in the UAE for film and there are many facilities available to help people realise their dreams. But they should not wait for others to do all the work for them. They should work on other people's movies, get some first-hand experience in everything that goes on in creating a film. That way, when they become directors they are able to understand and talk to different sections on set.
