Film-making students ...

Networking is important in the filmmaking industry…period! You never know when you will get your "break" after a night of mingling and making contacts.

Filmmaking in the UAE is booming without a doubt, but let's be honest, what networking opportunities do we have here?

The Dubai International Film Festival and film competitions may be counted as some, but filmmakers in the country need more than once-in-a-year events to schmooze.

Natascia Radice, an independent filmmaker, thought of a solution.

She created a networking website to bring together the "creative minds" of the filmmaking industry in the UAE. The website was launched this January.

According to Radice, the concentration for the time being is on creating a database of filmmakers in the UAE with hopes of spreading the network all around the Middle East.

No networking …

"I moved from London to the Middle East about a year ago and I wanted to know more about the networking scene here in the UAE, but didn't find any," said Radice.

"I searched on Google for cafes or places filmmakers may be hanging around to write scripts and what not, but found none. Also, I found that networking at events in London was easier. You can simply crash a Bafta-after party and talk to movie makers. Here it is different."

As a result the need to create a space for producers, directors, actors, scriptwriters, cameramen, etc to meet was necessary.

Thus, www.filmnetwork-me.com was created.

"The website is a place for students, freelancers and employed filmmakers. The concentration at the moment is on students because they are the filmmakers of tomorrow," she said.

A database

The website will offer its members a number of benefits.

"They will be connected with the industry and everything happening there. We will create a database where anyone who needs an actor or cameraman can simply log on and find who they need," said Radice.

The website includes a bulletin board where anyone can post an inquiry or a request.

"If you are a filmmaker and you need certain actors, you can put that up. If you are a company which is offering a 'so and so' discount on certain filming equipment you can leave a note on that. If you are a filmmaker and you need tips on lighting or whatever issue, you can post a question," said Radice.

Members can also make use of the information posted on the website's blog and listen to interviews with directors and industry professionals on its podcasts.

More than 30 people have already registered on the website. "I am pushing now for more students. I am also looking at providing casting and script-writing surgery services," said Radice.

When logging on

Website visitors are required to register when they log in.

"Members will have a profile that includes information about their experience, maybe links to some of their work and so on," she said.

Radice said that she hopes to be able to gather the members during monthly if not weekly networking events in time.

So if you are a student or a freelancer looking for a break, maybe you will find it there.

For more information, log on to: www.filmnetwork-me.com