There are many ways to reconcile rapid development and long-standing traditions. Spirituality is tolerant and Islam is quite complicated and beautiful, thus to understand Islam requires tolerance and love, or you'll miss the boat.
That was according to Michael Tobias, the director of Dubai 24 Hours, a 90-minute documentary about life in Dubai.
Tobias |
He is a recipient of the prestigious Emmy Award for television for previous work that includes Ireland 24 Hours.
Nasib Bitar, Managing Director of Al Arabiya Productions, announced that the cost of the documentary is $800,000 to $1m, noting that it will be ready by the end of July or beginning of August. He said: "The documentary is going to be recorded on DVD and CD as well."
Dubai 2003 is being organised under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance and Industry. The television project is undertaken under the directive of General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence.
Tobias explained that his experience enables him to bring to Dubai 24 Hours the same unique technique he used in creating 24-hour documentaries for India, Hungary, Romania, Arizona, Beijing, Tokyo and Moscow.
The documentary will be shown on satellite TV channels around the world, including PBS, BBC and Discovery Channel. The project also includes a coffee table book and a music CD.
Tobias explained, "The production will involve several teams of photographers, journalists and TV camera crew being sent out to capture the pulse of Dubai starting from either midnight or early dawn.
"TV cameras and still photographs will capture portraits of human emotions, activity, landscapes, skylines, art, craft, cultures, traditions, technology, lifestyles, personalities, sports, business and education."
He added: "It's a feature and non-fiction production. The footage has been taken in an extraordinary way and is a collective set of energies that to me represent a challenge. I believe that the challenge is in giving new bonds between people and new friendship among the crew.
"Stylistically it would be like pushing the buttons, or in other words it isn't a traditional film but something avant-garde. The challenge in this film is doing a new artistic thing in an old place similar to the architectural monuments on Sheikh Zayed Road."
Bitar added: "Al Arabiya Productions is really happy, for this documentary goes along with the vision of Sheikh Mohammed and Dubai 2003. Working with Tobias has proved an excellent choice."
Tobias told Gulf News that the team working on Dubai 24 Hours has finished 40 days of shooting, taking thousands of photographs and 100 hours of footage.
Tobias, Emmy Award winner for his Images of Arizona movie, explained: "The idea of Dubai 24 Hours was initiated four years ago by Tariq Sayyed, the producer and assistant director of the movie. Its goal was to see the whole face of Dubai in 24 hours in a balanced form."
Michael Tobias is a former professor of Environmental Affairs and Humanities at Dartmouth College. He earned his Ph.D. in the History of Consciousness from the University of California at Santa Cruz.
He has lived in India on and off for 25 years, and helped to co-found a major film studio in Mumbai devoted to socially conscious film production and programming.
Through his large body of work, Tobias has been a tireless advocate and activist for sensible development, environmental responsibility and nonviolence.