Calling the shots

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Iranian filmmaker Ali Shah Hatami reviews the storyboard with his son.

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Crew set up a dolly track for the shoot.

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The protagonist in action.

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Iranian filmmaker, Ali Shah Hatami was in Dubai recently to direct his movie Goodbye Harry Potter. Digital Studio went on location to capture the production team in action.

Hatami has made eight feature films on 35 mm. Goodbye Harry Potter, which was shot in Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah and some other parts of the UAE, is his first attempt at HD. In fact, this is the first known attempt by a Middle East filmmaker to make a full-length feature on the Sony HDW F900R.

"I was looking for a new challenge and have been wanting to test HD technology for a while now so I approached Sony for support in terms of providing me with their high-end HD camera and other related technology," explains Hatami.

I also had another good reason to trial HD technology. My story is based in the UAE and there are no 35 mm labs here. I felt that shooting on video would be more practical as I like to see my rushes each day before going to bed."

Goodbye Harry Porter has a simple plot. It is the story of a young Harry Potter fan, who lives in Ras Al Khaimah and works at a mosque there. One day, he decides to go and watch a Harry Potter movie. Unfortunately, the movie is no longer showing in the theatre in Ras Al Khaimah and he has to travel to Dubai to watch it. At the same time, he has to be back in time at the mosque to announce the Azan (the call to prayer).

This becomes the start of an adventure.

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