Tanya Rex

Photographer

With twelve years’ experience as a prosthetic and special effects make-up artist before delving into her true passion, photography, Tanya is well versed in both the conceptual, physical, and technical requirements of successfully capturing compelling moments on film. A dedicated photographer since 2011, Tanya has shot for numerous high-profile clients, including UAE Executive Council, Dubai Government and Tourism, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, and Dove, to name only a few.

Shane Virgin

Location Manager

A dynamic leader and dedicated professional with almost two decades in the film industry, Shane has amassed an impressive résumé and portfolio. As a 1st Assistant Director with a specialisation in commercials, Shane brings a proven proficiency in the conception, production, and overall execution across the full spectrum of industry projects. A background firmly weighted in Unit and Location Management has entrenched in him a considerable variety of proficiencies, including the setting up, facilitating, and managing of feature film productions, location scouting, the running of various departments and the managing of departmental budgets, and liaising with company and government officials. Shane is both a man inspired by the industry within which he works, and who strives to inspire those with whom he works.

Muhammad Asif

Grip assistant/spark

With 7 years’ managerial experience and fourteen years’ experience in the film industry, Mohammad has developed an extensive and impressive list of skills and qualifications. His core focuses are inventory control, quality assurance, logistics, shipping and receiving, operations management, process improvement, team building and leadership, scheduling, and safety. Muhammad is keenly aware of the complexities and requirements of both the organising, managing, and executing of any production, having also worked as an assistant cameraman, best boy grip and lighting, location scout, and transport assistant. Muhammad is a dynamic, multilingual leader, and an invaluable addition to any production.

Frenacescco Paolo Pudda

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Jeremy Connell

Best Boy Grip / Key Rigger

Jeremy Connell was born in Johannesburg and matriculated from Jeppe high School for Boys. After completing a diploma in journalism he began work in the media and advertising fields. He spent five years with a leading South african agency before leaving to open his own consultancy. During this time and after he also worked as a lecturer in digital media for a prominent private university before becoming involved in the film industry. He has spent the last decades as member of the grips department. Ten years of experience in rigging, camera movement and integrity. Successfully completed hundreds TVC’s and numerous international film projects. Last three projects were as Key Rigger on 6Underground, second unit Key Grip on Misfits and Best Boy Grip on Mirage.

Christopher Harker

Key Grip & Crane Technician

Born in South Africa and currently residing in Dubai, Christopher has over twenty years’ industry experience, with a focus on grip and rigging. His work has taken him all over the world. Including South Africa and Dubai, Chris has worked on films and commercial projects in China, Mozambique, Morocco, and Namibia, including international blockbusters and celebrated T.V. series such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Fast and Furious 7, Outlander, Blood Diamond, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Sex and the City, and District 9, to name only a few. Christopher is currently enjoying four years as a Key Grip and Crane Technician operating in Dubai.

Boris Olomi

Key Grip/ Precision Driver

Boris begun his career “hands on” as a professional mechanic, discovering his love for the industry while working for the vehicle department involved in the shooting of the feature film Syriana in 2005. His skills as a mechanic allowed him to grow quickly proficient as a grip as he tried his hand at everything, from working as a dolly and rigging grip to a crane and remote head technician. His skilled know-how makes him adept at solving difficult technical problems and allows him to work with confidence on even the most demanding projects. With multiple feature films, television productions, and hundreds of commercials under his belt, Boris’s experience is extensive and invaluable.

Ian Mussell

Key Grip

Ian has been working internationally as a Key Grip for ten years on productions in Dubai, the U.S.A., France, and the U.K., with recent productions including War Machine, Australian Survivor, Star Trek: Beyond, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. His full repertoire, however, also includes experience as a fixed arm and telescopic crane operator, and remote head and gyro stabilised remote head technician, on both feature film and commercial projects. Ian is well certified, including PADI open water, advanced, nitrox, and sidemount certifications, U.K. and U.A.E. motorcycle licences, and an I.P.A.F. licence, and is also a competent arc and MIG welder.

Sulaiman Ahmad

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Ruel Salisa Villalobos

Spark & Grip Assistant

Ruel is an enthusiastic and self-motivated individual dedicated to effectively and efficiently fulfilling any and all roles assigned to him. With ten years’ experience in the industry, eight of which spent working as a spark and grip assistant, Ruel is confident and competent when it comes to the care, handling, and setting up of all relevant equipment. Ruel also has experience as an assistant gaffer and best boy, and has assisted in the scheduling of both film and stills shoots.

Jhinko

Best Boy Gaffer

Kashi

Best Boy Gaffer

Ayub Khan

Focus Puller

Gareth Almeida

VT

Logan Pennes

Camera Assistant

Trained in post-production facilities , Logan started his career in 2009 as a camera operator and editor for a French National Soccer TV channel. In parallel, he worked with France Television as a video editor covering daily breaking news and he had been fortunate to gain proficiently with a variety of software tools such as Avid media Composer, Final Cut Pro VII, X, Adobe Première Pro and capability of filming with any broadcast TV camera.     Later he settled down in Vancouver, Canada, where he joined and became a member of “IATSE 669” (International Alliance of theatrical stage employees), and he worked as a Second Assistant Camera on many Netflix Shows such as “The 100, The Arrow, The Flash, X-Files”.

Vitor Van der Put

Camera Assistant

Mohamed Assam

Camera Assistant & Data Wrangler

Mohamed Assam is an extensively skilled and technically astute assistant camera- and data-wrangler. He is passionate about both the equipment for which he is responsible, and the creative craft for which it is employed, and enjoys a strong desire to continue learning by exploring and pushing the boundaries of creativity through constant innovation. This wealth of experience, combined with an unfailing professionalism, makes him an invaluable addition to any team.

William Ferguson

Camera Assistant

William Ferguson is an accomplished camera assistant who has cut his teeth on projects that run the full gamut of the film industry. He has worked on blockbuster films such as War Machine and Star Trek: Beyond, as well as on critically acclaimed television series such as Taboo. He has considerable commercial experience, shooting on brands such as Warner Brothers, Dodge Ram, Dubai Tourism, and BVLGARI to name a few, and has spent time in the high-pressure world of reality television. This experience, combined with an in-depth knowledge of the equipments, makes him the perfect addition to any team.

Azin Samarmand

Digital Imaging Technician & DI Colourist

With almost two decades of experience across the fields of digital multi-media production and post-production, including content creation, editing, compositing, grading, colour grading, and a specialisation in DaVinci Resolve, Azin holds herself and her projects to the highest standards. Her extensive experience and involvement in the world of film has allowed her to develop a unique and innovative point of view on the industry, and in her current roles as a digital imaging technician and colourist, she uses that vision to its full potential.

Michael Lagerwey

Director of Photography

With a career spanning 25 years across all sectors of the industry, including feature film, advertising, music videos, and documentary, the artistic experience and technical knowledge that Michael has acquired allows him to effectively and accurately help bring the vision of producers, directors, and filmmakers to life. He is a skilled manager and DOP who studiously keeps himself abreast of current and cutting-edge operating techniques and technologies, from the lighting, camera, and grip departments, through to post-production workflow, and beyond.

http://www.michaellagerwey.com

City of Life

A privileged young male Arab at odds with his cultural identity and his less fortunate street smart friend; a disillusioned Indian taxi driver who bears an uncanny resemblance to a famous …

City of Life is a 2009 multilingual Emirati film written, directed, and produced by Ali F. Mostafa. Set in the United Arab Emirates, the film revolves around three parallel lives, amongst many cultures in one city, namely, Dubai.

MediaCrew Participants

1. Shahbaz Ali: Generator operator
2. Sulaman Ashraf: Grip assistant
3. Robert-James Bova: Stills photographer
4. Ayoub Khan: Tyler technician
5. Ian Mussell: Best boy grip
6. Boris Olomi: First assistant grip
7. Anthony Smythe: Aerial director of photography: 2nd unit
8. George Max Trummler: Electrician

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

The IMF is shut down when it’s implicated in the bombing of the Kremlin, causing Ethan Hunt and his new team to go rogue to clear their organization’s name.

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol is a 2011 American action spy film directed by Brad Bird and written by Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec. It is the fourth instalment in the Mission: Impossible film series, and also Bird’s first live-action film.^[5] It stars Tom Cruise, who reprises his role of IMF agent Ethan Hunt, alongside Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Paula Patton, Michael Nyqvist, Léa Seydoux and Anil Kapoor. Ghost Protocol was produced by Cruise, J. J. Abrams (the third film‘s director) and Bryan Burk. It saw the return of editor Paul Hirsch and visual effects supervisor John Knoll from the first film, and is also the first Mission: Impossible film to be partially filmed using IMAX cameras.

MediaCrew Participants:

1. AHAMED AL SAMARRAI
2. ALI SADOON
3. ANDY GRIBBLE
4. ARUN KUMAR
5. BLAINE SPARROW
6. BORIS OLOMI
7. BRUCE KING
8. CARL DE VILLIERS
9. CASSANDRA PRUCHA
10. DENNIS DAVISON
11. FARAH KABIR
12. GHAFFAR ALI
13. HUGO B LANG
14. IAN MUSSEL
15. IVANA ARESENOVIC
16. JACQUELINE DYER
17. JAMES GILLIGAN
18. JAX DYER
19. JESSICA DYER
20. LIAM MEYER
21. LIONEL TURNER
22. MARIA ILIC
23. MARK SHERMAN
24. MARTIN LEAHY
25. MICHAEL REED
26. MICHEAL SMIT
27. MUSTAFA TYEBKHAN
28. NATALIE TREVIS
29. NEVILLE D SOUZA
30. REGAN MITCHELL
31. RICHARD LATHAM
32. RUARAIDH LEONARD INKER
33. RUSLAN GOJ
34. SIMON CAVE
35. THOMAS WEIR
36. YAHYA CHKIFA
37. ZAK RIFAR

Sea Shadow

The film follows Emirati 16 year-old Mansoor and Kaltham as they struggle with traditions and conventions on their journey towards adulthood. Bound by family and deeply rooted values, the pair must find the courage to forge their paths.

Sea Shadow is a 2011 Emirati coming-of-age film written by Mohammed Hassan Ahmed and directed by Nawaf Al-Janahi. The film was the first from Image Nation to be filmed in the United Arab Emirates. The film premiered at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival in October 2011 and was released in theatres throughout the Arab states of the Persian Gulf in November 2011. It premiered in the United States at the Palm Springs International Film Festival in January 2012.

MediaCrew Participants

1. Anthony Smythe
2. Naseer Mohamad
3. Roger Schram
4. Martin Sullivan
5. Graham Almeida
6. Sulaman Ashraf
7. Saul Barran
8. Ayub Khan
9. Sardar Mohamed
10. Ahmad Tasleem
11. Shane Virgin
12. Khaled Zaaazouh
13. Mishti Ohri
14. George Trummler
15. Cameron Clegg
16. Can Yilmaz
17. Mohammed Kaddoura
18. Pranali Diwadkar
19. Ibrahim Al Habashi
20. Kim Worthington
21. Micheal Dix
22. Sajid Mehmood
23. Armando Cruz
24. Kashi Pasloeem
25. Kazim Karazmallgulu
26. Imran Mehr Din
27. Donatella Novello
28. Zahra Azmi
29. Theuns De Plesus
30. Jimmy Alfred
31. Mohammed Mushtaq
32. Zafar Iqbal
33. Angela Paasch
34. Malenie Eberhardt
35. Yehya Chakifa
36. Hassan Karanoh

The Bourne Legacy

An expansion of the universe from Robert Ludlum’s novels, centered on a new hero whose stakes have been triggered by the events of the previous three films.

The Bourne Legacy is a 2012 American action thriller film directed by Tony Gilroy, and is the fourth installment in the series of films adapted from the Jason Bourne novels originated by Robert Ludlum and continued by Eric Van Lustbader, being preceded by The Bourne Identity (2002), The Bourne Supremacy (2004), and The Bourne Ultimatum (2007). Although this film has the same title as Van Lustbader’s first Bourne novel, The Bourne Legacy, the actual screenplay bears little resemblance to the novel. Unlike the novel, which features Jason Bourne as the principal character, the film centers on black ops agent Aaron Cross (played by Jeremy Renner), an original character. In addition to Renner, the film stars Rachel Weisz and Edward Norton.

MediaCrew Participants:

1. Ian Mussell: Key grip – Dubai
2. Andrej Arnautov Jr.: Best boy electric: second unit – Dubai
3. George Max Trummler: Second assistant director – Dubai

Fast & Furious 7

Deckard Shaw seeks revenge against Dominic Toretto and his family for his comatose brother.

Furious 7 is a 2015 American action film directed by James Wan and written by Chris Morgan. It is the seventh instalment in The Fast and the Furious franchise. The film stars Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Jordana Brewster, Djimon Hounsou, Kurt Russell, and Jason Statham. Furious 7 follows Dominic Toretto (Diesel), Brian O’Conner (Walker), and the rest of their team, who have returned to the United States to live normal lives after securing amnesty for their past crimes in Fast & Furious 6 (2013), until Deckard Shaw (Statham), a rogue special forces assassin seeking to avenge his comatose younger brother, puts the team in danger once again.

MediaCrew Participants:

1. Ian Mussell : Key grip:/ key rigging grip – vfx unit Abu Dhabi
2. Boris Olomi: Key grip: splinter unit – Abu Dhabi
3. Robert-James Bova: Camera operator – Abu Dhabi
4. Graham Almeida: Second unit camera operator – Abu Dhabi

Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens

Three decades after the Empire’s defeat, a new threat arises in the militant First Order. Stormtrooper defector Finn and the scavenger Rey are caught up in the Resistance’s search for the missing Luke Skywalker.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a 2015 American epic space opera film produced, co-written and directed by J. J. Abrams. It is the first instalment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, following Return of the Jedi (1983), and the seventh instalment of the main Star Wars film franchise. The film stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Max von Sydow, and was produced by Lucasfilm Ltd., Abrams’s production company Bad Robot Productions and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The Force Awakens is the first Star Wars film to not involve franchise creator George Lucas. Set 30 years after Return of the Jedi, the film follows Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron‘s search for Luke Skywalker and their fight alongside the Resistance, led by General Leia Organa and veterans of the Rebel Alliance, against Kylo Ren and the First Order, a successor to the Galactic Empire.

MediaCrew Participants

1. Ian Mussell: Key grip – Abu Dhabi
2. Boris Olomi: Camera grip – Abu Dhabi
3. Veera Ovaska: Second assistant camera – Abu Dhabi
4. George Max Trummler: Third assistant director – Abu Dhabi

Star Trek Beyond

The crew of the USS Enterprise explores the furthest reaches of uncharted space, where they encounter a new ruthless enemy, who puts them, and everything the Federation stands for, to the test

Star Trek Beyond is a 2016 American space opera film directed by Justin Lin and written by Simon Pegg and Doug Jung, based on the television series Star Trek created by Gene Roddenberry. It is the thirteenth film in the Star Trek film franchise and the third and final instalment in the reboot series, following Star Trek (2009) and Star Trek Into Darkness (2013). Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto reprise their respective roles as Captain James T. Kirk and Commander Spock, with Pegg, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, John Cho, and Anton Yelchin reprising their roles from the previous films. This was one of Yelchin’s last films before his death in June 2016. Idris Elba, Sofia Boutella, Joe Taslim, and Lydia Wilson also appear.

Principal photography on the film began on June 25, 2015, in Vancouver,and Squamish, British Columbia, after several delays caused by multiple script rejections. Additional filming locations were Seoul, South Korea, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Principal filming ended on October 15, 2015. In March 2016, production underwent reshoots, with Aghdashloo added to the cast.

MediaCrew participants:

1. Ian Mussell: Key grip – Dubai
2. Andrej Arnautov Jr.: Assistant chief lighting technician – Dubai
3. Graham Almeida: Second camera assistant – Dubai
4. Saul Barran :Digital imaging technician – Dubai
5. William Ferguson :Digital imaging technician – Dubai
6. Robert Bova :Assistant location manager – Dubai

War Machine

An idiosyncratic General confronts opposition from enemies, allies, and bureaucrats while leading a massive rebuilding operation in Afghanistan.

War Machine is a 2017 American satirical war film directed and written by David Michôd and starring Brad Pitt, Anthony Michael Hall, Anthony Hayes, Topher Grace, Will Poulter, Tilda Swinton, and Ben Kingsley. Based on the nonfiction book The Operators: The Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America’s War in Afghanistan by Michael Hastings, it is a fictionalized version of the events in the book based on United States Army General Stanley McChrystal.

MediaCrew Participants:

1. Ian Mussell: Key grip – Dubai
2. Andrej Arnautov Jr.: Best boy electric: second unit – Dubai
3. George Max Trummler: Second assistant director – Dubai

Six Underground

Six billionaires fake their own deaths and form an elite vigilante squad in order to take down notorious criminals.

Six Underground is an upcoming American action film directed by Michael Bay and written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. The film stars Ryan Reynolds, Mélanie Laurent, Dave Franco, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Adria Arjona, Corey Hawkins, and Ben Hardy. Bay produced the film with Reynolds, Dana Goldberg, David Ellison and with his longtime partners Ian Bryce and Don Granger.

MediaCrew participants

1. ANDREJ ARNAUTOV – GAFFER
2. NASSERUDDIN – RIGGING GAFFER
3. DAVE PARSONS – BEST BOY GAFFER
4. KASHI TASLEEM – RIGGING BEST BOY GAFFER
5. JEREMY CONNELL – KEY RIGGER
6. CHRIS HARKER – BEST BOY GRIPS
7. ASSAM MOHAMMED – 2ND CAM ASSISTANT
8. GEORGE MAX TRUMMLER: THIRD ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
9. ARTEM STRELTSOV – PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
10. DAMBAR RAJ JOSHI – CONDOR OPERATOR
11. DANIEL IBEABUCHI – CONDOR OPERATOR
12. GHAFFAR ALI – ELECTRICIAN (GENERATOR)
13. JHINAKOO SINGH – RIGGING ELECTRICIAN
14. DINUSHA MADUSHAN – ELECTRICIAN
15. LOK RAJ PANDEY – ELECTRICIAN
16. MOHD ASIF – ELECTRICIAN
17. MOHAMMED KHAN – ELECTRICIAN
18. MUHAMMMAD ARIF KHAN – ELECTRICIAN
19. PRADEEP PRIYANKARA – CONDOR OPERATOR
20. RUEL VILLALOBOS – ELECTRICIAN
21. SARDAR MOHAMMED – ELECTRICIAN
22. SHABAZ ALI – ELECTRICIAN
23. SHAZAD AHMAD – ELECTRICIAN
24. TARANGA DE SILVA – ELECTRICIAN
25. ZEESHAN HAIDER BASHIR AHMED – ELECTRICIAN
26. TAHIR SHAHZAD – RIGGER
27. MUHAMMAD AMIR – OT

Mirage

Claire lost her husband Gabriel during the tsunami in 2004. His body was never found. 15 years later, Claire has a new life with Lukas and her son Zach. After a decade of mourning and professional purgatory, she has just landed a dream job in Abu Dhabi. One night, Claire is having dinner and sees Gabriel’s reflection in a window. She tries to follow him, but he’s already gone. The next day, she decides to search for him. When she discovers that Gabriel is indeed alive, it sets Claire on a course that will change her life forever.

MediaCrew Participants

1. Michael Lagerwey: DOP second unit
2. Graham Almeida: Focus puller second unit
3. William Fergusn: 2nd camera assistant
4. Vitor Van der Put: 2nd camera assistant
5. Gareth Almeida: VT
6. Azin Samarmand: DIT
7. Andrej Arnautov: Gaffer
8. Dave Parsons: Best Boy Gaffer
9. Shabaz Ali: Spark
10. Dinusha Gunarathna: Spark
11. Jhinkoo Singh: Spark
12. Zubair Ahmed: Spark
13. Chris Harker: Key Grip
14. Jeremy Connell: Best Boy Grip
15. Daniel Ibeabbuchi: Grip Assistant
16. Ruel Villalobbos: Grip Assistant
17. Michael Klam: precision Driver second unit

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Mohammed Sardar

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Mohamed Assam

Assistant Camera & Data Wrangler

Mohamed Assam is an extensively skilled and technically astute assistant camera- and data-wrangler. He is passionate about both the equipment for which he is responsible, and the creative craft for which it is employed, and enjoys a strong desire to continue learning by exploring and pushing the boundaries of creativity through constant innovation. This wealth of experience, combined with an unfailing professionalism, makes him an invaluable addition to any team.

Graham Almeida

Camera Operator & Focus Puller

A graduate of the New York Film Academy in Abu Dhabi, and currently working to become a director of photography, Graham Almeida had already directed, shot, and edited over twenty short films and music videos before finding his true calling as a camera operator and focus puller. Passionate and driven, Graham enjoys an extensive and exciting resume, including experience working on international blockbuster films such as Star Trek Beyond, Fast and the Furious 7, and The Bourne Legacy.

Simon Charles

Sound Recording Technician

With almost two decades of professional sound industry experience, Simon has applied his expertise to the worlds of film, television, commercial and corporate production, live set and theatre recording, and everything in between. Simon employs only the best equipment, techniques, and uniquely learned and applied knowledge to ensure the highest quality output. His expertise guarantees the best sound capture in virtually any scenario, while his ability to creatively problem solve, combined with his in-depth knowledge of sound and recording fundamentals, ensures reliable recording in critical, one-take scenarios, no matter the location or scenario.

Mario Calcagni

Production Coordinator & Assistant Director

Mario has a wealth of experience across a wide variety of channels, including radio, television, film, and digital content. Passionate about the world of production, Mario has dedicated himself to growing and maintaining a strong and sustainable production environment in Dubai and across the greater U.A.E. A consummate professional, and an advocate for sustainable and effective work practices, Mario is focussed on building lasting and valuable relationship across the industry with others who share his values.

Marianne Thomas

Production Management

Marianne’s experience spans the worlds of both news and entertainment media, and into the realm of film. A Master’s graduate in Production Management from Warwick University, Marianne has a decade’s worth of industry experience, including considerable work on live and reality television productions for the BBC U.K., for which she has been recognised and honoured by the network.

George Max Trummler

Director / Assistant Director

With over a decade of production and directorial experience, there is little in the realm of film production that George has not touched. A content creator at heart, George specializes in both on- and off-line production, with a forward-focused view of both content creation and consumption in the digital age. His company, Guerrilla Film, focusses on digital content creation, specializing in optimizing film and commercial work for social media, while also working to support young, up-and-coming U.A.E. filmmakers with assistance and funding. Meanwhile, George’s T.V. and feature film portfolio is extensive and includes work on recent blockbusters such as Star Trek: Beyond, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and The Bourne Legacy. With a passion for high-speed shoots, however, it is his work on Fast & Furious 7 that he considers his career highlight to date.

Aj Abi Chahine

Production Coordinator / Manager

Aj Abi Chahine is a multilingual, award-winning POC with a powerful, creative flair. Besides being an accomplished production coordinator and manager, with a portfolio that includes clients such as The Amazing Race (U.S.A.), Shell, Sky TV, Discovery, and Nike, to name only a fraction, and channel experience that includes film, television, and commercial work, Aj has also worked as a V.T.O. and camera assistant, Head of Research and Development, writer, script editor, and more. A P.O.C. by trade and a writer by passion, Aj’s short film The Pillow Case claimed several awards at the 48 Hour Film Festival in Dubai, including Best Film, and has enjoyed screenings at Cannes and Filmapalooza in Hollywood.

James Adey

D.O.P. / Camera Operator

An Honours graduate in Cinematography from the S.A. School of Film, Television, and Dramatic Art, James has spent almost two decades exploring and refining an intimate understanding of light and lighting. James prides himself on his ability to create unique and evocative moods bespoke to each composition, imbuing each scene with a specific tonal quality that best helps to bring the director’s vision to life on screen. With a career that touches on every aspect of filmmaking, from short to feature films, music videos, documentaries and the full gamut of television, James’ carefully crafted style of storytelling makes him an invaluable asset to any team.

Daniel Ibeabuchi

Grip Assistant

Daniel is a graduate of the Hydatek Institute for Computer Studies with a Diploma in Information Technologies and has also completed his TWI (Certificate in Health and Safety) from IOSH. He has almost five years’ experience working as a Grip Assistant on feature films such as War Machine, Star Trek: Beyond, and Fast and Furious 7. His commercial experience includes work on international brands such as Toyota, Lipton, and Honda, as well as premium brands such as Dubai Tourism and Alpha Romeo.

Dambar Raj Joshi

Best Boy & Set Grip

Dambar Raj Joshi is a best boy and set grip with over eleven years’ experience working across feature films and television. His film work includes international blockbusters such as War Machine, Star Trek: Beyond, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Bollywood productions such as Jai Ho and Do Not Disturb, and more. His commercial work includes extensive automotive work for iconic brands such as Aston Martin, Mercedes Benz, Ferrari, and Porsche, to name only a few, as well as other international blue-chip clients such as McDonald’s, Heinz, and British Airways.

Andrej Arnautov

Gaffer

Andrej has over a decade of gaffer experience across all aspects of the industry, including stills shoots, commercials, feature films, music videos, and all varieties of corporate productions. Throughout his career, he has enjoyed myriad roles across hundreds of productions as a best boy, spark, and console programmer. This extensive experience has allowed him to develop specific areas of expertise that include film, T.V., and stills lighting, lighting controls and effects, custom lighting fixtures, and lighting control solutions. Andrej has enjoyed working on exciting brands such as Tesla, Porsche, BMW, and BVLGARI, and blockbuster feature like Star Trek: Beyond, Fast and Furious 7, and Wanted.

Walid Baaklini

Camera Operator & focus puller

Walid has had an eclectic and exciting career, ranging from hospitality management and time as a corporate fixer, to entertaining audiences as a professional DJ. The skills and expertise acquired through these myriad roles eventually led him to, and prepared him for, his calling in the world of film. Multi-lingual and multi-literate, with leadership experience and a knack from problem-solving, Walid shines in a dynamic team as both a camera operator and focus puller. He is passionate about the greater challenges of bringing the visual identity of a film to life while remaining focused on the nuances of production, such as ordering and overseeing equipment, site recces, and reviewing footage.

Mohamed Assam

Assistant Camera & Data Wrangler

Mohamed Assam is an extensively skilled and technically astute assistant camera- and data-wrangler. He is passionate about both the equipment for which he is responsible, and the creative craft for which it is employed, and enjoys a strong desire to continue learning by exploring and pushing the boundaries of creativity through constant innovation. This wealth of experience, combined with an unfailing professionalism, makes him an invaluable addition to any team.

Veera Ovaska

Focus puller (first camera assistant)

With eleven years’ experience in the industry, Veera has already amassed a considerable portfolio, including blockbuster films such as Star Trek: Beyond, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and Fast and Furious 7, and music videos for headliner acts such as Imagine Dragons and The Crash. Veera is passionate about her role and adaptable to any situation, while her experience engaging with people from across various nationalities and cultures has moulded her into a confident camera assistant who is a pleasure to work with.

Tom Lebaric

Camera/Steadicam Operator & Drone Pilot

A documentary filmmaker from the age of 23, Tom’s expansive career has taken him across the globe, through over forty countries, and to some of the most remote and exciting places in the world. From filming the hidden tribes of Panama and the Komodo dragons of Indonesia, up to the Alaskan glaciers and Hawaiian volcanoes, and beneath the waters to shoot the coral reefs of the Maldives and the sharks of the Caribbean Islands, Tom’s experience as an all-terrain camera operator is unparalleled. His technical expertise is similarly impressive, being an accomplished drone pilot, skilled in 3D and 360˚ photography, and trained as a Steadicam operator by Garret Brown, the man who invented the Steadicam.

Jonathan Gainer

Aerial Director of Photography

Experienced stills photographer and awarded aerial D.O.P., Jonathan sits at the forefront of drone cinematography. He has extensive film and commercial experience and has enjoyed the pleasure of working alongside international heavyweights such as director Paul W.S. Anderson and cinematographer Michael Fitzmaurice. Pre-eminently knowledgeable and a pleasure to engage, from early storyboarding, through preproduction, and into final production, and with a comprehensive understanding of pioneering tech and industry advancements, Jonathan is, simply put, the complete package.

Anthony Smythe

Director of Photography

Anthony’s impressive career in the film industry spans over three decades, with the last twenty-three years spent exploring and perfecting the role of Director of Photography. After his early and extensive experience across television, commercial, music videos, and feature films, Anthony launched Filmworks production in Dubai in 1998, then Filmquip Media and Media Crew in 2005. Boasting credits on international blockbusters such as The Kingdom, Syriana, Mission Impossible 4, and The Bourne Legacy, Anthony’s wealth of experience is unparalleled.