Film buffs who live in Los Angeles or Mumbai must be accustomed to seeing familiar scenes depicted on the big screen. That’s a rare pleasure for those who live in the UAE but it is becoming increasingly frequent thanks to the effort being made to foster a film industry in the Emirates.
One justification is that local culture remains strong in an increasingly globalised world, by being depicted in popular culture. And cinemagoers like to experience familiar scenery. This theory is vindicated by the success of supernatural thriller, Djinn, which took more than Dh1m in its opening week in the UAE. The film is produced by Image Nation, which has the same parent company, Abu Dhabi Media, as The National.
The story line is as local as it gets: an Emirati couple move into a haunted apartment in Ras Al Khaimah. But the production team is international, headed by The Texas Chainsaw Massacre director Tobe Hooper.
The latest instalment in the Fast & Furious franchise, which began filming in Abu Dhabi on Friday, benefits from similar model to Djinn, in the sense that it will use the city as a backdrop for its stunts and brings an international film crew to town. In addition, it will bring local benefits: creating jobs for young Emiratis and attracting investment to the emirate.
