Written by new-contact on Aug 6, 2013. Posted in On Location

Screen Gems shoots Jerry Bruckheimer film Beware the Night in Abu Dhabi

Production companies Screen Gems and Jerry Bruckheimer Films are shooting scenes on location in Abu Dhabi for new supernatural thriller Beware the Night. The production will film at Liwa Oasis near the emirate city and also at twofour54 intaj’s studio facilities.

Beware the Night tells the story of a New York police officer who joins forces with a priest to investigate supernatural elements of a criminal case. The film’s opening sequence and a flashback scene will be shot in and around Abu Dhabi.

“Abu Dhabi seemed like the natural choice for this feature because of its unique desert landscape, the 30% production rebate and because of the competitively-priced production services and facilities on offer here,” said the film’s Executive Producer Glenn Gainor.

“The Abu Dhabi Film Commission assisted with location scouting and we’ve been able to limit the size of our travelling crew due to the quality of crew available locally through our UAE producer twofour54 intaj,” he remarked.

Abu Dhabi launched its 30% filming incentive in the latter half of 2012 and offers support for services including location scouting, regional budgeting and local crew hires. The city is keen to establish itself as a major production hub in the Middle East over the next few years.

“Because the rebate is available for feature films, TV, documentaries, commercials and music videos,” explained Abu Dhabi Film Commission head Michael Flanagan, “we expect there to be a good mix of different productions over the next five years."

It makes practical and financial sense to bring big productions here, especially because Abu Dhabi can double for many Middle Eastern and Asian cities.

Michael Flanagan, Abu Dhabi Film Commission

“We always aim to provide local talent with training and internship opportunities for the productions we are facilitating," he added, "so this means that we are able to train a future generation of local film and broadcasting producers who have gained their first experience during some very exciting regional and international productions!”

Flanagan describes Abu Dhabi’s relationship with Dubai as “complementary” and says the two cities benefit easily from each other’s production resources.

“The productions that have been filmed here over the last year have sent an important message to the regional and international production industry,” Flanagan commented: “It makes practical and financial sense to bring big productions here, especially because Abu Dhabi can double for many Middle Eastern and Asian cities.”

Hosting scenes for Beware the Night – tantamount to the Jerry Bruckheimer seal of approval for the city’s facilities – could be a major international boost for Abu Dhabi and is likely to impact Hollywood’s perceptions of the city.