My Eguide to Jerusalem

My name is Sharon schaveet I am an international film producer, owner of Biblical Production a production service company in Isreal. I live in Jerusalem, working in the field for more than 15 years. I decided to write this guide at the end of the summer of 2007. I just wrapped up a production for a British company, which I prepared an entire month for. While scouring the city for this shoot in Israel an idea came to mind – why not share with readers and visitors the experience and the knowledge I have amassed over so many years of producing in this Jerusalem  When shooting a film in Israel, it is the producer’s job to plan out each step in order to make the most of the time available. Therefore, following my suggestions will ensure that you will not waste time searching for the right places to visit. In this guide you will find information you need for a seamless trip to Jerusalem.

This guide contains up-to-date information, and an innovative organizational scheme. It combines all of the crucial elements that constitute the touring experience, and it lists comprehensive practical daily plans; as seen through the eyes of a film producer in Israel, thus emphasizing the artistic and cultural elements of the city in a no-nonsense manner. 

The guide will show you around Jerusalem from a local’s point of view.  It will provide you with options for what to do each day, things that I would recommend to International film crew in Israel . Spend a few hours in a tunnel under the Western Wall and then relax over a cup of coffee in a quaint café. Browse through an antique shop and then enjoy dinner in an old picturesque Jerusalem house. In this guide, you will also enjoy the advice of known figures in the city from different walks of life, including theater, literature, cinema, economics, politics, and tourism. 

The information here is not sponsored by any company, hotel, or organization; therefore you will only read about places that I think are truly worthwhile.

 In my experience from providing production service in Israel, Jerusalem can be an extremely intense city. In one day you can explore centuries of history, often involving profound conflict. Therefore, I tend to mix up my recommendations in order to make the touring experience more pleasant and relaxing.  For instance, spending an entire day in the Old City can be exhausting both physically and mentally, hence my daily plans blend together the east and west parts of the city. 

I think that the secret to enjoying Jerusalem is to taste all of its flavors. Jerusalem is filled with hidden treasures – secret gardens, small boutiques, and mysterious corners. This guide will assist you in locating the best cafés, the most recommended shopping areas, the most happening nightlife, and make sure that you benefit from all Jerusalem has to offer .

 Therefore, with no further ado, I present you with a guide to the places I love and know inside out, recommendations I have been collecting for years, and places I regularly visit with international crews production service in Israel. I trust that through this guide, your time spent in Jerusalem will be a fusion of mystical days and magical nights.

Here are my suggestions for daily plans:

DAY 1

 Enter the Old City through the Jaffa gate. When you are facing the entrance to the market make a right and walk down the street and continue walking down until you reach a point which will give you a wonderful view of the Old City, and the holy places of all three religions. From this point you can see the City of David, the Dome of the Rock, the Western Wall and the Mount of Olives.  

Western Wall

Continue down the street and make a left, where you will find the entrance area to the Western Wall. The Western Wall is a central site of Jewish pilgrimage and prayer. The wall is a remnant from the large wall that surrounded the second temple – the holiest place in Jewish tradition – that was destroyed in 70 CE by the Romans. The Western Wall consists of eighty meters of exposed wall, and the rest of the wall can be explored by visiting the Western Wall tunnels. People like to pray at the wall due to its close proximity to the site of the Holy temple, and there is a custom of placing a piece of paper with a written prayer/wish on it, in the wall’s crevices.

 Walking in Markets

Behind the wall there are stairs, walk up the stairs and go out the security checkpoint. Take a left until you reach the market street, and walk up in the direction of the Christian quarter. Ask for the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher

The Emperor Constantine commanded the building of a church in 326, at this site, believed to be where Jesus was crucified and buried. In 614 the building was burned down by the Persians and thus followed a cycle of rebuilding attempts and consequent destructions. The present church is mostly from the 12^th century Crusader construction and has undergone many renovations that continue until today. Ownership rights to the church are complex but the church is mainly under the auspices of the Greek Orthodox, the Armenian Orthodox, and the Roman Catholic.

 I have spent many hours in this church, and from my experience, if you really want to feel its special atmosphere, you have to make an effort and wake up at four in the morning. At this early hour you can actually feel the magic in the air. In general, visiting the Old City before sunrise is quite extraordinary. There is something enchanting in the streets and the churches – pious believers rising for the morning prayers; wanderers with riveting faces; and religious clerics walking through the alleyways. As the sun goes up you will behold the splendor of the Old City.

 It’s time to leave the Old City go to eat in a modern café and relax a bit. Grab a taxi to:

 Restobar

1 Ben Maimon St.

Tel: 02-566-5126

Opening hours – 8am-2am

Restobar is located in the old neighborhood of Rechavia, in the center of the city. This bar-restaurant focuses on excellent service and a cozy design that gives it a soothing atmosphere. The menu includes hamburgers, steaks, salads, and sandwiches, and they have a great business lunch for around $20.

 Gethsemane

Gethsemane, which means “olive-press” in Hebrew, is a modern Franciscan church designed by the architect Barluzzi. Its courtyard is appropriately filled with olive trees. According to Christian tradition this is where Jesus prayed to God while his disciples fell asleep. Jesus understood what was to happen to him which proved his divine attributes. At Gethsemane, according to the New Testament, Jesus suffered for the sins of the people the night before he was to be crucified.  

 Lions Gate

One of the Old City’s seven gates, the Lion’s Gate, constructed in 1539, is significant to the history of modern Jerusalem. Israeli paratroopers entered the Old City during the Six Day war through the Lion’s Gate. The Lion’s Gate is the only open gate in the eastern wall and is named after the two lions (actually leopards) found in the gate’s facade.

Roof of the Austrian Hospice

37 Via Dolorosa

Tel: 02-627-1472

Situated at the first turnoff from the Via Dolorosa, is the Austrian Hospice. It is a beautiful building, and has a small cafeteria and a garden. For lunch they serve coffee, beer, wine, sandwiches, soup of the day, and fantastic Austrian pastry. If you go to the second floor of the building you will find a roof, which provides a unique view of the Old City. They also offer basic sleeping accommodations – cheap, clean, no TV. It is worthwhile to get a room with a balcony. The Austrian Hospice is a unique experience – a pearl in the Old City.

Next week new  recommendations

Filming in Israel: Great Stories to Film in Israel

Filming in Israel: Great Stories to Film in Israel

 Israel may be a small country but it is crammed full of interesting locations that all have their own tale to tell.  Most sites have historic, religious or folklore connotations.

At Biblical Productions we have gathered together some interesting film locations in Israel and shared with you some possible storylines for your production.

NORTH:

• Kabbalah: Miracles and Magic Springs

Safed may be a small town but it is the Kabbalah centre of the world and the heart of Jewish mysticism. The paranormal is more normal here than anywhere else: haunted synagogues, rabbis communicating with the next world, magical amulets and miracles occurring regularly at the Rabbis’ tombs and at magical springs.  

Suggestions for crews filming in Israel: Biblical Productions can organize a visit to a haunted mikvah (ritual bath) before going on a nocturnal journey into the heart of the Galilee. Make your way to a magical spring with a special zip-line, set-up infrared cameras and microphones at one of the most spiritually active Rabbis tombs to witness spiritual activity first-hand.

SOUTH:

• Antiquities and Artefacts in Israel

The Bedouins of Israel are the masters of the desert. Not only was it a small Bedouin boy who found the Dead Sea scrolls in Qumran, but they can navigate in the desert and its hidden caves and tunnels even when blindfolded. Bedouins also know where to find archaeological treasures and antiquities in the desert’s vastness.  

Suggestions for crews filming in Israel: Biblical Productions can put you in touch with a small Bedouin tribe.  You will be able to accompany this particular tribe as they walk through the dramatic Judean desert. You can record your journey through the vast expanse of the desert, as you travel alongside their two most talented antiquities finders, exploring the fascinating range of concealed caves that are scattered throughout the area.

Cave of a Desert Monk

Cave Chariton was the first monastery in the Judean desert.  It is named after the Christian monk, Chariton. On his pilgrimage to Jerusalem, he was kidnapped and taken to this cave in the desert. That night his kidnappers died mysteriously after drinking wine – legend has it that a snake poisoned the wine cups of these bandits.

Chariton remained in the cave as a hermit and gained the reputation as a miracle-worker, attracting the attention of people from all over ancient Palestine.

Long after his death people still paid pilgrimage to this remote location, tucked away in Wadi Faran. Here they prayed for miracles and waited for the monk’s spirit which, according to folklore, is sporadically seen wandering the canyons on moonlit nights.

Suggestions for crews filming in Israel: You can document your trek across the shifting desert sands in search of Chariton’s Cave, which is concealed within the Judean Hills. Record your journey during the day and also shoot some night scenes, capturing the blanket of stars in the vast expanse of desert sky, perhaps using the stars to help check your navigation.  Once the cave is discovered you can explore inside.  It is a large cave and requires proper film lighting for adequate illumination.

Investigating Bar Kochba Caves

The Bar Kochba revolt was the second major revolt by the Jews of Judea against the Roman Empire. Led by charismatic commander and declared messiah, Simon Bar Kochba, the rebels managed to establish a Jewish State for over two years. It took a Roman army consisting of twelve legions, using all their force, to finally crush the revolt.

The caves, which lie in close proximity to the Dead Sea, were the last hiding place of the Bar Kochba rebels.  They sheltered there before they fell to their heroic deaths, during a final attempt to fight off the Roman legions.

The old fighter spirits are said to be wandering around these numerous caves and tunnels, within which ancient papyrus scrolls (Bar Kochba scrolls) have since been found.

Suggestions for crews filming in Israel Fly above the caves in a helicopter or ultralight, terminating at the top of the mountains. For a novel entry route into the caves, why not film dramatic shots of abseiling down the mountain face into the lower cave system.  Once there, explore the caves by climbing inside them using ropes and other caving equipment.  Shoot memorable shots inside the caves, painting a vivid picture of how the rebels lived during their last days and capturing the aura of times past. 

There are so many interesting locations to film in Israel and each site has its own amazing story.

In the pictures some of my favorite loctions in Israel

Sharon

Biblical Productions Gets Adventurous!

Destination Truth’ Comes to Israel

Biblical Productions Gets Adventurous!

This month saw Biblical Productions working with intrepid world adventurer, Josh Gates, as we filmed two ‘Destination Truth’ episodes in Israel.

The NBC Universal hit series, which airs on the Syfy Channel, takes viewers on treks across the globe, with Josh investigating ‘stories of the unexplained’. These can involve anything from local legends to mythical creatures.

Our lips are sealed as to the exact storylines or filming locations in Israel, but all we can divulge is that one shoot took place in a desert setting and the other around the coastal plain.

 An Amazing Crew

The crew are used to filming in inaccessible places and are all super fit and up for any challenge.  These guys are not your average crew and in the line of duty they’ve have had to climb mountains, go white water rafting and even jump out of airplanes – all to capture the best action shots!

 ‘Destination Truth’ production involves 24 hour shooting and many scenes tend to be filmed at night, using infrared cameras.  This dedicated crew run on adrenalin and are skilled in getting optimum shots from the most extreme settings.

Production Management in Israel

Biblical Productions was the local production manager on the ‘Destination Truth’ shoot and acted as their local fixer in Israel. As you can imagine, we rose to the occasion and filmed two amazing episodes.  This new series is due to air in March 2010 and each episode promises to keep fans on the edge of their seats and intrigued until the end.

Tears by Rachel’s Tomb

I am always looking for that special film location in Israel; far away from the traditional, more popular sites.  Rachel’s Tomb is an intersting  film location in Israel, located 30 minutes south of Jerusalem, on the outskirts of Bethlehem, in the Judean Mountains.  

Rachel’s Tomb is the burial place of the Biblical matriarch and is considered to be the third holiest Jewish site after the Western Wall and the Cave of the Patriarchs.

Rachel’s resting place is a great place to take footage of people practicing Judaism.  This site has special significance to women and filming here will enable you to capture the intensity of prayer, the expression of devotion and the heartfelt fervor of religious women.  Many come to the grave of Rachel to cry out for support, yearning comfort and blessings from one of the original Jewish mothers.

 The Story of Rachel

Rachel Tomb on \”You Tube\”

Rachel’s Biblical story reads like a modern day soap opera.  Her father arranged for Rachel’s less attractive sister to replace her on her wedding day, tricking Jacob (who had worked seven years to earn his bride) into marrying the wrong daughter.  Intensely in love with Rachel, Jacob worked another seven years to earn the hand of the ‘right’ daughter, as his second wife. 

Having finally won their marital partnership, the couple experienced the sadness of infertility, made all the worse by Leah’s abundant child-rearing abilities.  However, although Leah provided Jacob with six sons and a daughter, she was left craving the affections of a man who was never able to truly love her.

Finally Rachel bore Jacob a son, Joseph and it was during the birth of a second son, Benjamin, that Rachel experienced a painful and complicated labor, which ultimately robbed her of her life in 1553 BCE.  She craved children all her life and then suffered the irony of literally dying to fulfill her maternal instincts.

The story has it all, sibling rivalry, family drama, trickery, love, death and intrigue! 

The Significance of Rachel

Over time, Rachel’s tomb became a place of pilgrimage for Jews, particularly women who had fertility problems. Many visit her tomb on the 11th of the Jewish month of Cheshvan, the anniversary of her death.

Rachel was no ordinary woman. She was the childless bride who ultimately became the mother of the Jewish people. She craved children all her life and subsequently died in childbirth.  This woman, whose jealousies, frustrations and anguish are recorded in the Bible, present us with a very human face in the Bible; somebody we can connect with and understand. 

Visiting the tomb is not a regular event.  The people praying next to the eternal Jewish matriarch do not act with the usual decorum shown in synagogues.  Somehow the site evokes extreme emotions; women in particular are seen to beg for divine intervention for those who are suffering or in need.

Rachel is a symbol of hope for those who are childless and many flock to her grave to read prayers and special psalms.

Rachel’s Thread

There is an ancient tradition to tie a scarlet thread, which has previously been wound around the Tomb of Rachel, around one’s neck or wrist.  This is supposed to protect against danger and is particularly prevalent among pregnant women. Tying the thread around the tomb is said to turn it into a charm (‘segulah’) and this practice can still be seen today.

Filming at Rachel’s Tomb

Those filming at Rachel’s Tomb are likely to record the heartfelt tears of women, deep in prayer and on personal pilgrimages. Oftentimes the sound of sobbing comes from the prayer hall, as women literally beg for help, comfort and blessings.  It is easy to get caught up in the emotions of these tear-stained, religious women, as they tune in to the spiritually-charged atmosphere surrounding their matriarch and pour out their anguish in the form of intense prayer.

You can capture amazing scenes of these women during many different occasions.  The prayer hall holds special midnight prayer services and a particularly popular time to visit is on the anniversary of Rachel’s death.

Filming at this location in Israel requires a film permit and Biblical Productions are adept at obtaining these for clients; cutting through all the associated bureaucracy and getting your film permission arranged with minimum fuss.

Types of Production

This is an amazing site that could be used for a range of productions in Israel;

• Biblical re-enactments (The life of Rachel or Jacob)
• Documentaries – Historical, Travel, Biography
• Reality – it would be interesting to interview some of the women by the tomb – find out what the site means to them and how they feel when they pray there.
• Religious Documentary – this is a great site to discuss the power of prayer.

If you are looking for a film location in Israel to capture scenes of praying , this is a prime location.

Filming Beit Jimal Monastery

Sometimes when I go out scouting for film locations in Israel, I stumble across a location that just ticks all the boxes.  From time to time you find a gem, a place that looks as if it has been designed as a film set; crammed full of character and with the potential to be used for a variety of productions.

Beit Jimal Monastery is one such place. Located between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, this atmospheric setting still has areas that are used as a monastery, including a section resided in by nuns, who have taken a vow of silence.

The setting is large, airy and versatile; it could be dressed up for a variety of scenes, both inside and out.

The site itself contains fields, a church, stables, a dormitory, a farmhouse estate and a very large courtyard.   

The monastery is located in a very picturesque area, surrounded by fields and trees.  The setting itself has beautiful, well tendered gardens, with blossomed trees lining the entrance path.

The buildings are made from white stone and fashioned in a very simple style. Inside one building there is a stone floor and a series of columns and archways, which all work well to create a powerful atmosphere, particularly when the light floods in through the semicircular windows.

This area is large and would make a wonderful interior for a feature film.  It has a formal, frugal look which would work well as a setting for a religious building or school. It would also be good in a drama or thriller; being somewhere that has an air of mystery about it and a place in which you could really build up excitement or suspense.

The setting would be wonderfully set off by candlelight or torches; it could be dressed into a sumptuous venue for a feast or the eerie location for a psychological or historical thriller.

Outside the main buildings is a massive courtyard, flagged with white stones and making a perfect setting for the creation of a Middle Eastern bazaar or as a place to re-enact historical scenes.

It is also a wonderful space for external filming, allowing the monastery and other buildings to be used as a backdrop. 

Film companies can hire the whole location for a very reasonable $1,500 a day, plus electricity expenses.

The whole area is massive and the priest I met showed me around so many wonderful places inside the monastery estate.  He unlocked doors that are not open to the public but he assures me that he is happy to use these for filming purposes. 

Some of the places he showed me are like blank canvases and just need the imagination of an art director to transform them into a wonderful film setting.

The whole estate includes farm houses, some with servants’ quarters.  There are around twenty dwellings altogether, each of which has an historic feel and could be dressed up for any period; stemming from ancient times to nineteenth century. 

Beit Jimal Monastery covers a vast area and has a range of buildings and external features that could cater for multiple scenes being shot at the same location.  The priests are welcoming and are used to film crews; understanding the unsociable hours and disruption that accompanies any production.

I would love to say that I, alone, have discovered Beit Jimal as a fantastic film location in Israel, but have to admit that it has already been discovered by others.  Antonio Banderes shot his film ‘The Body’ here in 2001 and I am sure that many others will be following in his footsteps.

Filming The Dead Sea Scrolls

Being the most important archeological find of the 20th century, the Dead Sea Scrolls have been the topic of many films and documentaries produced in Israel.

Following the initial excitement of their discovery, the Dead Sea Scrolls still fascinate the world today. I have filmed many times in Qumran National Park, which is the location they were unearthed. For me, as a film producer who provides production services in Israel, it was most interesting to explore the Caves in the Qumran area.  The scrolls were not kept together but were found scattered throughout eleven different caves.

Last month I was filming on locations in Israel for the Travel Channel, we filmed early in the morning in ‘Cave Three’ with L.A production company Morning Start.

Cave Three is important because that is where the famous copper scroll was found. The original scroll is now in the Jordanian National Museum; last year we filmed in Jordan with The Travel Channel.

The copper scroll is unlike the other scrolls, it is the only one not made from paper. The copper scroll contains engravings and a list of treasures that includes a huge amount of gold, silver, priceless vessels and coins, believed to weigh around 100 tons! The scroll makes reference to places where this treasure was hidden, but although many have sought to locate it, the locations remain a mystery to this day. The assumption is that the Temple treasure is included on the scroll’s catalogue of priceless items.

This scroll has inspired many around the world, including the film industry, treasure hunters, historians, and many more. In fact, the episode that we shot in Israel for the Travel Channel is all about the copper scroll this is part of the series Secret Worlds. The host, Michael Arbuthnot an archeologist intrigued us with his knowledge and I urge you to watch the show – click on our website www.biblicalproductions.com for the time and date of the airing, which is still to be announced.

Returning to the caves; filming in many locations in Israel needs local and industry knowledge, language skills and expertise.  It is necessary to be ready with the right permit in order to film in and around the caves of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Permits can be very difficult to obtain and we were only given permission to film 24 hours before the filming started! It took endless meetings, explanation, negotiation and familiarity with local bureaucracy to obtain our authorization. You  need a lot of patience for this job!

As well as the cave we filmed in, there is also ‘Cave One’, which is the most complicated cave to reach. We will be filming there in two months time for a new client. The climb alone can take hours.

In pre-production  for my filming, I found out about a lesser known scroll called the ‘Jerusalem Scroll’, which was also found in the Qumran Caves. I’m in contact with one of the head researchers who tells me it describes everyday life in Jerusalem during the second temple period.

Filming in Jericho

In was one of my favorite crews ever, Pat Frazer and Gallo from L.A, filming in Israel for their amazing project, ‘One’.

We shot on location in and around a colorful Jerusalem that basked in the early summer sun. Having dug up some really great human interest stories, we used the dramatic backdrop of this beautiful city to interview each person. When the film comes out I will place a trailer on my blog. Look out for this as there are some great stories and wonderful shots.

 On one of the days of the shoot in Israel, we stated filming at 3 O’clock in the morning. I asked, Ifat, my dear friend and stills photographer, to join us and take some shots of the crew working.  The location: a dawn concert in Jericho. 

We met at the crew’s hotel and drove down to Jericho. The concert was part of the ‘Sound of Jerusalem’ project – a festival of concerts, each in a different location.We arrived in Jericho an hour before the concert started.  It was still dark when we joined the musicians at the cable car, which took us up to the Mountain of Temptation.There, on a balcony, the musicians began tuning up. Our film crew chose their positions; Pat placed his camera high on the mountain above us and Gallo, with his Red Camera, was close to the musicians.People began arriving as dawn approached. At around 5 am, the concert began, just as the sun was starting to rise.  Everywhere around us was still and quiet; there was just music, mountain and a spectacular sunrise.  A peaceful ambiance filled the air and we filmed the most extraordinary shots.

The sun rose from the east, spreading its rays over the Dead Sea and Jericho. The concert took an hour and afterwards we went up to the monastery at the top of the Mountain of Temptation. This is one of my favorite locations in Israel. Finally, it was time to go down the mountain and film the Dead Sea. The crew took advantage of their location, finding time for a quick swim, something I insisted upon; if you come all the way to Israel and find yourself by the Dead Sea, you simply have to experience the strange experience of floating in the salty waters of the lowest point on earth.

 The last location of the day was a Greek monastery, to the north of the Dead Sea. There we filmed the unique faces of some of the residents of the monastery; their simple, secluded lifestyle giving them an air of contentment.Tired and happy we went back to Jerusalem for a late breakfast at Link, one of my favorite restaurants in the center of Jerusalem. There, relaxing after a long but enjoyable shoot, Pat, Gallo, Muhammad (the best driver), Ifat, Yanive (the PA) and myself all had a delicious snack and discussed a great restaurant we all knew in NY. It was very amusing.

 At 2pm the crew went back to their hotel and I went to sleep… it had been a long day.

Filming in Jericho

Film Scouting in Israel

“Who is Jesus” the popular discovery series directed by renowned British director Alex Marengo was shot in Israel. Renegade Films requested that I scout the country’s landmarks for unique historical settings, in addition to spotting locations suitable for interviewing the three host of the show:

Biblical Scholar Allen Callahan,  Archaeologist Byron  McCane  and  Jewish Historian  Pr. Rachel  Lane.

Although Israel is famous for its prominent history, over the years it has been rebuilt and modernized – making it difficult to locate the sites that remain authentic to ancient times. At Biblical productions it’s essential that we uphold that prehistoric image as we scout for biblical settings.

I spent the next week together with another tour guide driving around Israel searching for appropriate sites. With little but a map and a camera at hand, we were two women out on a mission to find the ideal film location. There’s nothing like a good ol’ map to help me find those perfect spots- The GPS may be one of the only modern gadgets I dislike.

We settled on a small farm located in the Galilee, where we hoped to find the oldest grove of olive trees in the area. When we arrived we met Ethan. Ethan is an old-time Galilee farmer and is especially familiar with the area. Even with Ethan’s level of expertise, the three of us spent hours searching for the appropriate trees. On the verge of giving up, Ethan directed us to an Arab village where by chance we met a young man who introduced us to a field packed with beautifully aged Olive Trees. They were truly outstanding and made us feel as if we had stepped into primeval times.

With the first stop of our quest behind us, we were on our way to the Sea of Galilee. The majority of the area is occupied by tourists and hotels. After all, it’s a global tourist attraction. We, on the other hand were looking for something less commercialized. I had been informed of a nun located on the northern side of the beach who possessed a key to a secluded section. With great effort we found the nun and she lead us to the peaceful stretch of sand. We rested on a wooden bench, the wind pleasantly blowing on our faces, where the nun kindly promised to help us with our filming.

As the day came to an end, tired from all we had accomplished, we decided to treat ourselves to dinner. Since we weren’t far away from Rosh Pina, a favorite small town of mine, we went to a restaurant café overlooking the Hula Valley. It was the perfect way to relax, unwind and end a perfect day.

The following morning we continued our journey, traveling along Israel’s coastline. However, that’s already a brand new story.

Reenacting Biblical scenery in Israel

When reenacting biblical scenes that involve an entire production -  I.e.’  Actors, extras, tents, animals and even horsebacks; I hire my friend Chalil.  Chalil  is a Bedouin with extensive understanding of the desert as well as an amazingly skilled producer.

Our most recent project together was for an American Company, producing a film featuring scenes from the Old Testament.  Having arrived at the location at 4:00 am, it was still dark out but the camp was ready to work. Suddenly, Four large rocks moved right before our eyes. As it turns out, they were awaking camels.

The opening scene was of Abraham taking Isaac to be sacrificed at dawn. Our props were in place, the fire was burning and the actors were geared up in Biblical costume.

Throughout the day we continued to shoot a variety of scenes from the Bible. We shot Abraham with his sheep, countless camel rides, Sara and Jacob, Isaac as a boy and later Isaac as our sage forefather.

During the shooting, we came across a man distributing tea. He had an infectious smile and built us a nice fire. We couldn’t help but light up with the sight of him.

I am in constant search of the perfect location to reenact biblical stories.  Every so often I travel to Judea and Samaria seeking out the perfect setting.  I am on the lookout for interesting faces, women, children, Valleys, Rocky Mountains, wadi, forests and Locations from the Old as well as the New Testament. It was once requested of me that I locate the route Joseph and Mary took from Nazereth to Bethlehem. Filming reenactments takes great preparation however has a huge production value.  I also produce in Jordan.

Our vision is to constantly be thinking out of the box while filming. It’s what makes filming in Israel  extraordinary. In order to shoot Joseph and Mary, we spotted the perfect steep mountain located right outside Jerusalem.

On the way from Bethlehem to the south, I came across cave dwellers. These dwellers live in old cave houses set in a countrified area. Their Hospitality is welcoming, beautiful and unique. After sitting with the family I thought it would make a nice place to film as just outside the cave is a great field to use as Biblical scenery.

Caves, historic ruins, refuges and even monasteries are just a few examples of places that can serve as feature film locations in Israel.  The next place I have my eye on is located in between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. It’s not far from the Ella Valley. I think the potential there for film productions and will be back soon with all the details.

The History Channel’s television – filming in Israel

The History Channel’s television show, ‘Cities of the Underworld’ proved to be a very challenging production in Israel. One of the producers of Authentic Entertainment was familiar with my work from a previous production and approached me.

We had only three weeks to film in a dozen locations all over Israel. From Akko in the Galilee to The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, The City of David and the newly discovered Zadik Tunnel, The caves of Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, Megiddo home of the famed “Battle of Megiddo” mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments, Morasha and many more locations throughout Israel.

Don Wildman and his crew woke up early morning to film the Dome of the Rock, one of the most difficult places to film due to complicated procedures obtaining permits in order to gain entry to the Dome.

Our efforts were rewarded; Don under the Mosque was a great scene. I was the field producer that day and was blessed with a blue sky containing a few clouds that framed the Dome, it never looked more beautiful. Just a few weeks later the Dome went into a big renovation, which still continues to this day.

Don was in Israel with his wife Melissa. One day Melissa called me saying that Don thinks it would great if we meet for lunch, I immediately invited her over to my office. Melissa used to be a Broadway dancer in The Lion King and not only does she dance; she also narrates TV shows with her velvet voice. In my opinion she has got the most beautiful voice in the world. Melissa and I quickly became friends.

Meanwhile the crew was planning to spend the day filming the caves at Qumran. It was the hottest day in the year. The aim was to get Don and the crew down to Cave 4. Don managed to go down very carefully to Cave 4 with a massive amount of film equipment. The shots were amazing and Cities of the Underworld was the very last crew to film Cave 4. Entry is no longer allowed as the national park decided to close the cave to crews for safety reasons.

The concept of the show is that in each place the host meets an expert who guides Don and his audience through a location. Shachar Shilo is one of the best experts from the City of David. He has an impressive knowledge of history, is fluent in English, and is a natural in front of the camera.

While in Israel, Authentic Entertainment also shot a web episode on various additional subjects for the History Channel website. At the end of the show, before everyone left, we had a wrap party celebrating our achievements. It was delightful to work with everyone.

I will miss Melissa very much. I consider her a dear friend and look forward to seeing her when I am in L.A.