Meet Emiratis who worked on 'Star Trek Beyond'

Two Emirati interns spent four days on-set in Vancouver for ‘Star Trek Beyond’.

Sponsored by the Dubai Film and TV Commission (DFTC), the interns, Mohammad Ahmed Fikri and Abdulrahman Saleh Al Madani, gained filming experience with over 200 of some of the world’s best film crew, and were given exposure to the structure and organisation of a large international film set.

The interns are both emerging filmmakers and have written and directed their own films, winning awards at local and regional film festival. This was their first time on a Hollywood set.

“This was the opportunity of a lifetime and I am extremely thankful to the Dubai Film and TV Commission for selecting us to travel all the way to Vancouver. The environment is like nothing we have ever experienced before, and it was extremely interesting to see the level of work that goes into this kind of film. It was a truly memorable experience, and we look forward to participating in the Dubai shoot,” said Abdulrahman.

Mohammad was equally gung-ho about the experience. “It’s rare for interns to have the chance to visit Hollywood productions and we are extremely grateful to have been able to visit the set in Star Trek Beyond in Vancouver. Our experience was really fun and unique; we had the chance to see how everything works when it comes to creating Hollywood films, particularly around visual and practical effects,” he said.

Jamal Al Sharif, chairman of Dubai Film and TV Commission and managing director of Dubai Studio City, said: “We are delighted to have been able to offer this exciting opportunity to leading local filmmakers, and to give Emirati talent the opportunity to be part of a global franchise and learn from renowned industry professionals.

“The internship was part of our wider commitment towards nurturing talent and supporting the development of the local film industry, and I hope that the interns are excited to share their new-found international knowledge with a local audience in Dubai, and also apply the skills and international best practice they have learned to their creative work.”

‘Star Trek Beyond’ will film scenes in Dubai in October, and is set for release in the US and UAE in July 2016.

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