subject: Filming in Israel – large cities in Israel [print this page] Author: Sharon Schaveet Author: Sharon Schaveet
Since 1985, Biblical Productions have been assisting Israeli and non-Israeli Film Production companies to achieve the best results from their film shooting. Whether you or your crew could use guidance in navigating customs at the airport, need to rent a vital piece of equipment or employ the services of a highly professional director, cameraman, or editor and state-of-the-art equipment, Biblical Productions will assist. In the following article, we will bring an overview of some of Israel's largest cities for your filming in Israel experience through Biblical production which provides production services in Israel. Filming in Beer Sheva
Beer Sheva, the capital of the Negev region, is a location directly connected to the story of Abraham as well as numerous other Bible stories. Under a two hour drive from Jerusalem, Abraham lived in Beer Sheva for many years due to an abundance of underground springs in the area. Just outside the city you can find excavations of a biblical town at "Tel Beer Sheva." At the Tel, which means a mound containing the remains of settlement upon settlement, you can film an ancient well outside the city gate. This may be the same well referred to in the Book of Genesis, dug both by Abraham and Isaac. Inhabited on and off for centuries, the Tel contains antiquities dating back to the time of the Patriarchs, to the time of David and Solomon, and to Roman and Byzantine times. Beer Sheva has been revived and it is a particularly good place to film recreations of biblical scenes. Filming in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv this urban beach town is without a doubt the modern hub of Israel. Situated along the Mediterranean coast, Tel Aviv, with its warm climate, is home to many sidewalk cafes and shops. The city is a wonderful place to film, for those interested in cosmopolitan Israeli life. The streets are filled with students, young professionals, and people from all walks of life, and lined with white Bauhaus style apartment blocks, cultural institutions, and small business districts. The city actually covers a fairly small area making it easy to walk from place to place but traffic is usually problematic in the heavily populated city. Like most modern cities, Tel Aviv, is home to disparate neighborhoods, each with its own character and charm. There are wealthy areas with exclusive shops and apartment buildings, there are trendy neighborhoods where students mingle at local bars and cafes, and there are also poorer neighborhoods that portray a different side of the city.
Hundreds of Israeli films have been shot and set in Tel Aviv, among them the recent Eytan Fox hit, The Bubble. In this film Fox presents his version of the young hip professional scene in Tel Aviv, centered around the happening thoroughfare Shenkin Street. Overall, shooting in Tel Aviv allows for expression of the contemporary Israeli way of life, characterized by standard urban practices mixed with a laissez-faire Mediterranean sensitivity.
Filming in Eilat
Eilat - the southern-most city in Israel functions as a port of entry for goods and as a vacationers' oasis for Israelis and foreigners looking to sit back, soak in the rays, and relax. Located on the coast of the Red Sea, Eilat's geographic qualities make it a stunning sight and a wonderful place to film. Eilat, surrounded by magnificent mountain ranges, has numerous grand hotels and attractions. There are beautiful coral reefs filled with colorful aquatic life in the Red Sea, drawing scuba divers to the city. Eilat is overall a water-oriented place that also has a Dolphin reef where visitors can swim with Dolphins. The weather in Eilat is hot and dry and it rains for around 3 days in the winter. It is preferable to avoid the intense heat in the summer, but otherwise Eilat is a good place to film, especially for productions involving underwater shots and marine life.
Filming in Haifa
The third largest city in the country is most noted for its active port and its rolling hills. Located between the ocean and the green Carmel Mountains, Haifa has wonderful views making it ideal for beauty shots. The religious make up of the city is somewhat unique: around 10% of the population is Arab, lending to interesting multi-cultural neighborhoods. Haifa is also home to the Bahai Temple and Gardens - an example of exquisite architecture with vast stunning tended-to grounds.
One film set on the Haifa landscape is Broken Wings, winner of the 2002 Israeli Academy Award for best picture. Director Nir Bergman, a Haifa native, pays tribute to his hometown in this moving story of an average Israeli family coping with the loss of a loved one.
Within the modern city, with its first-class universities, hospitals, shopping malls, and museums, are fascinating neighborhoods that bring one back in time. One example of such a neighborhood is Wadi Nissnass, a vibrant section of Haifa that is a delight for the senses. This authentic Mediterranean town was built in the 1830s, and since has served as a model for co-existence between Arabs and Jews. The stone-lined streets house market vendors selling their array of goods: homemade pitas, specially ground coffee, and crafts galore. The lights, colors, Middle Eastern musicians, and children playing in the streets make this a perfect locale for the inspired cinematographer.
Because of the necessity of official permits, effective communication will also partially determine your subjects and locations for film shooting. Whether the challenge is navigating customs at the airport, obtaining special permission to film in a church, an Israeli air force base, interview a prominent Israeli politician, or obtain valuable archival footage from a TV station, then you need Biblical Productions to be your fixer in Israel.About the Author:
