This short film—by Billy Blioumis—takes place in Dubai. When a Filipina maid loses the child she takes care of, Ghassan, an Emirati businessman is willing to help her. It is a story about humanity and our commonality— no matter where we are from most of us care about one another. LOST & FOUND IN DUBAI also demonstrates the role of technology in bringing people together.

The movie was shot using a Samsung Note 4. While the story is simple, the filmmakers used a wide variety of techniques including lens selection and even a drone shot.  Here’s the making-of featurette:

LOST & FOUND IN DUBAI was created as part of the Samsung Short Film Contest in Partnership with Dubai International Film Festival. It won third prize in the 2015 International Mobil Film Festival.

A lot went into the making of Billy’s movie, as we discovered in the following interview.

MMM: Where did you get the idea for your movie?

Billy: The idea crossed my mind when I first arrived in Dubai (it was 2012) and realized the multicultural environment. As a filmmaker I immediately wanted to make a feel good movie. So I teamed up with Roy Eisenstein and we came up with the story.

MMM: What kind of scripting did you do?

Billy: I work usually with shot lists. I’m terrible with drawing so I avoid storyboards 🙂 I decide first on what type of mood I want to convey and then I organize the shots accordingly. Every directorial approach depends on the script.

MMM: Do you give the actors the script?

Billy: I usually tell them what  I want from the scene and they have to deliver the message. I do not want them to memorize lines. It is important for the film that the actor will also gives his/her input in the film.

MMM: Why did you shoot with a mobile?

Billy: To be honest I was never a fan of making movies on phones. So this was a real challenge for me. But the truth is that they are getting better and better. Many people who have watched LOST AND FOUND IN DUBAI still do not believe that it was made with a phone, specifically, the Samsung Note 4. We shot it in 4K resolution! the output looks sweet! Another great advantage is the size. It’s ready to go and shoot everywhere and anywhere 🙂 No need anymore to carry with you heavy gear. This is a great option for guerrilla style filmmakers. Almost everybody has a phone so everybody can be a potential filmmaker 🙂

MMM: Can you tell us something about how you cast the movie?

Billy: Ghassan Al Katheri and Fe GingGing Hyde are two amazing actors. I knew their previous projects. Ghassan is a respected Emirati actor with long experience in the region. He’s also played in movies such as MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 4. We knew we’d benefit with his presence in our movie. Fe  is an award-winning actress. I knew her films and was always amazed with her performances. Knowing that she lives in Dubai, I immediately asked her to participate. Both of these performers believed in the vision.I feel blessed having these people on board.

MMM: How did you find your crew members?

Billy: Being a part of the local industry I choose to work with people I know. Film District production company helped a lot with their contribution. Mr Antulay made a great job as D.O.P and Nelly Saad supported the production along with Magdalena Papadopoulou , who always handles the “dirty” work of organizing. 🙂

MMM: What about the locations?

Billy: We did a LOT of location scouting. Originally we planned to film it in a place called “Global Village,” a large area with international pavilions inside. But we couldn’t find a date that would work with the deadline for the Dubai Film Festival. So after a long scout we decided to choose a park. In Dubai the issue was really getting the permits on time. Getting the permits (besides the expense factor) is also a 3 to 5 days procedure. In the end I did not get the permit officially. The Dubai Film Commission informed me that since we going to use the phone for filming we did not need a permission. Of course the head of security in the park had a different opinion. At the end we managed to complete the film but in a more guerrilla style.

MMM: We couldn’t tell from watching the movie.

Billy: Well, at times we were hiding behind the trees. And we’d have to stop filming when we saw security.

MMM: Can you say something about your approach to directing a movie?

Billy: As director and having a phone in my hand as a tool (and knowing we have a good script) I decided to push myself. I wanted to give more a real time situation and in the beginning I wanted to do it look like a long take (like the Birdman). But having this limited time to rehearse I decided to follow a different path. I still wanted to have an amazing long take starting underwater, then following the characters,  trying to collaborate each other and then show the vast area in a drone. Having all these shots in ONE TAKE was a big challenge. But we managed to make it. At the final editing we cut the underwater shot, since it was not that nice visually, but also we had to cut the film  to 5 minutes.

MMM: Any special techniques you use with actors?

Billy: Talk talk talk. Make them feel that they are the guys who carry the movie in their shoulders. It is teamwork and you must talk with them. But not in many details 🙂

MMM:  There’s a lot of interest in drones these days. Can you tell us something about your drone shot?

Billy: We taped the phone on a 3 axis gimbal. Then attached it on a drone (Dangerous, do not try it at home!) It was actually three people working simultaneously for this shot. Me operating the phone, the assistant holding the monitor and running with me, and Sameer operating the drone. Also we had to choreograph with all actors their movements, the speed of running , the route and the synchronization with the camera and drone. We rehearsed and we had to make 3 or 4 shots until we got it right. The whole shot lasted around 5 minutes, but due the time limitation in the final output we had to cut it down.

MMM: During the shoot or during post production, did you encounter any unexpected problems?

Billy: We had to ADR 2 or 3 lines from Ghassan. Another issue was that I’d been expecting more international extras, but they never showed up!

MMM: What about the gear and software?

Billy: I edit in Adobe Premiere and use Magic Bullet for color correcting. For sound we used Zoom h4n. But to be honest I try not to be stuck in brands. It is the features that matter.

MMM: Your “making of” featurette is entertaining. Did it take a big effort?

Billy: Not really. Polis Paschalidis (the guy was an extra and also he composed the music of the film) was there and had a camera. He got the footage, edited it and showed it to me. Usually I don’t have a behind-the-scenes video. Maybe I am too strict during the filmmaking process.

MMM: How did you get into moviemaking?

Billy: Since a kid I was amazed by movies. I lived with them 🙂 At that time it was even hard to get a VHS videocamera and film. It was always into my blood but when a friend gave me for a week his high 8 camcorder that was the trigger. It was 1998. I made tons of amazingly bad films, which I WAS very proud of at that time. (But IT was still as a hobby. I was making money working in an underground department store in Berlin in Germany. One day it was so cold and snowing and I had to work outdoors. I was 23 and asked myself: “Is this what you want to do for the rest of your life? Moving cartons in the container?” The answer was no. “So what do you want to make in your life?” Answer: Film making! So I resigned the next day and went to film school in Athens. Graduated with a diploma but I wanted to continue with a bachelor degree so, I went to Belgrade and graduated as Film Director with a BA. But still I was not happy. So I did a master degree in the same university (Faculty of Dramatic Arts) and specialized in Interactive Filmmaking. I thought my journey with film studies ended there. But I was wrong. I got a scholarship to study one year Marketing Communications 🙂 So I did that too.

MMM: That’s an inspiring story.

Billy: The fact is that  I was a very lazy student in high school. That is the difference when you study what you love 🙂

MMM: Can you give us a hint about your next production?

Billy: If you have a good script, pls let me know :). Nothing on the air right now.

MMM: Do you have any advice for beginning filmmakers who are serious about developing their skills?

Billy: Yes. It is not about the camera. It is about the story and how you tell it. Also do not expect from kids or animals to act for you 🙂

MMM: Anything else?

Billy: Only to mention that the film is dedicated to Tim Smythe. A person who changed the game in the local industry.

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You can see more of Billy’s work at https://vimeo.com/billyblioumis and follow him at https://www.facebook.com/blioumis