Shoot Day 9: London Day 2

Miles walked: 20 Miles
Tube Trains: 10-15
Experience for next time: Priceless



We all had an amazing breakfast at the hotel, which by the way should be copied by every hotel in existence. A great choice of fruits, eggs, cheeses, vegetables etc.. We also were celebrating Doron's Birthday! The staff sang happy birthday and gave him a scrumptious dessert.

So after we ate too much, we walked it off by lugging the equipment to the tube station. First location: Kew Gardens. We arrived and filmed the entrance - a huge block wall surrounds the park. We could have gone in but not to film. The place charges 240 pounds for one hour of filming! This is the "discount rate." So we decided to scratch that one and just filmed the gate.

From there, we all went to the tube again to The London Eye (a giant wheel that takes people up in closed capsules to see city views). Their web site had a huge list of rules and film regulations etc.. application needed, the works.... Anyway, nothing was said about filming views only from the London Eye.



I say, lets take a risk... if it's meant to be - It will happen. After being passed around to several "people in charge" - I got to speak to the head manager. The head manager said to me to not count on it. You have to follow rules etc... Despite this, he still called the PR office (by the way was closed - due to a holiday and he called their cell phone). I spoke to the PR rep for 15 minutes trying to convince her we wouldn't bother anyone, no tripod, etc.. etc.. she said no to me 2 times. I thought to my self, What do I have to lose.... so I went about it in a different way. The phone was handed back to the manager. They spoke for two minutes and then he said "YES" - we can go up.

WOW! I was on a natural high! I think the Israeli government should hire me. LOL. I am in the wrong business.
The London Eye, escorted us to the capsule - hardly waiting in line. It was the star treatment for "Media" as they called us.

I owe them a huge thank you! THANK YOU LONDON EYE STAFF! YOUR AWESOME.



Anyway, the day didn't end there.... we went to Hyde Park and our final stop was Buckingham Palace. The day ended well when we were able to download all of our footage - without too many problems.

This goes without saying, the experience was amazing. We had so much luck on our side, we felt some powers that be were with us all the way! Cheering us on. Its nice to think that.



Tomorrow: I part from my crew and I head back to Israel. Yoni and Doron are staying for a few extra days in London.

Leora

Shoot Day 8: London UK

Miles walked: Infinite
Tube Trains/ rides: 10-15
Singing in the rain: Priceless




After a nice little break, we resume our filming to include the UK. Doron and Yoni met me at the airport in Tel Aviv at 5 am'ish? for a 7am departure to London (Luton Airport). The flight was 5.5 hours and despite some heavy turbulence, all was good..... well except for an interesting side note. Doron and Yoni and I didn't get to sit together. Doron was in the back of the plane and Yoni was next to me.

So I see my row and a Chasidic gentleman was sitting next to the window. I saw him and immediatly hinted to Yoni to sit in the middle because the Chasidic man wasn't going to sit next to a woman who isn't their wife. Anyway, before I even tried to put my bag down, he asks nicely to not sit next to me. See what did I tell ya! I have a contagious illness? Yoni didn't like it. He said it wasn't my problem (me) - and that it was his - he didn't want to sit next to me. He's right, but what can you do.

Anway, Yoni and I ended up sharing an empty three seater on the other side.



We arrive in London around 11am. After a train ride and several tube stations later, we arrive at the equipment rental house. Doron split to go to the hotel to put our luggage in the room. Yoni and I checked equipment and started to shoot immediately. Doron met up with us later and got more filming done between frequent light showers, which later turned clear with clouds.

We were very lucky. Despite word that many camera crews get asked by police to stop filming if they don't have permits etc... or just plain....stop filming. We saw many cops and they never asked us anything or even approached us. Our camera rental company was actually surprised. It's as if we could have done whatever we wanted.



We ended the day with more amazing shots. We ate dinner at a Persian restaurant not far from the hotel and afterwards had a little struggle with PC versus MAC hard drives (in the end, we sorted it out on Friday). A kind man let us use his PC laptop. This meant the director and producer can sleep easily.

Tomorrow:(Friday) - Kew Gardens, Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace and an attempt at the London Eye.

Leora

Shoot Day 7: Atlit & Moshav Bat Shlomo

Our last day of shooting in Israel and I can't believe it. It feels like I have been here longer and yet the time has gone by so fast... it is unbelievable.

Today, we shot a very important interview in Moshav Bat Shlomo ( a stone's throw away from Zichron), at the house of my father's cousin. The view, of course was amazing, with Zichron in the background. I got there at 9:15 am and waited for Doron to bring his father from Jerusalem and for Amnon and Yonni to come back from the Afula area - at a second attempt to go up in a hot air balloon. Another miss due to wind. Twice now, Yonni had to leave Tel Aviv at 4 am in the morning for a 2 hour drive, only to be disappointed.... oh well, what can ya do.



After we finished a wonderful interview with Dr. Aaronsohn (Doron's father), we drove to Atlit for lunch and then filmed him at Dostri Valley talking about why this place is very important `(We also filmed the re-enactments there too).

By 4 pm we finished, another 12 hour day for my camera crew and producer! They have been an amazing crew and I would certainly hire them again, if needed. Not only did we have a few good laughs, they were equally as passionate and talented in their field and when it came down to getting a shot, they did (*** cough*** cough***) listen to the director and producer.



Tomorrow: We pack up and head for the north to spend time with family, not yet visited, and to spend Passover with a few uncles and an aunt. I am a little relieved and yet a little sad filming in Israel is over.

Next week: Yonni, Doron and I are leaving for London for 2 days. We have tons of places to film and then head back to Israel.

Have a great one,

Leora

Shoot Day 6: Tavor Mountain & Caesarea

My crew woke up extra early (4:00 a.m.) to be exact to drive an hour and a half to meet the hot air balloon people. After all the production and waiting, the balloon didn't take off due to lots of wind. They offered us another day (Thursday), so we will see if we can make it.

I didn't go with my crew to the balloon site and on the way back they took some wonderful scenery shots that are absolutely amazing! The crew picked me up in Zichron and drove down the street to Caesarea. We walked around and took some scenery shots of the place and we also saw a ship off the coast etc.. This place is important in the story, is because a homing pigeon with a scroll was discovered in Caesarea and this prompted swift action by the Turks - alerting them of spy activities.



The day was clear and the water was blue, and the sky was clear without a trace of a cloud. It was one of the most amazing days for shooting so far. The colors were just simply amazing with all different shades of blue. The water looked like the beaches in the Bahamas.



Anyway, we ended the day by eating lunch on the beach and headed back. It was a very long day for my crew by 3:00 p.m.

Thursday: Another attempt at the balloon ride and then a very important interview in Zichron!

Leora

Shoot Day 5: Dead Sea & Jerusalem

Sunday morning, we got an early start and drove through Jerusalem in order to get to the Dead Sea. Beautiful views surrounded us the entire way and for a second there we thought we were filming a National Geographic film.

We drove up a winding road leading to a viewing spot high above. Once we finished taking various shots of the view, we headed down to En Gedi - it was sad to see what became of the area - the water level had drop and it seemed much more touristy and not as natural as it once was. Despite this, we got some good shots, enjoyed the fresh salty air and the many beautiful Dead Sea landscapes.



Next stop was Jerusalem and boy I thought Tel- Aviv traffic was bad...... up until that point, I didn't see anything. LOL. A lot of construction is going on all around Jerusalem, which makes it pretty congested - every road is under construction.



We ate a late lunch at a burger place and I opted to get a NY style pizza across the street and bring it back to where the rest of my crew were eating. We sat at a table outside. I am with my pizza and the men with their burgers. As I am enjoying my lunch, an observant Jew walks by and says to me, not in a mean tone, "You are eating milk" - meaning I am eating Pizza in a "Meat" restaurant. I didn't say anything, I looked at him and politely said, I didn't think I was doing anything wrong.

He went to get a worker in the restaurant and came to my table and looked at my pizza - in its own box, napkin etc... and told the observant Jew, It was OK, I wasn't using their plates, utensils, etc... so what if I decided to sit there while I ate pizza and the rest ate meat. No Big deal. I wasn't offended. I follow the no mixing meat and milk...



Anyway, after a long day, we left Jerusalem and got back to Tel- Aviv around 8 p.m.

Tomorrow: Early rise 4:15 am - Filming in a hot air balloon & Cesarea

Leora

Shoot Day 4: Sun, Rain and a beautiful Sunset

It is hard to describe in a few words the amazing day of shooting we all experienced - We wouldn't be able to do it justice, simply, the day was incredible. We filmed in all the locations that the following events happened! We made history. Again, my crew was amazing and I wouldn't pick anyone else to do the job.

The entire crew was at the location at 8:30 a.m. and ready to go. We blocked the shots outside the Atlit house and started shooting. The shots looked great and even looked like a large hollywood budget film. :-) By 1:00 p.m. we were finished and we graciously thanked Gideon for allowing us to invade his house for 5 hours.



From there we moved to the second location which was 1 mile down the road. We ate lunch and started getting the camera ready to make the trek up to the lookout spot, which sees everything and sees down below to the beach. As I was up there with the Dp and assistant, I see dark clouds and heard some thunder ( out at sea). We rushed to get the shots and we made our way down the lookout......it poured. With all the equipment, we hid under some trees, but we still got wet.



The actors, crew and myself were wet. The DP and I went with the actors and started to shoot some close ups - Actors running between some brush, mud and trees in a place called Dostri Valley. This happened and the rain just got stronger, so we stopped. 20 minutes later, the rain stopped and the sun came out. I thought I was back in FL, with the 4pm shower.

We got great shots, and the crew thought we were filming the Israeli version of lost. Ha ha. After the "woodsy area," we moved company to our last location - Atlit beach (down the street).



We took stunning shots of "Sarah" walking on the beach, while the sun was falling through the beautiful patches of clouds. Stunning is understatement - the shots looked like a multi- million dollar production was in town on Atlit beach.
We shot a few scenes with the actors and even lit a torch for one of the actors to wave in the dark. I was afraid he would get burned, because the torch was dipped in gasoline and it lit up fast and strong.



At the end of the day, as I am watching the beautiful sunset from Atlit Beach, I think of a wonderful woman who recently left this world, whose presence enriched my life in the short time I was able spend with her. We will miss you Judith Sobel (Zichrona Le'vracha).

Tomorrow: Another Shabbat weekend in Israel, time for some rest. Shabbat Shalom

Leora

Shoot Day 3: Zichron Ya'Akov

It is hard to believe that day 3 is over and done. We all have been working really hard. Today, we stayed in Zichron Ya'akov to shoot the torture house, a vinyard, Zichron street, a cemetery, a synagogue, and the Nili museum.

First, we filmed the kids visiting the museum and then got exteriors of the house. (Of course we were not allowed to film inside the "houses," but we were allowed to film in the museum part, which is separate than the "houses.")



The filming went smoothly and the weather was perfect. After getting a few shots of Zichron, we headed back to the main thoroughfare to get the keys for the synagogue from an older gentleman who owns a cafe - just across the street from the synagogue. We opened the synagogue and got the shots we needed. I must say, it was one of the highlights of the day. I have enclosed a picture, which I think speaks for itself. I took it from the women's section. The place was beautiful and I would love to go to Shabbat services, while I am here. The gentleman was very kind enough to give us permission to go in.
When people trust you here, they give you the world!



Tomorrow: We are filming the biggest day of the whole entire shoot because we will have 9 people including crew and cast on location for an all day shoot. (9am -6pm).

Take care,

Leora