Projects
ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOUR
The Z1E was essential for keeping director Jawad Taiman
out of trouble on his latest film shot on the streets of Kabul
Director Jawad Taiman has spent the
last year making a film about two of Afghanistan’s Taiman needed to be able to follow his subjects
estimated one million drug addicts. Addicted in Jabar and Zahir at a moment’s notice, so the Z1E’s
Afghanistan follows the day-to-day lives of Zabar and portability and robustness were also key. “He was
Zahir – two 15-year-old heroin addicts from Kabul. shooting in very dusty, dry conditions and the camera
Shot on an HVR-Z1E hired from PEC Video, producer didn’t let him down once,” says Ward, who adds: “I was
Sharron Ward explains that the camera choice was very insistent on shooting on HDV particularly as Al
dictated by two factors: the film’s small budget and the Jazeera International was keen to commission the
need to work in very dangerous and unstable locations. documentary and it requires all formats to be HD.”
“Much of the filming was done on the outskirts of Kabul, HDV was also important as a way of future-proofing
in an area which is under the control of the Taliban at the film, which has just finished screening in
night,” says Ward. international competition at one of the world’s biggest
“There was no way we could have a conspicuous international documentary film festivals, IDFA in
DigiBeta crew. Jawed needed to be as discreet as Amsterdam. With an award for best documentary at the
possible, yet we didn’t want to compromise on image Asian First Film Festival in Singapore, cinema
quality. The Z1E gave us stunning picture clarity even distribution is a definite possibility. “We are very pleased
blown up onto the big screen,” says Ward, who also with the overall result of the camera and it’s incredibly
praises the camera’s “excellent sound quality”. easy to use functionality,” concludes Ward.
Winter 2010 theproducer 29
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