Installment 7: Easter Kuwait Fog

We shot on Easter in a small town just outside of Tripoli.

The US State Department would not be pleased with me:

The Department of State continues to urge that Americans avoid all travel to Lebanon. Americans who live and work in Lebanon presently should understand that they are accepting risks in remaining and should carefully consider those risks, especially those in Tripoli.

(In all honesty, they're not wrong - as we approach June elections, things are beginning to feel more unsettled. We've been in the vicinity of a few ugly incidents. )

Holidays, however, are a great time to shoot - There's less traffic, minimal noise and....fantastic outfits!
A visitor to our set:

And another:

And of course:


But can you believe it? One woman owns all three!


Also in Tripoli we shot at a Turkish Bath house.


We decided to use a smoke machine for the location, rather than real steam which wouldn't be good for the camera. However, we over did it.


And had to escape to a different room (you can see our old room through the doorway).


The most interesting part of our shoot that day? These extras we hired turned out to be Christian Iraqi refugees. The guy I talked to was a professor of mathematics trying to get his family to the US. Good guys, bad actors.



The director and I share a love of Woody Allen movies. So in honor of Manhattan:


Our attempt:


Considering Woody


We had (another) five day shooting vacation this week. And, by wonderful coincidence, one of my oldest friends, Stefan, was going to be in Kuwait at the same time. Stefan is a member of a jazz quartet on a goodwill tour sponsored by the US State Department.

With time off and a friend from Tenafly in the region, I was off to Kuwait.

Kuwait has a nice post-apocalyptic feel to it.



Somehow, as soon as you get to country which doesn't allow alcohol - you have an overwhelming desire to drink.

Stefan and I attempted to entertain ourselves by going to the Kuwait City Ice skating rink.

Stef claimed to have moves


post-apocalyptic rink


They don't allow cameras inside I'm afraid...but the women in Abayas skating were as adorable as you'd imagine.

The Chris Byars Quartet performing, at the behest of the US government, at the cultural center of Kuwait City.


Stef behind the drums


Me being friendly


Us touristing


My friend Nicola would be a model in Kuwait



Once back in Lebanon (nothing makes you appreciate Lebanon like going to Kuwait) we had more shooting to do.

But first, where toilets go to die


We had a big night exterior shoot.



We tried to use a smoke machine to make it look cool. Then mother nature showed us how it was done.


Fog makes me hungry


Cranes, however, make me happy.


Not much to report really. We're finishing up. I'm heading back to the US fairly soon. Some things I'm looking forward to:
exercise
burritos
flaming margaritas
a country of laws