Learn the craft behind a blockbuster from the people who built Arrakis.
The team behind the Dune film franchise is heading back to Abu Dhabi for two full-day masterclasses that pull back the curtain on high-budget filmmaking. Taking place on 1 and 2 November at Sandstrom Studio in Yas Creative Hub, the sessions start at 10am and will each welcome around 100 participants. Expect a deep dive into the creative decisions and production logistics behind one of the most ambitious film series of the decade.
Organised with Creative Lab and the Abu Dhabi Film Commission, the programme is led by Dune’s award-winning Production Designer Patrice Vermette, Legendary Entertainment Executive Herb Gains, and Sam Kozhaya, Executive Vice President of Operations and Corporate Development. Across the two days, attendees will explore how creative and physical production intersect, what a producer’s role looks like on a live set, and how complex projects are financed, budgeted and ultimately greenlit.
The timing is fitting. Abu Dhabi has been a key filming location for the forthcoming third instalment of Dune, with Liwa’s golden dunes once again transformed into the planet of Arrakis. For aspiring filmmakers, designers and producers, this is a chance to learn from the creatives who helped shape that world, from concept art and set builds to on-location workflows.
Mohamed Dobay, Acting Director General of Creative Media Authority, said: “As part of our continued efforts to develop the industry, we have once again collaborated with a trio of Hollywood’s extremely established industry experts to bring a masterclass of this calibre and speciality to Abu Dhabi. As the custodian of the creative industries of Abu Dhabi, we look for our production partnerships to stretch as far as possible for the benefit of our creative ecosystem and we look forward to two days of in-depth industry insights from some of the most experienced minds there are from Legendary Entertainment and the Hollywood creative community.”
Herb Gains said: “I look forward to discussing the complexity of filmmaking with the Abu Dhabi creative community, including how we brought the world of Dune to life in the Liwa Desert.”
The Emirate’s credentials continue to grow, with more than 180 international productions choosing Abu Dhabi for its striking landscapes and skilled crew base. Credits include F1 The Movie, Fast and Furious, Mission Impossible and Star Wars.
Registration for the exclusive masterclasses is now open through the Creative Media Authority website.
GO: Visit www.cma.gov.ae for more information.