Special Ideas for Filming in Israel
Villa Melchett – Sea of Galilee
Not far from the shore of the Sea of Galilee you find Villa Melchett, a stunning building that has preserved the beauty of the old times. The villa once belonged to Lord Melchett, one of Britain’s richest men back in the 1920s when Palestine was under the British Mandate. During a visit, the Lord purchased that piece of land and built himself a luxurious mansion. Today, this beautifully decorated villa can be hired as a filming location for filming feature films in Israel or it can serve as a special event for your project. If you are looking for an old, stylish mansion with a unique atmosphere and charm, this might be the perfect location for you.
Biblical Productions – your production service provider in Israel. We handle your film project from A – Z and will make sure you only go home with the best footage possible.
General
If you are with a crew and it suits your production schedule, it is recommended that you arrive in Israel on a Saturday. The airport is much quieter then, and you won’t have to endure long lines. Although EL-AL, the Israeli airline, does not fly on Saturday, other companies do. In Israel, Saturday is a holy day and Sunday is a full working day.
Weather Forecast
If you need to find out the weather forecast for your shoot, we suggest that you call: 03-5600600 or look at the Israeli weather forecast site.
Nazareth Village filming reenactments of Biblical stories
Nazareth Village is located In the center of the town of Nazareth in the north of Israel. Nazareth Village is particularly suited for filming reenactments of stories from the Bible.
The village has biblical animals, tents, costumes and stone houses. Among their services, the Nazareth Village the highly experienced management team can prepare props for you according to your needs. Also, they can schedule men, women and child actors to play biblical figures. There is no need for special permissions!
By bringing your crew to one place that caters to your specific Film Production needs, you can save time. In short, with everything under one roof, Nazareth Village provides a great way to film biblical-related material in Israel.
www.nazarethvillage.com
The best shoot of Jerusalem
- Olive mountain’s best shot of Jerusalem – If you need a breathtaking view of Jerusalem, you should drive to the Mount of Olives cemetery. From the Gat Semannie Garden continue a few meters up the hill and take the first turn to the right. A narrow road will then take you to the cemetery where you will discover the beauty of Jerusalem.
- Petra Hotel & Hostel – This is probably the dirtiest hotel you’ll ever find in Jerusalem. Why do I mention this? The place has a roof with a really great view. If you need beautiful shoots of Jerusalem, this is the place to go. They charge 5 shekels to see the roof, and permission to shoot from it depends on who is working at the time. It’s all a matter of bargaining like the market. It can cost 50 shekels to US$ 100. If you aren’t happy with the price, the desk clerk will let you speak to Bashir, the owner. He is a reasonable man who wants to do business. The view is spectacular. Inside Jaffa Gate, Old City | #1 David Street, Jerusalem | Tel/fax.: 02-628-6618.
- Mount Zion Hotel – 17 Hevron Road | Facing directly the Old City | Mt. Zion, Jerusalem | Tel. 02-568-9555
Filming Biblical Landscapes – Neot Kedumim
Neot Kedumim, a biblical landscape reserve, is the perfect spot if you are looking to film biblical scenery. Located halfway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, this vast artificial garden is complete with biblical plants and animals and additionally provides demonstrations on ancient agricultural methods. If you need general footage for biblical-looking shots we recommend filming here.
For further information, we suggest visiting their website: www.n-k.org.il
Tip from Biblical Productions
People frequently ask me when they can film the procession of the priests in the Via Dolorosa. So here is my tip – every Friday at 4:00 pm the parade begins from the Church of Flagellation next to the Lion’s Gate. The procession through nine stations of the Via Dolorosa includes the Franciscan priests dressed in brown robes, walking with pilgrims from around the world with crosses on their backs, singing and praying. The procession ends after around an hour at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher where there are the last five stations. This walk is most impressive on Easter but takes place every week on a smaller scale.