TV and Web news reports from Israel / The West Bank

These are the TV / web news reports currently on production in our Tel Aviv & Ramalla studios:

Tel Aviv

- Israel / Hezboolah deal - schedule, the next phases in the process; Reactions in Israel.

- Cease fire in Gaza - Israeli sources claim that Hamas is building its weapon arsenal and gets ready to the unavoidable clash.

- The environment: - the Israeli army plans to build a cluster of bases in the most polluted area in Israel. Is the location really dangerous? How will the public reaction change the plans of the army?

Ramallah

- Water shortage and constant clashes with settlers about the use of water south of Hebron.

- Removing checkpoints - the Israeli army removed several checkpoints in the West Bank. Is the change evident? How many checkpoints are still operative?

Read more about our news reports here.

If you are interested in any of these reports or if you would like us to research and producer another report, please contact info@highlight.co.il

Next HD shoot for our aerial footage library: Jerusalem

Our next scheduled High Definition aerial shoot will take place on Wednesday July 2nd and Thursday July 3rd. We plan to shoot in the Jerusalem area, covering the Old City of Jerusalem including the Wailing Wall, The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Temple Mount and the Al Aqsa Mosque.In addition, we will film the Bethlehem skyline, follow the path of the new security wall around Jerusalem and film the ancient village of Ein Kerem.

Footage will be available on our archive showcase after July 15, 2008

For more information and to order an aerial shoot please email archive@highlight.co.il

Panasonic HD camera crews in Israel

As of July 10, 2008, Highlight Films will be able to provide PANASONIC HD camera crews in Israel and the West bank. Due to the increase in demand by some of our American and European customers, we decided to expand our High Definition line and provide our customers with Panasonic HD sets. A Panasonic 900HD cam will be available in a few days, and later next month we plan to purchase two more P2 cams.

In addition to the new acquisitions, we continue to provide HDCAM sets (Sony HDW F900R), Sony Z1 sets and XDCAM cameras. We plan to buy another Sony EX1 camera later this summer.

For more information about our HD equipment and crew availability please read here or go to our dedicated HD website.

For crew booking please contact info@highlight.co.il

News production services in Gaza and Sderot

Highlight Films has recently hired producers and camera crews located in Gaza. We can now provide all news production services from Gaza, including DV / Beta camera crews, fixers, satellite uplink services and security escorts for reporters planning to enter Gaza.
In addition, we continue to provide all necessary production services from the Israeli side of the Gaza border - Sderot, Ashkelon and the area. We can provide HD (high definition), Digital Beta, Beta SP and DVCAM camera crews, fixers, researchers, producers and uplink services.

Please check out our camera crews section for more details. If you are looking for recent or past archive footage, please refer to our stock footage library pages.

For more information: info@highlight.co.il

Rare library footage of the first Intifada - now available for licensing

We have recently acquired the rights to rare footage taken in 1987-1988 in the West Bank. The footage includes the first clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians in Bethlehem, Beit Sahour and Ramallah. It was originally shot on 16mm, and later transferred to Digital Beta tapes. We will upload excerpts of the footage to our archive section in a few days.

For enquiries and more information please email archive@highlight.co.il

A new documentary co-production: The Peace Valley

Peace Valley project. The Peace Valley project will include, among pother parts, a canal taking water from the Aqaba / Eilat bay to the Dead Sea.
This ambitious project is not in its first practical stage, and both production companies will follow it for undefined time frame. This is the first Israeli-Jordanian documentary co-production.
The project will be offered to broadcasters in the Middle East and around the world in the beginning of July 2008.

For more information: info@highlight.co.il

An interview with King Abdullah of Jordan for Newsweek.com

The Highlight Films production team has produced last week an interview for Newsweek.com in Petra, Jordan.
Newsweek's Lally Weymouth interviewed King Abdullah. To watch the interview click here

New High Definition footage: Jerusalem, the old city.

The latest addition to our High Definition footage archive is beauty shots of the old city of Jerusalem, Last week we concentrated on the Christian Quarter and the Armenian quarters of Jerusalem.

HD Footage description:

Roads, buildings in the quarters.
Tourists ad pilgrims visiting hostorical sites.
Local stores and merchants.
Long shots from the city walls.
Traveling shots oh the main road leading from Jaffa Gate to the Jewish Quarter.

Check out the archive section of our website.

For more information contact archive@highlight.co.il

Fixers for productions in Israel and the Palestinian West Bank

Highlight Films provides producers and camera crews coming to film in the region with top quality, knowledgeble and experienced fixers who know the ins and outs of filming in the area.

We specialize in prodcutions taking place in Israel, The Palestinian West Bank and Jordan. Our fixers specialize in several topics - from archealogy, religion, history, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and other topics - and they work with productions of top broadcasters such as BBC, National Geographic and Discovery as well as with independent documentary films, commercial shoots and video prodcutions taking place in the area. Highlight Films is a one stop production house.

We can provide a full range of high definition and standard definition prodcution services and facilities at the highest professional standards.

To find out more about Highlight's fixer services click here or email info@highlight.co.il.

New in our footage archive: Jordan aerial and ground footage

The Highlight Films archive now includes ground and aerial footage of Jordan's beautiful landscape. The footage, filmed in Digital Beta and DVCAM formats, includes beauty shots of Petra, Wadi Ram, Mount Nebo, Amman, The Dead Sea and many other locations.The footage was taken by the Jordan Pioneers production crews.

In July we plan to film Jordan from the air using our new Sony HDW F900R camera. The HD footage will be available by July 15.

For more information about our archive click here.

For enquiries please email archive@highlight.co.il

Highlight Fims in Silverdocs

Highlight Films takes part for the first time in Silverdocs, opening today in Silver Springs, Maryland. Yana Kutikova, Highlight's director of research and development, is attending Silverdocs and will meet American and Candian producers and programming directors about production taking place in Israel in 2008-2010.

For meetings in Silverdocs please email Yana Kutikova or call out office - 1-917-3386188 (US) or +972-3-6168611 (Israel)

The Latest Addition to our Footage Archive: Dead Sea Footage

The latest addition to our archive footage library: beauty shots of the Dead Sea, both from the Israeli and the Jordanian sides. Our cameraman Hanna Abu Sada filmed this exquisite footage in various times of the day.
The footage is available for licensing to broadcasters and producers worldwide.
More about our footage archive: www.highlight.co.il/pages/Archive

For questions and inquiries about our archive and filming orders: info@highlight.co.il

This week's shoot - High Definition filming in Israel and Palestine

Our High Definition camera crews will focus this week on the filming the following locations:

Jerusalem - Mount Olives, Kalandia checkpoint, Damascus Gate, Jaffa Gate, The German Colony.

Bethlehem area - Beit Jalla, Beit Sahour, CHurch of the Nativity.

Hebron - The Tomb of the Patriarchs, All footage will be catalogued and added to our footage library after logging.To

check out the archive section of the website click here

For more information about filing and licensiong library footage contact us at: archive@highlight.co.il

Read about Highlight Films today in Variety.com

Variety published today a report about Highlight Films, the projects we are producing now and the history of the company.

Check it out at http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117987380.html?categoryid=8&cs=1

Haolim - first day of applications

After the first day of registration to "HaOlim", we are glad to report that the response in simply overwhelming. By now we have received thousands of applications from potential Olim, all interested in making Aliyah and taking part in the reality show.
We will reply to all applicants by the end of July. For now, we thank everyone who contacted us and we promise to get back to them as soon as possible.

All applications should be submitted by the online form on www.haolim.tv
If you wish to contact us about sponsorship, commercial cooperation and similar issues please email haolim-reality@highlight.co.il

Journalists and reports who are interested in covering the story should contact the Highlight Films HQ directly by email info@highlight.co.il or by phone: +972-3-6168611 or 1-917-3386188 for calls from the US and Canada.

Links for reports about HaOlim:


http://www.jewlicious.com/?p=4617
http://ejewishphilanthropy.com/haolim-the-trailer/
http://www.jewishblogging.com/blog.php?bid=145617
http://www.israelforum.com/blog_article.php?aid=1506316
http://www.hashkafah.com/Haolim_reality_show_Israel_t49620.html
http://www.blogowogo.com/blog_article.php?aid=1506322&t=10
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1212659670497&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Camera crews and production services: Sderot, Ashkelon, Gaza

Following the recent activity of both Hamas and the IDF near the borders of the Gaza Strip and in the Sderot / Ashkelon area, and in light of the expectation to an intensive military operation in the next few days, Highlight Films has prepared camera crews on standby as well as all the necessary news and current affairs production services. We will continue to follow the events and mobilize crews to the area pending requests from broadcasters and news deprtments. to book a crew email info@highlight.co.il or call us.

Now accepting applications for Highlight's reality show, 'Haolim'

The Haolim production team is now accepting applications for potential contestants on Highlight's upcoming reality show, 'Haolim'. Please visit www.haolim.tv to apply.

Haolim trailer on Youtube

Highlight's new reality show Haolim will begin taking applications for contestants beginning Monday. Watch the trailer on Youtube and look for the wesite updates at www.haolim.tv coming soon.

Economic and financial news report from Israel

With the Israeli Shekel skyrocketing and the world's healdlines covering the unique economic situation taking place in Israel, Highlight Films is currently in production of a news report detailing this current phenonmenon. This report will outline the financial and economic state of Israel and will be available for broadcasters and internet portals worldwide. Email info@highlight.co.il for more and check out more about Highlight's news reports here.

HaOlim reality show - update

We thank every one who emailed us following the Jerusalem Post report on Friday and so many blogs and forums that have spread the word. The number of emails we received is overwhelming, and we will make our best to get back to each and every person in the next few weeks.

The actual production of the TV / web series will not begin until the end of Summer 2008. We will keep you posted here and after the first week of July at http://www.haolim.tv/

Thank you for your interest in HaOlim,

HaOlim Production Team
http://www.haolim.tv/

News reports from Israel and Palestine: now in English, Russian, Arabic, German.

As of Tuesday, June 10, 2008, the Highlight Films production team will offer broadcasters and news producers around the world news reports via satelite uplink or FTP in the following languages:

News reports in English: reports are available from our offices in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Ramalla and Bethlehem.

News reports in Russian: Report are available from the Tel Aviv office.

News reports in Arabic: Reports are available from the Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Ramalla offices, as well as via satellite from Gaza, Baghdad, Cairo, Amman and Beirut.

News reports in German: Reports are available from the Tel Aviv office.

Our researchers are gathering the most important news stories of the day and preparing the factual basis for productions. We are also ready to follow up on a story pitched to us by one of our clients and to produce this story from the relevant locations.

For more information about our news production services please check our production services section. For details contact our Tel Aviv office or email info@highlight.co.il

HD dubs and format transfer now available.

Highlight Films now provides tape dubs and format transfers for producers using Sony HDCAM tapes in their shoots in Israel, Palestine and throughout the Middle East.
All HD technical service sare available in our Tel Aviv office. Our technical department offers the followng services:
HDCAM - DVCAM / DV dub.
HDCAM digitizing and storgae on hard disks.
HDCAM - HDCAM dub.
HDCAM - DVD Blue Ray conversion.
HDCAM - HDV dub.
HDV - HDCAM dub.
More information about our technical services is available here
For more details please contact us at info@highlight.co.il

Highlight Films' HAOLIM reality show - a Jerusalem Post report

The Jerusalem Post published today an extensive report about Highlight Films' HAOLIM reality show. The series will follow eight young extraordinary olim (new immigrants to Israel) who have chosen to begin their lives again in this extraordinary land.

The development phase is being completed these days, and the production team will begin the pre-selection process in September. The show website - http://www.haolim.tv/ - will be updated regularly beginning in July 1, 2008.

News reports from Israel

We are now filming broadcast pilots and training sessions for news reporters from Israel the West Bank. The reporters will prepare news reports for our regular as well as special reports for worldwide distribution, in both Israel and the West Bank. Our reporters will produce reports in English, German, Arabic, Russian, Spanish and Hebrew. Production will be under the responsibility of the local office - Tel Aviv, Ramalla and Bethlehem. We are currently producing a report about volunteer soildiers in the Israeli army and a day in the life of a paramedic in Sderot to be available to broadcasters worldwide.For more information about our news production services please contact info@highlight.co.il

Sarkozy visit production services

Highlight is preparing for the upcoming Sarkozy visit.Uplink and FTP upload services will be available for news crews from Israel and the Palestinian territories. We have camera crews available and our HD crew will also film the visit. Email info@highlight.co.il to book production services or find out more.

New HD footage of Caesarea

Highlight films now has HD ground footage of the beautiful ancient city of Caesarea. This footage includes shots from the Mediterranean coast, historical sights and ancient ruins. This footage will be available through our archive and we will be adding it to our archive showcase shortly.
Email archive@highlight.co.il for more info or screeners.

Highlight's new docu-drama

Highlight is now working on a new drama series entitled '730' about the Israeli secret service and the events following the assasination of Yitzhak Rabin. The series will air on Israeli television and will be available for international distribution as well.
The series will be directed by Jasmine Kainy and produced by Noam Shalev.
Email info@highlight.co.il for more info.

Production services for Sarkozy visit to Israel

As Sarkozy is expected to visit Israel in two weeks, Highlight is taking reservations for production services including producers, fixers, camera crews, equipment, uplink and more. Email info@highlight.co.il for more info and to book your needs for this important visit. Click here for more info about Highlight's production services.