A Midsummer Night's War: Long Distance Editing

Gareth finally gets called to Doha to start his contract with Al-Jazeera. Well, we've heard there's a contract: he still hasn't seen it.

I imagine he's lounging by a pool, sipping cocktails, being massaged by a bikini-clad dancer at the moment. How's the weather? Can I get you anything? Another drink, perhaps, or a cocktail umbrella for your glass?

The film is maybe 90% done by this point, but for the remainder we'll need to do a little long-distance editing. I'm really happy with it - I must admit I was skeptical about Gareth's idea of a two-part structure, but now I'm convinced it works. The film is essentially two very different views on the aftermath of the war. Both coming from the same place, having been through the same experience, but drawing different comclusions.

A Midsummer Night's War

Filmed during the Ayam Beirut film festival held only one month after the summer ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon's Hizbullah forces, A Midsummer Night's War is about the reconstruction not of the city's buildings, but of its reputation as an artistic and cultural capital.

At the moment, Gareth and I are still underway editing the film, perhaps around 2/3 done. We are back to the good-old days of 12-hour shifts, staring intently at a computer screen until nothing seems to make sense any more, breaking into hysterical, maniacal laughter, having a tea break, then getting back to work.

The film is structured as a story of two completely opposing views on the aftermath of the war: one who says we should simply go on as a sign of defiance, the other asking whether it's ever possible to go on after such a complex and destructive war.

"I have a problem with this Lebanese national sport of always going on as though nothing really happened..."

The editing has to be finished by the end of January, not only in time for a planned screening at London's Frontline Club, but because Tourist's alchemist-editor Gareth Keogh will soon begin two months in Doha with Al-Jazeera International. That's right, Mr. Keogh is finally making his way back to the Middle East to work for one of the world's most exciting, and controversial, news conglomerates. Then, hopefully, he'll be back to London for some more work with Tourist.

I hope.