Aflamnah

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'Grain of Sand' began its journey in the UAE in 2014, when Ray Haddad and Jason Carter set out on the road in search of the last remaining pearl divers and their music. Given the fact that Jason had performed with the pearl divers in Bahrain and Kuwait, it made sense to try and do something similar in the UAE, so they set out to try and bring the last remaining pearl divers together for a concert. Things were not as straight forward as they had hoped, and due to time limitations, had to put the UAE project on hold. Whilst there is still a film to be made about the UAE and its pearl diving culture and heritage, Jason has decided to switch the focus for the time being, back to Bahrain for the ‘Grain Of Sand’ film, where the story began for him, 16 years ago.  On the 15th December 2016, Jason Carter will join forces with the Bahraini Pearl Divers of Dar Al Shab Al Hidd, for a concert at the Ritz Carlton Bahrain, attended by various members of the Ruling Family of Bahrain. Toby Watts from Far North Films will fly out to Bahrain from the UK at the end of November to join Jason and film the process of Jason's musical meeting with the pearl divers whilst he develops the concert program. Editing will be done by Far North Films and Jason Carter, with a view to selling this film to a network or networks and using this as a springboard to explore the other pearl diving music cultures in the Gulf. National Geographic has expressed an interest in this, as has 24/54 in Abu Dhabi. There are potentially 4 other stories in the Arabian Gulf to be told regarding the music of the pearl divers, in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait. 

‘A Grain of Sand’ mirrors the fascinating dichotomy of cultural identity in the Arabian Gulf, from a heritage, rich in the art of survival, to the dizzying heights of the 21st century where nothing is impossible. A pearl begins its life as a grain of sand, the very sand which has been used in every tower block and piece of glass in every building in the Gulf. Beneath the rapid growth of commercialism, lies a strong musical heritage, which is vocalised through the stories and music of the Pearl Divers, which we would like to repatriate and harmonise with contemporary culture. Pearl Diving was a simplistic but precarious way of life as many of the divers did not return home from the seas. Each diver had his own song, sang for him as he dived, the song lasting for as long as the Diver could hold his breath. Divers did not carry watches and some of them could hold their breath for up to 4 minutes. If the diver had not surfaced by the time the song had finished, he would be rescued. The songs were linked closely with survival and every given moment in time. Songs about preparing the boats, about leaving loved ones behind and the vulnerability of life at sea. The juxtaposition of the music of the pearl divers in contrast with the development of the Arabian Gulf and its current day music culture is a fascinating dichotomy and a matter of cultural identity. The songs themselves are unique, but there are also lessons to be learned and wisdom to be passed down from the men who wrote them. This project aims to give them a voice and an audience. Preserving this priceless part of our heritage is of the utmost importance. Older Gulf Arabs love to recall memories of standing on their respective beaches, watching the pearl divers prepare for the seas, listening to their songs drift out to sea, then months later, standing on the same shores, listening for the songs, as a sign that they were on their way home…. 'A Grain of Sand’ is an effort to provide a window into the culture, heritage and wisdom of these men, illustrated through their songs- the lives and struggles of the Pearl Divers is an amazing story that needs to be told.

A note from Jason Carter

"I have lived in/visited the Gulf since 1993. Twenty-three years ago there was a charm, a certain magic to the Gulf. I would take my guitar to the mountains and find remote villages where I would sit with Gulf Arabs around fires in the desert and play music. It captured my heart and imagination immediately. The rapid development of the Arabian Gulf has left so much behind in terms of culture and identity and this worries me. In all the time I have been here, visiting and collaborating with musicians, it strikes me that it takes a lot of effort to make contact with the culture and heritage of the Gulf. I have witnessed the rapid development and watched the identity of the Arabian Gulf change into something I do not recognise. From a very personal point of view, it is now time to sift through the sands and revisit the culture, heritage and music of the Pearl Divers, even if just for a moment.  I have done similar projects in Afghanistan and Uzbekistan and these projects were never filmed, but I believe this journey must be captured in a documentary, so a rich strand in the fabric of the Middle East can never be forgotten. The Arabian Gulf deserves to re-establish contact with its cultural identity. As Sheikh Zayed, the Founder of the UAE said in so many ways "He who doesn't know his past cannot make the best of his present and future,for it is from the past that we learn”.  

Your support will enable us to make this film at the standard the story deserves. Funding for this project will help us to complete the journey, hire the best equipment, the most skilled people and use a more refined coloration process - so that this film can become a lasting contribution to the preservation of culture. 

Sponsors so far:

World renowned Microphone manufacturer DPA are providing all equipment relating to capturing audio during the filming process.

Guitar maker Sean Woolley has made an 18 string Harp Guitar for the crowd-funding campaign. Jason Carter also plays Sean's Harp Guitars exclusively. 

Jason Carter | Producer

British-born international guitarist/composer Jason Carter has toured the world with his inimitable fusion of world music and classical styles. He has performed in over 90 countries as diverse as the Gulf States, North Korea, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, receiving honours and awards for his efforts in building international cultural insight through music, often supported by UNESCO, the United Nations and the British Government. His extensive discography of 17 albums - labels including Sony, EMI and ASV - and collaborations with a cornucopia of prominent musicians from across Asia, America and Europe mark him out as a prolific artist of exceptional originality. His concerts are at once deeply fascinating, intimate and profoundly moving occasions in which he not only shares his creative musical gift but also a gentle and genuine humanity. Jason works as a solo musician, but also loves to collaborate. He has worked with the Prague Philharmionic Orchestra, Novosibirsk Philharmonic Orchestra, New Irish Orchestra and countless other musicians. His work has appeared on compliations with artists such as Anoushka Shankar, Barbara Streisand, Zakir Hussain, John Paul Jones, (Led Zeppelin) Joe Satriani, Steve Morse, Allan Holdsworth, John Scofield, Jeff Beck, Larry Coryell, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ozzy Ozbourne, Trey Gunn (King Crimson) Huong Thanh, (Vietnam) Yuuka Nanri (Japan) and Trilok Gurtu. Jason’s new project ‘Like You’ve Never Heard’ is set for release in 2014, performing with live video.

He has also just released his Audio Book - ‘Making in - Roads’, stories from his concerts and experiences in places such as North Korea, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan.

‘Jason helps to build much-needed relationships across borders, that the technological forces driving globalisation, could never achieve’ - 
Neville McBain, British Council Iran

‘Jason Carter builds extraordinary bridges between cultures, we are proud to have Jason with us’ - 
Sir Sherard Cowper Coles, British Ambassador, Afghanistan

FAR NORTH FILM | Directors

Brothers Fionn and Toby Watts founded Far North Film whilst making films in the Far North of Scotland where they grew up. There they developed a passion for documentary, and have since expanded into short drama films, music videos and corporate films. Fionn won awards for his filmmaking whilst studying film at Stirling University, and since has gone on to win the 'Best Making Of Documentary' at the prestigious Hollywood 168 Film Festival. Toby has filmed all over the world including Turkey, India, Holland and the Western Isles of Scotland, for clients ranging from visual artists to global corporations such as the NHS, YMCA and Oxfam. Together, Fionn and Toby have pioneered various film projects with young people, instructing the next generation of filmmakers in storytelling and practical filmmaking. Far North Film run a yearly Summer Film School for 11-18 year olds in their hometown base of Sheffield, England.

            • Toby Watts

Toby studied Natural Sciences at Emmanuel College, Cambridge before pursuing a career in writing and filmmaking. Since graduating and working for ‘Moving Images’, a documentary production company in New Delhi, Toby has been writing scripts, making films and doing just about everything in between.

            • Fionn Watts

Fionn graduated in Film and Media Studies from Stirling University in 2008 and has since operated as a freelance filmmaker in various parts of the UK including Leeds, Newcastle and Sheffield. Fionn has won 4 awards for his work over the years, including ‘Best Making Of Documentary’ at the Hollywood 168 Festival, 2009.

Useful Links

• http://grainofsand.tv
• http://jasoncarter.net
• http://jesseralwadi.org
• http://www.thenational.ae/arts-lifestyle/film/british-expat-working-on-documentary-about-rapidly-disappearing-pearl-diving-communities
• http://abudhabiweek.ae/wp-content/uploads/flipbooks/abudhabi/ADW7-33/files/basic-html/page21.html
• http://7daysindubai.com/uae%E2%80%88musician-historical-mission-new-documentary-pearl-diving/
• http://www.facebook.com/grainofsandfilm
• http://twitter.com/GrainOfSandFilm