ONE OF THE INDUSTRY’S MOST RESPECTED DIRECTORS OF PHOTOGRAPHY SAIF AL-SOBAIHI
Saif Al-Sobaihi is a Saudi director of photography and cinematography who takes his craft very seriously. A film crew always needs people on the team who understand lighting, cameras and electrical technology. Those three things are the main technical elements, along with high-tech computers that a director of photography must know to be a success in the highly competitive film industry.
In Saudi Arabia the movie industry is just now starting to expand with cinemas finally being allowed to open after a 35 year ban. Saif absorbed everything he could in the United States, which is the filmmaking hub of the universe. He then gained valuable experience as a working cinematographer on countless short films and music videos, which he wants to bring back to his home country –and work on movies that tell stories and touch the lives of people. He believes that film, like art itself, has an important role to play, which can entertain people and also improve the economy.
One of the music videos Saif photographed was for Swedish artist Peg Parnavik for Sony Music Corporation and has had over 1.7 million views, making it a bona fide success. In addition, many of the films he has shot have been award winners on the film festival circuit. A few of the awards they have received are: an Adobe Award, Rookie Award and the Emmy Student Award, to name a few.
Where does he put the camera? Good question, but like other experienced cinematographers, Saif always does his homework and gets with the director, production designer and all other involved departments long before the shot is set up. When he gets to the set, it is usually before anyone else. Saif has an important position in the film business -one that takes a lot of work to become an expert at and it’s also a position that is very highly respected by all involved in the film industry. Saif has mastered all of this and more, which is why he is so in demand all over the world!
