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The Royal Film Commission (RFC) on Wednesday held a private screening for the first episode of the 7th season of the award-winning reality TV programme “SAS: Who Dares Wins”, which was filmed in Jordan.

The private screening took place in the Taj Mall cinemas with the presence of the Jordanian and foreign crew along with members from the RFC.

“This TV programme is designed to replicate Special Forces’ training in the UK and the US. It features four ‘Directing Staff’ (DS), guiding 20 ‘lay’ recruits, with not military backgrounds, through various challenges designed to test their mental and physical abilities,” Jason Fox, one of the four DS in the programme and an ex-army official who served in the British Special Forces, said.

The previous seasons were filmed in different places all over the world, including the UK, Ecuador, Morocco, Chili, and Scotland, according to Fox, who noted that filming a season in Jordan was “long overdue”.

“We weren’t able to travel and change the filming location for two years due to the pandemic, so when travelling became an option again, we decided that we needed to come to Jordan because the location is amazing and the infrastructure of the film industry here has a great reputation,” he said.

Fox also described the filming experience in the Jordan desert as “brilliant” due to its topography, particularly the rock features it has, allowing the crew to create various challenging tasks for the participants.

The series was filmed in Wadi Rum, Aqaba and Petra, according to Head of the RFC Mohannad Bakri.

He noted that, in recent years, Wadi Rum has become an attraction for foreign film makers all over the world.

“That is due to its unique nature as well as the support provided by the Aqaba Zone Authority, facilitating the crew’s daily movement between different locations, as well as their use of the Aqaba Port and local hotels,” Bakri said.

He also noted the support provided by the local community, who “understands the value of the film industry”, as it creates job opportunities, and allows the locals to contribute in the making process of such “unique” productions.

The contribution and support of the Jordanian Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF) also played an important role in making this production possible, added Bakri.

“Because the nature of the programme is military, we cooperated with the JAF, who were of great help to the crew, providing them with military equipment such as helicopters, boats, land vehicles, and even weapons,” he said.

Among the Jordanian crew was Rula Rawashdeh, a local producer whose role mainly focused on logistics, assisting the crew in navigating the area and finding the right locations.

She noted that the filming was made possible and “amazing” through “group effort”.

“We worked with locals experienced in adventure activities in Jordan and ex-Jordanian army officials, who helped us show the crew what kind of assets Jordan has,” she told said.

Rawashdeh added that this TV programme is different from the movies or series usually produced or seen in Jordan, and that is important because “it allows the world to see Jordan under a new light”.

 

*jordantimes