As certain countries gradually lift their lockdowns, some projects resume production with limits on crew size, social distancing and overall tightened safety. Air travel restrictions might ease off, but will it ever be the same as before? Add to that risk aversion budget concerns and you see that we might have some issues with the old ways of producing content.
Time for Skilled Agile Teams
Commissioning small highly skilled production teams might offer an edge in the new reality. With skill sets combining story research, planning, on-location production, all the way to editing and postproduction, such well-rounded team gets the job done, where a more traditional approach might end up being too costly or limited by new restrictions.
This approach is where our small Dubai-based content production company FIVE Pictures found its niche.
A Swiss Army Knife Of Content Production
The world has changed, whether we like it or not, yet there are jobs to be done. We have to find our way forward, which means adapting to the new constraints. What helped us stay afloat might help other productions as well. We hope that the time for skilled agile production teams is now.
Award Winning
We are a team of award-winning filmmakers, designers and creators
Work Worldwide
Based in Dubai, we have an international team and work worldwide
Brand Storytelling
We produce brand films, shorts and commercials.
Meet the team
Max Varfolomeev
founder, director, award-winning filmmaker
Maksim Varfolomeev (1974, Russia) has been in the filmmaking/advertisement field since 1993, starting on TV as an editor. In 1998 he switched to commercials. After 6 years in advertisement in 2003 he shifted to Almaty, Kazakhstan, founded a production company and filmed a Self-realization (Samoosoznaniye) TV series running on Kazakhstan TV for three seasons. In 2005 he joined an international advocacy campaign for human rights in Kazakhstan as a director of communications and PR. In 2009 he returned to filmmaking and moved to India where he founded Vrindavan Experience production company and a web community with the same name, while simultaneously studying Vedic philosophy and culture. He filmed and produced Glimpses of Vraja (2011, Vrindavan, India), Never Stop Chanting (2014, Dubai), Reconnection (2015, Vrindavan, India), and in 2016 ran a successful crowdfunding and SM campaign for a free release of the film. In 2017 he moved to Dubai, where he founded FIVE Pictures, a brand storytelling, advertisement and film production studio.
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Olga Avramenko
editor, screenwriter, social media director
Olga Avramenko (1974, Russia) has been working in publishing and major national newspapers as an editor and journalist since 1996. In 2003 she shifted to Almaty, Kazakhstan and joined an eco-project, studying Ayurveda and well-being. In 2003-2004 she co-ran Self-realization (Samoosoznaniye) TV series, aired on Kazakhstan TV for three seasons. In 2005 she joined an international advocacy campaign for human rights in Kazakhstan as a communications assistant director. In 2009 she moved to India and was a part of Vrindavan Experience production as a producer and editor. In 2011 she started a Facebook page with the same name, and as a social media director and SMM manager, she has grown it to a 85K audience. She edited and produced Glimpses of Vraja (2011, Vrindavan, India), co-wrote and co-produced Never Stop Chanting (2014, Dubai) and Reconnection (2015, Vrindavan, India), and in 2016 ran a successful crowdfunding and SM campaign for a free release of the film. In 2017 she moved to Dubai and joined FIVE Pictures, a brand storytelling, advertisement and film production studio.
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Janvi Krishnan
designer
‘Think outside the box’ – a common metaphor used to inspire all creative work. Janvi believes the box is non-existent. design has no boundaries, and no limits. the opportunities are endless.
She is an innovative individual who loves the process of design, and is willing to explore the endless possibilities. She believes design thinking/ conceptualization is essential for a designer to grow and think without a box. it is vital aspect of design. Janvi’s work ranges from digital design, branding, illustration and traditional graphic design. Through her internships, freelance work, and 3 years of studying graphic design, she has gained valuable experience and a varied skill set that allows her to adapt to new challenges.
Maksim Ryabikov
musician, composer, producer
Maksim Ryabikov (1974, Russia), a musician, composer and lyricist, has been in the music scene since the 90s. In 2011 he founded ‘Groggy’ music band, has been an active member of the group and performed in different music projects, touring Russia and Europe and recording albums. He works at ‘Studio Five’ since 2002. He specializes in composing the original score for commercials and corporate films, writes, arranges and produces songs. He also edits corporate films, music clips and wedding videos and has experience in producing infographics and motion design ads, having many projects of different complexity under his belt.
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Constantine Trofimov
Filmmaker, DOP, Motion Graphics
Constantine Trofimov (1994, Russia) has been teaching street dancing since 2011. He started recording live dance performances and tournaments for internet. Later on his passion for video turned from hobby to a calling. In 2013 he joined Motor TV team, where he gained experience as a cameraman and editor. Since 2017 he participates in welfare and non-profit projects as freelancer filmmaker, motion graphics, print designer and photographer.
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Fyodor Samsonov
Regional Director, Russia
Fyodor Samsonov (1973, Russia), graduated Omsk State Technical University as Bachelor of Engineering and has been working on TV since 1994. From 1999 he directs ‘Studio Five’ production studio. Throughout his 21 year career he has produced thousands of commercials and films. He specializes in 3D, 2D motion design, animation, photography, commercials, short and corporate films.