The Pearl Divers' Last Season
The last men who dove for pearls in the Gulf, and the year the boats stopped.
A project by Noor Al-Mansouri
In 1949 there were four hundred pearling boats out of Doha. By 1955 there were none. Six men who dove those last seasons are still alive; this film sits with them, on the water, while they remember what the sea cost. Funded, in production, and — because every backer asked — publishing its full release ledger. Two of four milestones have been released; the escrow, the platform fee and each backer's share are on the record.
- Total budget
- $30,000
- Countries
- QA, BH
- Languages
- ar, en
2. Research and access
ReleasedSix months of oral history, archive clearance, and access to the last surviving divers.
$6,000
Escrow released
100%$6,000 released (100%)$0 still heldReleased from escrow — not spend reported by the production.
3. Principal photography
ReleasedTwenty-two days across Doha, Al Khor and Muharraq, including four days at sea.
$12,000
Escrow released
100%$12,000 released (100%)$0 still heldReleased from escrow — not spend reported by the production.
4. Edit and archive restoration
PlannedAssembly, 1950s archive restoration, and the score.
$8,000
Escrow released
0%$0 released (0%)$8,000 still heldReleased from escrow — not spend reported by the production.
5. Delivery
PlannedGrade, mix, masters and festival deliverables.
$4,000
Escrow released
0%$0 released (0%)$4,000 still heldReleased from escrow — not spend reported by the production.
No open roles right now.
Revenue projection
Low / base / high, by channel — wide ranges on purpose.
Low
$664
Base
$30,879
High
$237,600
Total across all channels
By channel
per festival license
per broadcast license
per license deal
per site license
Editorial estimates from wide industry ranges, not a guarantee of revenue.
Recoupment waterfall
How the base revenue scenario splits, in recoup order.
- Platform fee$1,544
- Cash recoup$29,335
- Time & resource recoup$0
- Producer profit$0
Based on the base revenue scenario