About me
I have been working as a freelance fixer for
foreigner media in Turkey since 1999. I can
work as a  fixer, researcher, coordinator,
location manager and translator. I also can do
any kind of pre production work need to be
done before your filming.
I am based in Istanbul but can work anywhere
in Turkey and in Northern Iraq. I speak
Kurdish, English, Turkish, German and
Persian. I also can arrange camera crew,
equipment and transportation and can help you
to get filming permission.
If you are planning to film a documentary or a
news programme in Turkey and would like to
know more about filming in Turkey, please
don't hesitate to contact me. I will be happy to
write you back.
Memet Aksakal
Mobile Phone: +90 533 334 77 96
memet@memetaksakal.com
HOME
Work
Filming for Bloomberg tv, Istanbul April 2008
Interview with Deputy Prime Minister Mrs. Edibe
Sozen for BBC Scotland, Istanbul May 2007
Working for Bloomberg tv at Turkey-Iraq border,
Habur-Silopi, November 2007
Filming for Welsh TV,  Gallipoli September 2007
Interview with mayor of Fatih Mr. Mustafa Demir about
Sulukule project for BBC Scotland, Istanbul, August
2008
Filming in Sulukule for BBC Scotland. Istanbul,
August 2008
Moqoble Kurdish camp in northern Iraq, July 2008
This camp is near moqoble village between Zakho
and Duhok near smel town. The Kurds who live in this
camp have ran away from Syria in  March 2004 when
Syrian government troops killed more than 50 Kurds.  
With Canadian documentary film maker Simcha
Jacobovici during filming Struma documentary
Istanbul 2000.
Experienced freelance fixer in Turkey for news stories and documentary films
Kirkuk stadium in Northern Iraq where Kurdish
refugees live. Kirkuk, March 2009
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Filming Worm huntres documentary for Gulliver Media
Australia. Hasankeyf, April 2009
discovery channel  Istanbul, January 2009
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Interview for BBC Scotland. Diyarbakir, October 2009
productions Broadcaster: Swedish TV (SVT)
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Kurdish rights activist Ferhat Tunc and Human rights in Turkey
Date: July 2011 Location: Tunceli (Dersim)  Company: Swedish TV (SVT)
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Museum Secrets A documentary about Topkapi Palace Museum
Date: June, July  2011 Location: Istanbul, Hatay Company: Kensington Communications Toranto, Canada
Broadcaster: History channel Canada
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General Elections in Turkey and Syrian refugees in Hatay (Antakya)
Date: June 2011 Location: Istanbul, Hayat (Antakya) Company: Voice of America TV
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Elections in Turkey
Date: June 2011 Location: Istanbul Company: Swedish TV (SVT)
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Foot prints in Asia (Unusual culture and food in Turkey)
Date: May 2011 Location: Istanbul, Cappadocia,  Safranbolu Company: MediaCorp TV Singapore
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Gas Monopoly (a documentary about Gas)
Date: May 2011 Location: Istanbul Company: Fischer film Gmbh Broadcaster: ORF
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Hagia Sophia's secrets
Date: April 2011 Location: Istanbul Company: CNN International
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Culture and Politic in Turkey as a Mulsim country
Date: February 2011 Location: Istanbul, Diyarbakir, Cappadocia, Konya Company: Pro 1 TV Indonesia
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HSBC British Museum Hajj Exhibition Sponsor film
Date: February 2011 Location: Istanbul Company: Proudfoot company London
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2010
World tallest man
Date: December 2010 Location: Ankara Company: Fuji tv Japan
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Miners and mining safety in Turkey
Date: December 2010 Location: Zonguldak Company: BBC Scotland
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Iraqi Christian refugees in Turkey
Date: December 2010 Location: Istanbul Company: BBC Scotland
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Sex Scandals in Religions
Date: November 2011 Location: Nigde, Kayseri Company: Canada Broadcasting Corporation Broadcaster:
Vision TV
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CNNgo Istanbul   www.cnn.com/cnngo
Date: November 2010 Location: Istanbul Company: CNN International
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Commercial film for Sika Services AG Zurich
Date: November 2010 Location: Istanbul, Bursa  Company: advertising, art & ideas ltd
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Research on Afghan refugees in Turkey
Date: October-November 2010 Location: Istanbul Company: Love production  Broadcaster: BBC
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Cultures in the cities on the Silk Road
Date: October 2010 Location: Istanbul, Konya, Bursa  Company: Singapore tv
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Constitutional change and democratic reforms in Turkey
Date: October 2010 Location: Istanbul Company: SVT, Swedish tv
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Kurdish conflict and possible peace Date: September 2010 Location: Diyarbakir Company: SVT, Swedish tv
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Referendum for Constitutional changes in Turkey
Date: September 2010 Location: Istanbul Company: SVT, Swedish tv
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Future cities, Istanbul   Date: June 2010 Location: Istanbul Company: CNN International
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Routes to Christianity, a documentary about early  Christianity
Date: May 2010 Location: Istanbul, Izmit, (Kocaeli) Iznik,  Konya,  Yalvac, Tarsus, Antakya, (Hatay) Samandag,
Ephesus, Izmir. Company: Galan Productions Inc.Television/Film  Austin,Texas USA Broadcaster: PBS USA
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Ford factory in Golcuk  http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0072fhb  
Date: March 2010 Location: Istanbul, Golcuk, Kocaeli Company: BBC Solent Radio and BBC South Today TV
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A documentary about a group of Kurdish musicians in Diyarbakir Date: January 2010 Location: Diyarbakir
Company: NHK Japan
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2009
Honour Killings in Turkey Date: October 2009 Location: Diyarbakir, Elbistan and Malatya: Company: ITN, UK
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Turkey's  Democratic solution, Kurdish peace process
Date :October 2009 Location:  Ankara and Diyarbakir Company: BBC Scotland
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Turkey-Armenia Relations and new agreement
Date: October 2009 Location: Istanbul, Bursa Company: Neewsweek, Russia
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Photo Journalism
Date: September 2009 Location: Diyarbakir Photographer: Daimon Xanthopoulos
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Eva's trail, from Ethiopia, to western Europe, a documentary about people, cultures and transitions
Date: September 2009 Location: Diyarbakir, Erzurum, Yagan and Eyupler (Eyyiba) Villages in Erzurum.
Company: The Enterainment Group / Telesaurus Brussels Broadcaster:  VRT
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The Mega builders (A documentary about istanbul Marmaray project) Part 3
Date: August-September  2009 Location: Istanbul Company: Barna-Alper Productions Toranto Broadcaster:
Discovery channel
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Photo Journalism about power of Military
Date: August 2009 Location: Istanbul, Diyarbakir, a village in Lice, Diyarbakir. Photographer: Timo Vogt
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European commission, European Destinations of  Excellence
Date: August 2009 Location: Kars Kucuyuk lake, Kars Company: MEDIA CONSULTA International Holding
AG, Berlin Germany
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Documentary about Mitreya
Date: July 2009 Location: Nemrud, Arsameia in Adiyaman area Company: Mitreya Project,  Berlin Germany.
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Photo Journalism about entertainment in Kurdish area
Date: June 2009 Location: Diyarbakir  Photoghraper: Philip Cheung
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Culture, art and developments in Diyarbakir
Date: May 2009 Location: Diyarbakir Company: ARTE Tv  France
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Worms Hunters (a documentary about earth worms and earth worms scientists)
Date: April 2009 Location: Diyarbakir, Hasankeyf, Mardin Company: Gulliver Media Australia
Broadcaster: National geographic
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Photo Journalism in Diyarbakir and in Kirkuk in Northern Iraq (Kurdish refugee camp in Kirkuk stadium)
Date: March 2009 Location: Diyarbakir- Kirkuk, Photoghraper: Meiko Herrmann
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Kurdish children in prisons, local elections in Turkey and tourism in Mardin
Date: March 2009 Location: Diyarbakir and Mardin Company: GPD Dutch news agency, Journalist Jessica
Mass
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An internal film for Paxar Teslo Tekstil Urunleri San ve Tic. A.S.
Date: March 2009 Location: Istanbul Company: I-motus, interactive motion London UK
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The Mega builders (A documentary about istanbul Marmaray project) Part 2 Date: January 2009 Location:
Istanbul Company: Barna-Alper Productions Toranto Broadcaster: Discovery channel
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2008
Photo Journalism Date: October 2008 Location: Diyarbakir Photoghraper: Anne Holmes
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Latest developments in Diyarbakir about Kurdish problem
Date: October 2008 Location: Diyarbakir Company: GPD Dutch news agency, Journalist: Jessica Mass
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The Mega builders (A documentary about istanbul Marmaray project) Date: August 2008 Location:
Istanbul Company: Barna-Alper Productions, Toranto Broadcaster: Discovery channel
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Guns in Turkey and shootings at the weddings Date: July 2008 Location: istanbul Company: BBC Scotland
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Rehabilitation project for Gypsy neighbourhood Sulukule in istanbul
Date: July 2008 Location: istanbul Company: BBC Scotland
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Photo Journalism in Northern Iraq
Date: July 2008 Location: Diyarbakir, Erbil, Sulemani  Photoghraper:  Jon Vidar
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Photo Journalism in Northern Iraq
Date: July 2008 Location: Diyarbakir, Erbil, Sulemani  Photoghraper:  Andrew  Nelles
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Welcome to my world (Documentary)
Date: July 2008 Location: Istanbul and Zonguldak Company: Looshorse. Broadcaster: Irish TV
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Foreign investment in Turkey
Date: April-May 2008 Location: Istanbul, Ankara, Kayseri Company: Bloomberg TV
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Turkish government lifted headscarf ban Date: February 2008 Location: Istanbul Company: BBC Scotland
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2007
Turkey's threat to invade northern Iraq
Date: November 2007 Location: Istanbul, Ankara, Diyarbakir, Cizre, Silopi Company: Bloomberg
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Photo journalism project in southeastern Turkey and Northern Iraq
Date: November 2007 Location: Silopi,  Zakho, Erbil (Northern Iraq Company: Russian Journalists
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Kurdish conflict
Date: October 2007 Location: Istanbul, Diyarbakir Company: Canadian Journalist Christopher Frey
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Ancient city of Miletus Date: October 2007 Location: Miletus Company: Scottish Television
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Welsh men in Gallipoli war
Date: August-September 2007 Location: Gallipoli (Canakkale) Company: Welsh Television
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Turkish Parliament Election
Date: July 2007 Location: Istanbul Company: Bloomberg TV
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Raising Nationalism in Turkey
Date: May 2007 Location: Istanbul, Ankara, Trabzon Company: BBC Scotland
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2006
Prisoners hunger strike in Turkey (Documentary)
Date: April 2006  Location: Istanbul, Gaziantep Company:  Wildfire Films, Dublin
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Turkish journalists trials, article 301 in Turkish panel code
Date: January 2006 Location: Istanbul Company: BBC Scotland
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Pope's Turkey visit Date: November 2006  Location: Istanbul Company: BBC Scotland
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2005
Milan-Liverpool champions League final game Date: May 2005 Company: ITN Location: Istanbul
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Turkey's possible EU membership Date: December 2005 Location: Istanbul Company: BBC Scotland
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2004
Honour killings and women rights in Turkey
Date: December 2004 Location: Istanbul, Ankara Company: BBC Scotland
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MRSA Virus in Turkey hospitals Date: September 2004 Location: Izmir Company: BBC Scotland
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Search of the remains of Noah's Ark. (Documentary) Date: August 2004 Company: Stempede, London
Location:  Istanbul, Erzurum, Dogubeyazit Broadcaster: Channel 4
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Buildings safety in Istanbul Date: February 2004 Location: Istanbul Company: BBC Scotland
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2003
Attacks on British Consulate and HSBC bank in Istanbul
Date: November 2003 Location: Istanbul Company: BBC international
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Turkey-UK national teams football game Date: October 2003 Location: Istanbul Company:  BBC Int.
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Possible US troops deployment in Turkey Date: February-March 2003 Location: Istanbul Ankara Company:
BBC Scotland
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2001
King Midas' Feast, a documentary film about King Midas and the food of the time.
Date: 2001 Company: Yap films Leeds Location: Ankara, Polatli  Broadcaster: Channel 4
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A Kurdish refugee has been killed in Glasgow, Kurdish refugees and Kurdish conflict
Date: August-Steptember  2001 Company: Location: Istanbul, Gaziantep, Diyarbakir Company: BBC Scotland
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GLADIATRIX, ( A documentary about women warriors)
Date: January 2001 Company: Yap films Leeds Location: Terme, Giresun Broadcaster: Channel 4
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Maggie O'Kane and film maker Fiona Lloyd-Davis followed the refugee trail.
Date: May 2001 Company: Guardian Newspaper Location: Dogubeyazit in Eastern Turkey, Turkey-Iran
Border, Istanbul (Winner of a European Online Journalism award for the best investigative reporting using
video and audio in 2001)
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2000
Besiktas-Leeds United football game Date: September 2000 Location: Istanbul Company: BBC Int.
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Struma,  documentary film by Simcha Jacobovici  about a sunken refugees ship in Black sea
Date: August 2000 Company: Yap films Toronto Location: Istanbul, Black sea Broadcaster: Chanel 4, HBO,
History channel
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Galatasatay-Leeds United football game Date: April 2000 Location: Istanbul Company: BBC Int.
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1999
Earthquake in Turkey
Date: August 1999 Location: Istanbul,  Adapazari, Yalova, Golcuk, Izmit, Cinarcik Company: Channel 4
Getting filming permission in Turkey
The foreign media members who want to film a documentary film or a news story in Turkey
need to get filming permission before they start to work in Turkey.
There are two kinds of filming/journalism permissions given to foreign media members in
Turkey.
1-Documentary film permission for documentary films
2-Temporary press card for news stories

Getting permission for a documentary film
Documentary films permissions are given by Ministry of Culture, Directorate General of
Copyrights and Cinema in Ankara.

(From the website of the office which give documentary film permissions)
One person in the crew should fill in and sign the application form in English or in Turkish
The list indicating the names, surnames, work and home addresses and telephone numbers
and the passport photocopies (not identity card photocopies) of all the persons in the crew
should be enclosed to the form. Please give a number to each person in the list and write the
same number on his/her passport photocopy.

According to the regulation, it is obligatory to have at least one fixer who is a citizen of the
Turkish Republic during the film shooting in Turkey. The Fixer’s address and telephone
numbers must be written in the filming permission application and the Fixer need to sing an
extra document that he/she will be the Fixer of the production/programme and will be with the
crew during filming in Turkey.
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Temporary press card for news stories
Temporary press cards are given to journalists by Prime minister press office in Ankara,
Istanbul or Diyarbakir in some cases they give in other cities too.

(The text below is from Prime Minister press office's website)

Foreign members of the media coming to Turkey on a temporary mission (for a period of up
to 3 months) should apply to the Directorate General of Press and Information (DGPI) for
press credentials which are valid for three months.
Documents Required for Temporary Accreditation
1)    Application Form For Temporary Accreditation
2)    Letter of authorisation from the applicant’s organization confirming his/her assignment to
Turkey, including the purpose and length of his/her visit.
3)    Letter of introduction from the Embassy or Consular Office (in Turkey) of the country
where the organization is based  confirming his/her status as a member of the media.
4)    Photocopy of passport.
5)    Three passport-size photographs.
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Filming Permission Office in Ankara (For Documentary, future and commercial films)
Ministry of Culture and Tourism - Directorate General of Copyrights and Cinema -
Consultation and Evaluation Section     
Fax: (++90 312) 310 00 63     Tel: (++90 312) 310 03 21 / 310
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Press Office (ANKARA MAIN OFFICE)
T.C. BAŞBAKANLIK
Basın - Yayın ve Enformasyon Genel Müdürlüğü
Ceyhun Atıf Kansu Caddesi No:122 Balgat / ANKARA / TÜRKİYE
Santral : +90 312 583 60 00  E-mail : webinfo@byegm.gov.tr
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Filming in east and southeastern Turkey
Kurdish is spoken language in southeastern Turkey and most of the people speak Turkish as
well but some people especially older people and ladies don't speak Turkish. If you are
planning to film a documentary or a news story in southeastern Turkey, it is better if you have
a fixer or translator who speak Kurdish, it also will make people you want to talk to feel more
comfortable to talk.
2011
Syrian refugess in Hatay (Antakya)
Date: December 2011 Location: Hatay (Antakya) Syrian Border Company:  VOA  TV
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African Football Players in Turkey
Date: December 2011 Location: Istanbul  Company: BBC Scotland
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GLBT's rights in Turkey
Date: December 2011 Location: Istanbul  Company: BBC Scotland
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Kim Kardashian's village in Kars Turkey
Date: November 2011 Location: Kars Company: Sun Newspaper, UK
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The Odysey of the Europe
Date: November 2011 Location: Istanbul Company: La Compagnie des Taxi Brousee: Broadcester: ARTE
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Turtle Beach
Date: November 2011 Location: Erzurum Company: Goodoil films, Australlia
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Earthquake in Eastern Turkey
Date: October 2011 Location: Van, Eecis Company: CCTV China
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Green Journey
Date: October 2011 Location: Istanbul Company: CNN International
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Turkey Israel relations
Date: October 2011 Location: Istanbul Company: Newsanew TV Broadceter:  Press TV
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Syrian refugees in Hatay (Antakya)
Date: September-October 2011 Location: Hatay (Antakya) Syrian Border Company: Swedish TV (SVT)
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Qualcomm Conference in Istanbul
Date: September 2011 Location: Istanbul: Company: Runaway films, London
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News about Syria?
I am Based in Istanbul but lately I
am often in Hatay (Antakya) at
Syrian border. If you are planning to
go to Syrian border for news and
looking for someone to work with
you, please dont hesitate to contact
me, I will be happy to give you info
and working with you.
Syrian refugees in Hatay, Antakya. Working for
Swedish TV, SVT, October 2011
Filiming Green journey for CNN International,
Istanbul, October 2011