And the Oscar Goes To . . .

With two locally-filmed movies contending for Oscars this year, Jordanians are watching tonight's Academy Awards with a little added enthusiasm.  "The Hurt Locker," which is nominated for several Academy Awards, was filmed in Jordan. Sites in east Amman, southern Amman, the desert area of Swaqa, and Madaba were made to look like war-ravaged Iraq for the movie.  Many of the locations were filmed just as they are; the street vendors and shops look very much like those found throughout Iraq, especially in Bagdad.  The movie generated over $7 million in Jordan, and employed 300 Jordanians as extras and another 25-30 as actors in the film.  Also, a nominee for Best Sound Mixing, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" was partially filmed in Wadi Rum and Petra.

Of course, other famous films, such as "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," have also been filmed here.

Jordan is a very film-industry-friendly country.  His Majesty King Abdullah is said to be interested in the film industry and very supportive of filming in Jordan.  He appeared in an episode of Star Trek: Voyager while he was still a prince.  Recently, when "Transformers" Revenge of the Fallen" was filming in Jordan, King Abdullah sent 38 military helicopters to help transport equipment to Petra.  In partnership with the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, His Majesty created the Red Sea Institute of Cinematic Arts at Aqaba.

UPDATE:  "The Hurt Locker" dominated the Oscars, winning six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, and it even beat out "Transformers" for Best Sound Mixing.  Interestingly, "The Hurt Locker" is the lowest theater grossing movie in modern history (i.e., since big box office blockbusters became the norm) to win Best Picture; it earned about 2% of the amount earned by James Cameron's blockbuster "Avatar."  While film critics and the Academy loved "The Hurt Locker," some soldiers and the Department of Defense thought the movie was inaccurate and made the military look unprofessional.
ANOTHER UPDATE: Check out this great article in the Jordan Times about the making of The Hurt Locker.