All eyes on Saudi movie being filmed in Dubai

Dubai: When a film makes headlines because of the size of it budget, then, naturally, expectations are going to be high when it is released to the public.

Award-winning director Izidore Musallam's latest venture Keif Al Hal, a social drama depicting the Saudi lifestyle, is the first big-budget feature film from the Gulf and the first ambitious Saudi film to date.

So when Musallam starts filming throughout Dubai in the next few days, cinematic eyes in the Gulf will be watching, and waiting, to see if the cinematic pioneer will spend the budget wisely and maybe even pave the road for future Gulf filmmakers.

But Musallam said the only challenge he will face is convincing his actors that they are not actors, after all.

"I just need to make my actors not act, actually to make them act natural," Musallam said yesterday after a press conference at Dubai Studio City to announce the start of the production of the film.

"There are Egyptian acting standards throughout the Gulf overly dramatic and exaggerated and it will be a challenge to change this style. The rest will be a piece of cake."

Big budget

Musallam, a Palestinian-Canadian director born in Haifa, would not disclose the actual size of the budget, but said it is big enough to "push the limits".

The film is a joint venture between Dubai Studio City and Rotana Audio Visual, a regional entertainment company. Over the next three months, a predominantly Saudi cast will be filming at various locations throughout Dubai.

Ayman Halawani, General Manger of Rotana's Film Production, said the film will be groundbreaking.

"We are creating an industry with this film, and not just because it will be a big-budget film," said Halawani, who was born in Saudi Arabia.

"We are going to reflect the true reality of Saudi culture, the way it is, rather than what some people may want it to be."