SYRIA: Popular Syrian TV series Bab al-Hara is being filmed in order to be run during Ramadan

Record ID: 279256

  • Title: SYRIA: Popular Syrian TV series Bab al-Hara is being filmed in order to be run during Ramadan
  • Date: 10th June 2009
  • Summary: GHASSOULE, SYRIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) WIDE OF PEOPLE WALKING AT FILMING LOCATION MINARET OF MOSQUE PEOPLE AT LOCATION ACTORS TALKING MILAD YUSSEF, SYRIAN ACTOR, BEING INTERVIEWED MORE OF LOCATION BASSAM AL-MALLA, DIRECTOR OF SERIES "BAB EL-HARA" WITH PHOTOGRAPHER (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) BASSAM AL-MALLA, DIRECTOR OF SERIES, SAYING: "The forth season will have an import
  • Embargoed: 25th June 2009 13:00
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  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVAB5KYL8O8OWCZMBU96A0184EJ8
  • Story Text: The filming of the forth season of the popular Syrian TV series Bab al-Hara (The neighbourhood door) has began in Ghassoule in order to be ready for it's screening during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which starts mid to late August.
    The series, that describes the life of one of Damascus' quarters during the French occupation period and how Syrians defended their home land, attracted a very high percentage of viewers during the past three years in Syria and other countries.
    The director of the series, Bassam al-Malla said the forth season will have even bigger impact on viewers.
    "The forth season will have an important effect on the Arabic audience especially those who are immigrants. Probably, there will be approach to compare it with what is going on these days." he said.
    The filming of the series will last for 100 days and is expected to be finished in August 2009. Approximately 91 actors will shoot scenes at 46 different location.
    Milad Yussef, Syrian actor who plays in the series was surprised by the success that the series achieved since the first season.
    "The success of Bab al-Hara was surprising. It seems that Bab al-Hara came in a time of political, social and economical situation that belongs to the viewers. The viewer supported the series which led to its success," he told Reuters Television.
    In the 30-episode series, the director tries to portrait the social, economic and political environment of the Shami (Damascene) life as well as the habits and traditions that people used to follow.
    "There were a group of other series, but they did not achieve the same success because of the missing love to this environment. Also there is a kind of love through the characters and through the whole environment. This environment takes us back to the social traditions that we were taught. Those traditions are exist in everyone but they may be forgotten in different percentages. Bab al-Hara presented those traditions on a plate of gold. We presented them to the viewers." Yussef added.
    According to the director, Bab al-Hara came in first place among the most watched series in the Arab world and ninth internationally in 2008.
    He added American congress has formed a committee to study the "phenomenon" of Bab al-Hara and some news mentioned that the White House requested many copies of this series.
    The Syrian television industry is one of the most established in the Levant and what better way to showcase its rising star than through the popular format of the Ramadan drama series.
    Drama has long been the centrepiece of the Egyptian film industry, known as the "Hollywood" of the region since 1930s.
    Although still the main hub for Arab film and television production, a number of other contenders have emerged - through a mix of private and public initiative - in places like Lebanon, Syria, the Palestinian territories, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco.
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