Syeda Amtul
Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH — A three-day Arabian Jewel master class in film making was recently held in Jeddah with international directors for school and university going students and the for people interested in general.
Legendary international directors Omer Faruk Aksoy, Bensalem and Ovidio Salazar lead the interactive documentary film making master classes.
The event, held at Hope Centre for Exceptional Needs, helped students learned the skills in theory and practice on documentary film making.
Aksoy, director of photography, said: "The level of the attendees were extremely high and they were very much interested in filming and TV productions.
They really were aware of the importance of the media in general and thinking we, as Muslims need to know how to use it properly so it will be effective.
The interactive way of running the workshop also was very useful for us as well. I personally learned a lot from this three days short-term experience quite a lot. Meaning; there is no end for learning and teaching."
He added: "If today we know some thing, it is our duty to pass onto others especially to the young generation who will take over this fragile world from us soon. Also our selves like the tutors need to improve our knowledge as the technology is developing very fast."
The Internet, Aksoy said, is a great invention and accessible to all kind of information in a terribly fast way. However, "I still believe we need to come face to face to learn and teach each others especially in subjects like film making and television programs."
Director and actor of East West Productions Bensalem Bouabdallah, said: "I was very happy to have been invited to participate in the three-day workshop on documentary film making which was organized by Arabian Jewels. One of the satisfactions in life is to help others in any way one can help."
He added: "Transmission of knowledge is best achieved by direct human transaction although learning by books is also a way to learn about a subject. However receiving knowledge through a teacher has the advantage for the student to share in the experiences of the teacher — experiences that add a great value in the teaching processes. I'd like to express my appreciation and thanks to all those who were involved in the workshop and in particular the main organizers — Arabian Jewel for their brilliant initiative for organizing a documentary film making workshop for students in Jeddah."
Jalila Alharith, a student of the master class, said: "Life’s experiences are summarized in a series of acts. Some people embrace the knowledge they obtain, grasp the opportunities and spread positivity. The class helped me realize that there are more compelling topics in life to tackle, deeper truth to be discovered."
Majda Addas, another student, said: "Alhamdulillah, this experience was awesome. Meeting the directors, thinking with them and having them mentor us were brilliant. They gave me the spark of passion that I had been looking for sometime now. This workshop was so rich with information, inspiration, and motivation that the weekend felt like a lifetime."
During the event, students listened attentively to theory presented by Bensalem.
Practical demonstrations were also shown and each day a documentary film produced by the three directors was screened to the audience.
The third day consisted of practical shooting and photography in the heart of Jeddah, Balad, with the help of Sami Nawwar.
Later to close off the program a sponsored dinner at Outback with special guests in attendance concluded the event.
Arabian Jewel Media Sponsors include Jeddah Blog, Destination Jeddah, Design Magazine, Your True Nature, UM Consultants, FS Manifesto and Al Divaan al Isqh Consultants.
FS Manifesto had organized sponsors for the event — United Management Consultants, Outback Steakhouse for sponsored dinner, Fire-Grill for fresh, organic meal. Ruby Tuesday, Bernie’s Coffee, National Biscuits and Confectionery Co & Luna. Sponsored AJ photographers were Alan Francis Aquino, Mohammed Kamaludheen and Teofilo Amancio.
