• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • TV/Radio Deals
  • Film partnerships
  • New appointments
  • Production
  • TV Channels
The Big Pitch

The Big Pitch

October 21, 2021
Christina Wayne joins MBC Studios as Managing Director 

Christina Wayne joins MBC Studios as Managing Director 

February 3, 2023
Xposure 2023 announces lineup of short films

Xposure 2023 announces lineup of short films

February 3, 2023
Technology, media entities unite to build trust in online content

Online video subscribers to reach 1.7bn in 2023: Omdia

February 3, 2023
Paramount Pictures expands COO’s role to oversee Nickelodeon Studios

Michael Garin retires as CEO of Image Nation Abu Dhabi

February 3, 2023
ICT spending in META region to reach $233bn this year: IDC

ICT spending in META region to reach $233bn this year: IDC

February 3, 2023
BroadcastPro ME – February 2023

BroadcastPro ME – February 2023

February 3, 2023
MBRSC reveals details of Arab astronaut mission

MBRSC reveals details of Arab astronaut mission

February 3, 2023
Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi to serve six-year jail sentence

Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi goes on hunger strike

February 3, 2023
WBD promotes Rebecca Rørmark to Head of Streaming Marketing for EMEA

WBD promotes Rebecca Rørmark to Head of Streaming Marketing for EMEA

February 3, 2023
Former Al Arabiya exec moves to Asharq TV as General Manager

Africa 24 Group becomes member of African Union of Broadcasting

February 3, 2023
ANGA and Nigcomsat test-runs SBAS on NAMA’s aircraft

ANGA and Nigcomsat test-runs SBAS on NAMA’s aircraft

February 2, 2023
Mobily to participate as leading digital partner in LEAP 2023

Mobily to participate as leading digital partner in LEAP 2023

February 2, 2023
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Magazine Archive
  • Directory
  • Contact
Sunday, February 5, 2023
BroadcastPro ME
  • News
    • All
    • Podcasting
    • Cinema Theatres
    • Esports
    • TV/Radio Deals
    • Film partnerships
    • New appointments
    • Production
    • Mergers/Acquisitions
    • Satellite/Comms
    • AV
    • OTT/Video Streaming
    • International News
    • Analyst Reports
    • Satellite/Broadcasting
    Christina Wayne joins MBC Studios as Managing Director 

    Christina Wayne joins MBC Studios as Managing Director 

    Xposure 2023 announces lineup of short films

    Xposure 2023 announces lineup of short films

    Technology, media entities unite to build trust in online content

    Online video subscribers to reach 1.7bn in 2023: Omdia

    Paramount Pictures expands COO’s role to oversee Nickelodeon Studios

    Michael Garin retires as CEO of Image Nation Abu Dhabi

    ICT spending in META region to reach $233bn this year: IDC

    ICT spending in META region to reach $233bn this year: IDC

    MBRSC reveals details of Arab astronaut mission

    MBRSC reveals details of Arab astronaut mission

    Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi to serve six-year jail sentence

    Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi goes on hunger strike

    WBD promotes Rebecca Rørmark to Head of Streaming Marketing for EMEA

    WBD promotes Rebecca Rørmark to Head of Streaming Marketing for EMEA

    Former Al Arabiya exec moves to Asharq TV as General Manager

    Africa 24 Group becomes member of African Union of Broadcasting

    ANGA and Nigcomsat test-runs SBAS on NAMA’s aircraft

    ANGA and Nigcomsat test-runs SBAS on NAMA’s aircraft

    Trending Tags

    • broadcast
    • MENA broadcast
    • ConnecTech2019
  • Tech Features
    • All
    • CASE STUDIES
    • Virtual Production Series
    • REVIEWS
    • TV/Radio Deals
    • New Media
    From talent to telcos, CEOs discuss industry challenges

    From talent to telcos, CEOs discuss industry challenges

    Key trends shaping the broadcast media landscape

    Key trends shaping the broadcast media landscape

    Tried and Tested: Real techniques of working with a virtual world

    Tried and Tested: Real techniques of working with a virtual world

    Technologies that should be on a broadcaster’s roadmap

    Technologies that should be on a broadcaster’s roadmap

    Magic buttons & busting myths: Debunking the mysteries of virtual prodution

    Magic buttons & busting myths: Debunking the mysteries of virtual prodution

    How VFX and CG can take brands to the next level

    How VFX and CG can take brands to the next level

    Tradition & Tech: Shedding some light on lighting with game engines

    Tradition & Tech: Shedding some light on lighting with game engines

    Virtual vs Physical: The strengths, limitations and crossover of camera

    Virtual vs Physical: The strengths, limitations and crossover of camera

    Moving to a fast future

    Moving to a fast future

    Moving to IP and cloud: Challenges and uptake

    Moving to IP and cloud: Challenges and uptake

    Trending Tags

    • Videos
      Exclusive: Video of the construction of the AlUla studio complex

      Exclusive: Video of the construction of the AlUla studio complex

      Protecting your content – Devising a multi-pronged strategy

      Protecting your content – Devising a multi-pronged strategy

      Gearing up for a FAST audience

      Gearing up for a FAST audience

      Planning Your Hybrid Cloud Playout Journey

      Planning Your Hybrid Cloud Playout Journey

      Qvest on “The cutting edge of Cloud Editing”

      Qvest on “The cutting edge of Cloud Editing”

      Said Bacho on Editshare’s Middle East plans

      Said Bacho on Editshare’s Middle East plans

      Rami Moussawi, Product Manager at ST Engineering iDirect speaks about SKYFlow

      Rami Moussawi, Product Manager at ST Engineering iDirect speaks about SKYFlow

      ASBU BroadcastPro ME Awards Footage

      ASBU BroadcastPro ME Awards Footage

      CEO Panel – Thriving in the New World Order

      CEO Panel – Thriving in the New World Order

    • Opinion
      Creating more engagement in sport

      Creating more engagement in sport

      The Evolution of the Metaverse

      The Evolution of the Metaverse

      New normal inspires fresh storylines and alternative filming strategies

      BroadcastPro Summit and Awards 2022 a big success

      Tackling the creative challenges of HDR

      Tackling the creative challenges of HDR

      New normal inspires fresh storylines and alternative filming strategies

      Get ready for the BroadcastPro Summit and Awards 2022

      IBC2022 reflections: From new business models to riding the economic wave

      IBC2022 reflections: From new business models to riding the economic wave

      New normal inspires fresh storylines and alternative filming strategies

      Reconnecting with the industry

      Ground-Cloud-Cloud-Ground: Creating common practices for cloud production

      Ground-Cloud-Cloud-Ground: Creating common practices for cloud production

      New normal inspires fresh storylines and alternative filming strategies

      Broadcast industry gears up for IBC 2022

      The Future of Cloud-based Broadcasting

      The Future of Cloud-based Broadcasting

    • Interviews
      • All
      • Lounge
      Good Tide-ings

      Good Tide-ings

      Living on the edge

      Living on the edge

      Creating a sound experience

      Creating a sound experience

      Canon’s African dream

      Canon’s African dream

      Rising to the IP challenge

      Rising to the IP challenge

      Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth starts on October 10

      Catch them young

      Taking art seriously

      Taking art seriously

      IBC gears up for 2022 edition

      IBC gears up for 2022 edition

      Capturing the immigrant’s journey

      Capturing the immigrant’s journey

      Akhbar Al Aan on launch of 3eesh Al Aan Café

      Akhbar Al Aan on launch of 3eesh Al Aan Café

    • Products
    • Magazine Archive
      • BroadcastPro ME Magazine
      • PRO Directory
    • Events
      • Upcoming Events
      • News from Events
      IBC 2023

      IBC 2023

      BroadcastPro Tech Summit 2023

      BroadcastPro Tech Summit 2023

      BroadcastAsia 2023

      BroadcastAsia 2023

      CABSAT 2023

      CABSAT 2023

      NABSHOW 2023

      NABSHOW 2023

    No Result
    View All Result
    BroadcastPro ME
    • News
      • All
      • Podcasting
      • Cinema Theatres
      • Esports
      • TV/Radio Deals
      • Film partnerships
      • New appointments
      • Production
      • Mergers/Acquisitions
      • Satellite/Comms
      • AV
      • OTT/Video Streaming
      • International News
      • Analyst Reports
      • Satellite/Broadcasting
      Christina Wayne joins MBC Studios as Managing Director 

      Christina Wayne joins MBC Studios as Managing Director 

      Xposure 2023 announces lineup of short films

      Xposure 2023 announces lineup of short films

      Technology, media entities unite to build trust in online content

      Online video subscribers to reach 1.7bn in 2023: Omdia

      Paramount Pictures expands COO’s role to oversee Nickelodeon Studios

      Michael Garin retires as CEO of Image Nation Abu Dhabi

      ICT spending in META region to reach $233bn this year: IDC

      ICT spending in META region to reach $233bn this year: IDC

      MBRSC reveals details of Arab astronaut mission

      MBRSC reveals details of Arab astronaut mission

      Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi to serve six-year jail sentence

      Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi goes on hunger strike

      WBD promotes Rebecca Rørmark to Head of Streaming Marketing for EMEA

      WBD promotes Rebecca Rørmark to Head of Streaming Marketing for EMEA

      Former Al Arabiya exec moves to Asharq TV as General Manager

      Africa 24 Group becomes member of African Union of Broadcasting

      ANGA and Nigcomsat test-runs SBAS on NAMA’s aircraft

      ANGA and Nigcomsat test-runs SBAS on NAMA’s aircraft

      Trending Tags

      • broadcast
      • MENA broadcast
      • ConnecTech2019
    • Tech Features
      • All
      • CASE STUDIES
      • Virtual Production Series
      • REVIEWS
      • TV/Radio Deals
      • New Media
      From talent to telcos, CEOs discuss industry challenges

      From talent to telcos, CEOs discuss industry challenges

      Key trends shaping the broadcast media landscape

      Key trends shaping the broadcast media landscape

      Tried and Tested: Real techniques of working with a virtual world

      Tried and Tested: Real techniques of working with a virtual world

      Technologies that should be on a broadcaster’s roadmap

      Technologies that should be on a broadcaster’s roadmap

      Magic buttons & busting myths: Debunking the mysteries of virtual prodution

      Magic buttons & busting myths: Debunking the mysteries of virtual prodution

      How VFX and CG can take brands to the next level

      How VFX and CG can take brands to the next level

      Tradition & Tech: Shedding some light on lighting with game engines

      Tradition & Tech: Shedding some light on lighting with game engines

      Virtual vs Physical: The strengths, limitations and crossover of camera

      Virtual vs Physical: The strengths, limitations and crossover of camera

      Moving to a fast future

      Moving to a fast future

      Moving to IP and cloud: Challenges and uptake

      Moving to IP and cloud: Challenges and uptake

      Trending Tags

      • Videos
        Exclusive: Video of the construction of the AlUla studio complex

        Exclusive: Video of the construction of the AlUla studio complex

        Protecting your content – Devising a multi-pronged strategy

        Protecting your content – Devising a multi-pronged strategy

        Gearing up for a FAST audience

        Gearing up for a FAST audience

        Planning Your Hybrid Cloud Playout Journey

        Planning Your Hybrid Cloud Playout Journey

        Qvest on “The cutting edge of Cloud Editing”

        Qvest on “The cutting edge of Cloud Editing”

        Said Bacho on Editshare’s Middle East plans

        Said Bacho on Editshare’s Middle East plans

        Rami Moussawi, Product Manager at ST Engineering iDirect speaks about SKYFlow

        Rami Moussawi, Product Manager at ST Engineering iDirect speaks about SKYFlow

        ASBU BroadcastPro ME Awards Footage

        ASBU BroadcastPro ME Awards Footage

        CEO Panel – Thriving in the New World Order

        CEO Panel – Thriving in the New World Order

      • Opinion
        Creating more engagement in sport

        Creating more engagement in sport

        The Evolution of the Metaverse

        The Evolution of the Metaverse

        New normal inspires fresh storylines and alternative filming strategies

        BroadcastPro Summit and Awards 2022 a big success

        Tackling the creative challenges of HDR

        Tackling the creative challenges of HDR

        New normal inspires fresh storylines and alternative filming strategies

        Get ready for the BroadcastPro Summit and Awards 2022

        IBC2022 reflections: From new business models to riding the economic wave

        IBC2022 reflections: From new business models to riding the economic wave

        New normal inspires fresh storylines and alternative filming strategies

        Reconnecting with the industry

        Ground-Cloud-Cloud-Ground: Creating common practices for cloud production

        Ground-Cloud-Cloud-Ground: Creating common practices for cloud production

        New normal inspires fresh storylines and alternative filming strategies

        Broadcast industry gears up for IBC 2022

        The Future of Cloud-based Broadcasting

        The Future of Cloud-based Broadcasting

      • Interviews
        • All
        • Lounge
        Good Tide-ings

        Good Tide-ings

        Living on the edge

        Living on the edge

        Creating a sound experience

        Creating a sound experience

        Canon’s African dream

        Canon’s African dream

        Rising to the IP challenge

        Rising to the IP challenge

        Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth starts on October 10

        Catch them young

        Taking art seriously

        Taking art seriously

        IBC gears up for 2022 edition

        IBC gears up for 2022 edition

        Capturing the immigrant’s journey

        Capturing the immigrant’s journey

        Akhbar Al Aan on launch of 3eesh Al Aan Café

        Akhbar Al Aan on launch of 3eesh Al Aan Café

      • Products
      • Magazine Archive
        • BroadcastPro ME Magazine
        • PRO Directory
      • Events
        • Upcoming Events
        • News from Events
        IBC 2023

        IBC 2023

        BroadcastPro Tech Summit 2023

        BroadcastPro Tech Summit 2023

        BroadcastAsia 2023

        BroadcastAsia 2023

        CABSAT 2023

        CABSAT 2023

        NABSHOW 2023

        NABSHOW 2023

      No Result
      View All Result
      BroadcastPro ME
      No Result
      View All Result
      Home Case Studies Production Features

      The Big Pitch

      Nishtha Singh by Nishtha Singh
      October 21, 2021
      in Production Features
      The Big Pitch

      Nayla Al Khaja on location. She is the first female film writer and director in the United Arab Emirates.

      ShareTweetPostEmail

      'The Alexandria Killings' will be produced under the Yalla Yalla banner, with globally renowned writers Terry George and Mariam Naoum co-writing the film. But before it took this fascinating turn, it had another journey with Emirati director Nayla Al Khaja. Nishtha Singh learns more from Al Khaja about the story and the current phase in her journey as a filmmaker.

      Earlier this year, Front Row Film Entertainment–Rocket Science joint venture Yalla Yalla signed Oscar-winning writer/ director Terry George and Egyptian writer Mariam Naoum to co-write the Arabic series The Alexandria Killings. The story, based on true events, is about the first women in the Arab world to receive capital punishment for murder.

      The show will be the first instalment of a MENA-based true-crime anthology series set in various periods and locations in the Arab world. It will be shot predominantly in Arabic, with English to reflect British rule, exploring the complexities of life on the fringes of a male-dominated society.

      Interestingly, the idea to bring this particular story to the big screen originated with Emirati filmmaker Nayla Al Khaja, who initially pitched the idea to Front Row. “I had been obsessing over this story for years,” she says, “and had initially called it The Stinger Sisters. I had always thought that one day, I will bring this story to life.”

      The story is set in 1920 Alexandria when Egypt was under British rule, and revolves around two Egyptian sisters, Raya and Sakina Hammam, who came from a poor Alexandria neighbourhood and rose to build a thriving empire on the back of their brothel. It attracted a powerful and influential clientele including Egyptian and British officers, informants and statesmen. At its zenith, the Hammams’ operation became a hive of secrets, intelligence sharing and criminal conspiracies among the top echelons of the Alexandria underworld.

      Nayla Al Khaja, director

      The fall of their empire found the sisters relying more and more on petty theft, leading to the murder of 17 women in crimes of opportunity. They were eventually put on trial and became the first women in the Arab world to be sentenced to death, causing a massive social outcry. Public perception of the women varied from cold-blooded criminal masterminds to victims.

      The story fascinated Al Khaja, who wanted to give it a different perspective, and she decided to pitch it to industry people. “I was at the Berlin Film Festival. I met a few Arab producers there who expressed interest in working with me, and the Chaaya brothers was one of them. They were the producers of a series called Jinn on Netflix.”

      The Chaaya brothers were also behind critically acclaimed Lebanese film Very Big Shot (2015). “That was an absolutely stunning film. I brought it to the Scene Club, a film screening initiative I used to run in Dubai. So that is how I connected with them.”

      The brothers approached Al Khaja around the time that Jinn was released on Netflix.

      “I was so excited about the possibility of working with people that already had a project that was going to be on a streaming service like Netflix. So I pitched it to them, and they quite liked it. We met in Jordan and discussed it several times, but somehow nothing transpired from those conversations,” says Al Khaja.

      She then approached independent film distributor and producer Gianluca Chakra, who helms Front Row Film Entertainment. “Gianluca had just a whiff of the story and instantly said there was something special there.”

      Chakra commissioned Al Khaja to prepare a treatment for his company Rocket Science. “I wrote the treatment and my vision, and how I saw it through the eyes of the child, who actually saw some of the killings.”

      The treatment, one of the key steps in pre-production and story development, was an exercise of diligence for her. “I did a lot of research, heard audio tapes with narrations of the story from A to Z, and got some books about the Egyptian community. I did a lot of background research and then compiled a treatment which tackles a lot of the aspects of the sisters’ lives, not just from the murder standpoint.”

      Al Khaja hoped to weave a rich, multidimensional narrative into the script. “We know that they are killers, that they are the first Arab women who received capital punishment. But their life wasn’t always like that.”

      The Hammam sisters have received wide coverage in the media over the past seven decades. Their story has been retold through movies, plays, television dramas and books. What Al Khaja hoped to do differently with the story was acknowledge their misfortune.

      “They had poor beginnings. They ran a brothel, which was legal back in the British period in Egypt. Once the British left, the little empire that the sisters built through their brothel crumbled.”

      Al Khaja locates this as the crux of their story. “They had dirt on everyone. I believe that is when things really turned dark, and they started resorting to murder to steal jewellery from these women who used to work for them.”

      “Once I captured the treatment, I had a few layers in this film. There is a strong political layer, which is the Brits, the different classes in Egypt and the mafia. There was the economic factor of the times and how that impacted the sisters. Then there was the social aspect of them, where they grew up and how they moved, and how the dynamic of the move changed their perspective on life as well.”

      The well-trodden path of the sisters as serial killers comes last, unlike in most other portrayals. “The last was, of course, the impact of their murders and what that meant for Egypt.”

      Egyptian writer Mariam Naoum will co-write the story with Terry George.

      Al Khaja’s work paid off when Rocket Science received the treatment. “They loved it. They said it was brilliant and that they wanted to work with me. We even signed a contract.”

      This journey, like most around the world, came to a grinding halt when Covid-19 hit; but a few months later, she got a call from Rocket Science. “They had some amazing news for me. Terry George likes your storyline. He is officially on board, they said. That was like music to my ears.”

      Irish screenwriter and director Terry George is known for In the Name of the Father (1993) and Hotel Rwanda (2004), among other films. He was nominated for an Oscar for both of those projects, and won one in 2012 for short film The Shore.

      Things have moved quickly since then. The Stinger Sisters was retitled The Alexandria Killings. The story was acquired by Yalla Yalla, with George as director-creator, Egyptian screenwriter Mariam Naoum as co-writer and Al Khaja as executive producer. The show will be produced by George, Gianluca Chakra and Thorsten Schumacher.

      Knowing that Al Khaja is wont to throw herself completely into her film projects, we ask if she is happy taking a back seat on the project.

      “It is always important to do what is in the best interest of your story. With Terry George, the story is in safe hands. Gianluca and Rocket Science will create something of high calibre,” she says confidently.

      Asked if she has any advice for filmmakers with a story who are looking to get a break in the industry, she advises always “protecting your story”.

      “My advice would be to never send unsolicited material to anyone unless they ask for it, and if they do, ensure they sign an NDA. Likewise, I don’t read scripts I receive. Many times we see that TV commercials have identical storylines and there’s always someone who thinks someone else has ripped their idea, when in effect it could just be that two people had a similar idea.”

      She encourages written correspondence, so that if “you hit the proverbial Chinese wall, there’s always a place to go to verify what was said”.

      Protecting your claims and liabilities should also be a priority. Without an agent or a manager, filmmakers could potentially lose the rights to their stories. “Get someone who understands the business – like a lawyer, an agent or a manager – to represent you. Someone who can pre-empt what will happen and protect your interests.”

      She also recommends creating a pilot when pitching a project. “A pilot always gives you a leg to stand on, and you stand a chance to be part of the creative effort.”

      For pitching a project in hand, she recommends “a strong producer who

      Terry George is an award-winning screenwriter and director.

      understands film finance and distribution … If you can afford it, do the pitch-deck and package the whole thing.”

      “As a freelance film director, I don’t have the structure to help me package any series. So I would potentially do a hybrid deal with a private investor and an OTT, and get them to finance it. It’s almost like a feature film, right? Get some funding in place, then get either a cast member who is very well-known, a heavyweight producer or director, and basically package it in a way that is hard for someone to say no – then take it directly to a buyer.”

      So what’s next on the agenda for Al Khaja?

      “I’m currently working on a feature film,” she says proudly. “It is called Three. I think it is a good case study for how things are structured locally. We don’t have the kind of funds international filmmakers have access to, or tax credits, so it becomes very difficult for filmmakers to package a film financially. [Private funding] is any filmmaker’s dream, but it comes with precedents. For certain projects, going independent is always better. Going with such investments is the easier road.”

      True to form, Al Khaja has taken the road less travelled.

      “If I had chosen to do that for this project, I wouldn’t have bought all these books on film finance and distribution, or spent hours reading them, or talked with other producers abroad and soaked it all in. Learning the hard way is sometimes the best way.”

      She hopes someday to produce films full-time for other directors. “Going through this rigorous exercise of meeting investors, receiving rejections, all of this is invaluable. I learned to keep my chin up after every interaction.”

      Her concluding advice to aspiring filmmakers is not to look for short cuts.

      “You will not be able to learn many invaluable lessons if you take the easy path. Sometimes you do need to suffer, go through hell and back. That is when you become a more rounded filmmaker.”

      Tags: featuredpostThe Alexandria KillingsNayla Al KhajaEgyptian writerArabic seriesFront Row Film EntertainmentNetflixThe Stinger SistersGianluca ChakraJinnYalla YallaRocket ScienceEmirati FilmmakerTerry GeorgeMariam Naoum

      Related Posts

      Front Row ropes in Amr El Daly and Jad Aouad for Arabic adaptation of ‘Intouchables’

      Front Row ropes in Amr El Daly and Jad Aouad for Arabic adaptation of ‘Intouchables’

      December 15, 2021

      Related News

      Front Row ropes in Amr El Daly and Jad Aouad for Arabic adaptation of ‘Intouchables’

      Front Row ropes in Amr El Daly and Jad Aouad for Arabic adaptation of ‘Intouchables’

      December 15, 2021
      More Related News

      Popular Stories

      • Joy Awards 2023 announces winners for third edition

        Joy Awards 2023 announces winners for third edition

        1391 shares
        Share 556 Tweet 348
      • Netflix streams Turkish supernatural thriller ‘Shahmaran’

        1303 shares
        Share 521 Tweet 326
      • Du becomes GCF Field Test Qualified Operator to deploy 5G

        884 shares
        Share 354 Tweet 221
      • Christina Wayne joins MBC Studios as Managing Director 

        739 shares
        Share 296 Tweet 185
      • ETL Systems appoints Kevin Dunne as new CEO

        727 shares
        Share 291 Tweet 182

      BroadcastPro ME

      • About
      • Advertise
      • Subscribe
      • Magazine Archive
      • Directory
      • Contact
      • Privacy

      Follow us on Social Media

      No Result
      View All Result
      • News
      • Tech Features
      • Videos
      • Opinion
      • Interviews
      • Products
      • Magazine Archive
        • BroadcastPro ME Magazine
        • PRO Directory
      • Events

      Login to your account below

      Forgotten Password?

      Fill the forms bellow to register

      All fields are required. Log In

      Retrieve your password

      Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

      Log In
      Social Media Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com