Page 23 - issue-25 - en

ELITE Vol.1 No.25, Nov. 2020

“Shams al-Maarif”…From Mariam Magd
“Shams al-Maarif”…From
YouTube to Cinema
YouTube to Cinema

Saudi Arabia is among the countries that are YouTube has an easy way to show your thoughts to
interested in watching YouTube. Although the Saudi the audience, and then you can collect your
YouTube content is valuable for watching, not many thoughts into a cinematic work that many will see,
follow it in the Arab world. In 2011 -which was the whether YouTube viewers or not. There’s what a
beginning of the YouTube content industry- it group of young Saudi content providers did in
expanded a space for younger adults to present “Shams al-Maarif” movie, as the movie cast was
their ideas and opinions that didn’t find a way to Baraa Alem, Ahmed Saddam and others,
appear on TV screens or Cinemas, also it made them and the production was by two brothers Sohayb
not only in Saudi Arabia but in the whole Arab world and Faris Qudas. The movie tells a simple story
interested in the idea of creating YouTube content. without any complications or intonation, whether
YouTube made it easier to present yourself to the in the directing or in the story itself. It takes you
public without the need for complications and on a journey with a group of young adults who are
favoritism which is in cinema or television. First let aiming to make their own movie, which is “Shams
me give you an overview of Saudi YouTube. al-Maarif”. There are comedy scenes that you’ll
appreciate. Furthermore, the skill in writing the
At the beginning of 2011, many programs appeared script is exceptional that avoids doggy comedy.
that dealt with events, whether political or social, in The movie also sheds light on some negatives that
a sarcasm way. Among these programs was the "Esh exists on YouTube or among the content makers in
Elly" show, that gained wide fame and reached general, also it makes you see how much passion
more than half a million followers and more than the hero has in spite of making a bad movie, but
300 million views. Its host is Badr Saleh, who then in He remains a believer as it’s his first and last
2016 had a show on TV “Tonight with Badr”. There’s world. Although there was no investment in acting
also "Masameer" show, started in the same year, opportunities for some of the characters, it won’t
which is a satirical cartoon show written by Faisal spoil your watching experience. In the end, “Shams
Amer and directed by Malek Najr. It has over a Al Maarif” is a snack of drama and comedy
million followers and more than 200 million views. together.
The Saudi shows didn’t stop only there. As by the
arrival of 2012, there are shows like the “El-Tamsah” There may now be a fewer shows worth watching,
show by Ibrahim Khairallah, which is a satirical doll and it may be due to the low common sense or due
to the lack of new ideas for creating good content.
that deals with social events in a funny way. It However YouTube is still showing ideas that
reached two million Followers and more than 235 contribute to make a good, unconventional
million views, and also there are other shows like cinema. These ideas will increase by its audience's
"La yaksr" and "Khambla". YouTube is among the support and will forces the pioneers of this field to
programs that helps the appearance of many, as it leave more space for more ideas. In the end, we
is the only way out to vent your thoughts and aren’t only receivers but we also contribute a huge
opinions without restrictions or complications. part in this industry.

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