Zineb Ennajem

http://www.scribd.com/doc/13294758/Zineb-Ennajem

Zineb Ennajem

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Creative Writing allalcinemagoer.blog

El Oualid Mezouare.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/13294714/oualid-mezouaroualid mezouar

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Creative Writing allalcinemagoer.blog

Al-Ghazali,a light of intelligence seen by Ovidio Salazar.

Al-Ghazali, the Alchemist of Happiness is a beautiful film documentary directed by Ovidio Salazar. It is true we live in a confused age where almost humanity can not know how to distinguish between good and evil .Yet, movies like Al-Ghazali erases some questions of our intellectual age by refreshing our memory that there were in the past some thinkers who have lived through hardships and difficulties just to again peace in searching Allah (God).


In fact, this film already mixed up with academic interviews from Iran, England and America points out how blissful is the truthfulness of Allah and that the Almighty can be reached by spiritual practices just like Al-Ghazali did in his time. Man is born with AL Fitra (instinct) to go down to the profoundest abyss in order to find himself and to come back with an idea to remember that there is only one truth which is Allah, our Almighty who is worth worshipping.

Ovidio Salazar’s cinematic techniques are much convincing as far talking about documentary film making especially he has not hesitated to go to Tus, Khorasan, Iran in order to be more realistic where Al-Ghazali is buried .He tells Al-Ghazali’ story through narration and fabricated dramatic scenes. The search of truth seems continuous by Al-Ghazali whose taste of knowledge is so vast that he leaves his family, his Khalif,( supreme authority in Baghdad )his properties and his country in order to find Allah.

Nowadays, apart from intelligent movies that we watch from time to time either in festivals or in hacked DVDs ,Hollywood is still bombarding us with worthless artificial and violent movies that we are manifestedly fed up with especially now that the west is still eager to continue his continuous and ferocious fight against Islam via means of image destructions like cinema .This west itself has unfortunately denied that Islam has once breathed gently into the soul of Europe in order to be civilized (see Averroes,Ibn Sina Ibn Arabi …) .

With this genre of movies ,we hope that the world shifts 180 degrees to Al-Agl ( reason ), beauty and intellect rather than hate and indifference and the discourse that the west controls itself and anything foreign to its atmosphere is barbarian and savage, reminds us in fact of its uncontrollable launching bomb on Hiroshima and its unpitiful torturing of innocent souls in Guantanamo Bay.I think I myself have not controlled myself because of the 21 first century burden and atrocities that I still have to find relevant in the teaching of my master Al-Ghazali .Yet peaceful mind is quite reachable as long as there are non-arrogant people who reject dictatorship in their “Nitham-Al Hokm” ( Way of Governing ) and thanks to Allah , it seems that there are other people who have courage to produce via cinema other people ‘s beautiful lives even if they are seemingly“enemies” .

Allal El Alaoui

To Casanegra or not to Casanegra.

Unfortunately because very few cinema-theatres are still closed, I have decided to watch Casanegra on DVD at home but not on silver screen cinema theatre which is a thing that I have felt sorry for .Sorry Nour-Edine.I assured you I have not hacked your movie, but somebody has given it to me raw and unfinished ‘ non-étalonné” to watch it .Apparently, your film has moved me a lot because it is one hundred percent cinematic (see Moroccan and Norway money ) this co –production has made things easier very seldom for a creator to work and that also explains why your films has reached a nice level in cinematography where you have used wild angle a lot as if to reveal your intimate love to this cosmopolitan and yet giant city called Casablanca .This movie has made brilliant box office in Casablanca itself which is quite normal through good performances of new actors such as Adil and Karim and let alone Benbrahim whose powerful presence is remarquable .But anyway, i have good news for you. I think Casanegra is an intelligent film well directed by your vivid imagination and your skillful hands.



As I have said before, although I am not a Casablanca man, I feel much moved by some beautiful dark scenes. This reminds me of German cinema, very expressive and pictures are much more in silhouette. As a film-goer I know what you wanted to say because you have started your movie all in black as if you want to tell us that this is a dark city and yet it is beautiful. I like also your characters starting with our beloved Benbrahim and of course Adil and Karim, the two boys who have been well directed by yourself.



The story is about two mates who share friendship and hardship altogether. Karim recruits children to sell cigarettes and dreams to be respected within his circle. Adil wants to go to Europe in order to find paradise and he would do anything to find a visa and go to Malmo in Suede.



I also know one thing is that Moroccan viewers would hate themselves because of the vulgarity of your style language that you have well used in your sequences of your movie .But, I think I consider your style as avant-gardist because what we have seen nearly thirty or forty years in Moroccan cinemas through out realistic European and American cinema is the same use of slung language of the street .Moroccan cinema-goers will get used to this language step by step.That is a something that I assure you to be happening very soon .So let’s go to Casanegra and see ourselves through this beautiful story written by Nour-Eddine lkhmari.

Allal El Alaoui


WRITTER/ DIRECTOR: Nour-Eddine Lakhmari (Maroc - Norway)
CINEMATOGRAPHER : Luca Coassin (AIC)
PRODUCERS : Ali Kettani / Dino Sebti _ SIGMA
FEATURE FILM / SOCIAL DRAMA
35 mm / scope color / 126 minutes
LANGUAGE : Moroccan
CO-PRODUCTEURS : Aziz Nadifi / SOREAD 2M
MUSIC : Richard Horowitz
EDITING: Sarah Mouta
ART DIRECTION: Badria Soud Elhassani

The 2009 blogger-award given to Maria Makrim .

No doubt Maria Makrim loves freedom of speech. That is why she writes excellent articles about sensitive matters about Morocco, and obviously Maria has been successful in depicting Moroccan realities whenever she tackles a sensitive subject in her country.


Maria, therefore, is chosen to be given the 2009 blogger-award which is a symbolic prize , because of her continuous research on Moroccan touchy subjects and also to her honesty and devotion to her journalistic work.


Maria Makrim ,aged 32 born in a cosmopolitan city called Casablanca, is now working as the chief editor of the famous newspaper “Al Ayam “In Casablanca ; Morocco.

Last year the blogger - award was given to Ahmed Essarouri because of his decency and fruitful works in media especially at SNRT x-RTM.


Allal El ALaoui

So You Want to Be a Filmmaker.

So You Want to Be aFilmmaker
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

.... Recognizing how independent films differ from studio pictures
..... Getting an overview of the filmmaking process

~ln is a powerful medium. With the right script under your arm and a r~taff of eager team players, you're about to begin an exciting ride. The
single most important thing that goes into making a successful filmmaker is
the passion to tell a story. And the best way to tell your stories is with pictures.
Filmmaking is visual storytelling in the form of shots that make up
scenes and scenes that eventually make up a complete film.
You have the power to affect people's emotions, make them see things
differently, help them discover new ideas, or just create an escape for them.
In a darkened theater, you have an audience's undivided attention. They're
yours - entertain them, move them, make them laugh, make them cry. You
can't find a more powerful medium to express yourself.
As a filmmaker, you have to decide what you enjoy doing most. Do you like
putting things together and making them happen? Then you'd probably make
a great producer. Do you like things just a certain way, can you envision things
as they should be, and do you love working with people? Then your calling
may be directing. Or do you love telling stories, and are you always jotting
down great ideas that come to you? If so, then writing screenplays may be for
you. You can be referred to as a "triple-threat" in filmmaking if you write, produce,
and direct. Having some understanding of what the other people on your
crew do - like the cinematographer, the producer, the editor, the dolly grip,
and the prop or wardrobe person - is important. Understanding what each
person on your team does will improve your working relationship with them
and, in the end, make a better film.



Digital filmmaking: The future of making films
+
Today, you can shoot your film in several different
formats. You can choose analog video or
digitalvideo or use a completely differentformat
by shooting with atraditional film camera using
super-B or 16mm film, or the choice of studio
productions, 35mm motion-picture film stock.
In this age of digital technology, almost anyone
with a computer and video camera can make a
film. You can purchase (for around $3,500) or
rent a 24-frame progressive digital camcorder
(like the Panasonic AG-DVX-l 00 - see Chapter
10 for more on cameras) that emulates the look
of motion picture film, without incurring the cost
of expensive film stock and an expensive
motion-picture camera.
If you can't afford one of these dig ita I cameras,
you can purchase computer software that takes
a harsh video image shot with an inexpensive
home camcorder and softens it to look more like
it was shot with a motion-picture film camera.
Many new computers come preloaded with
free editing software. In Ch apter 16, I give you
tips on starting your very own digital-editing
studio. You can also find out more information
on the world of digita I filmmaking in Digital
Video For Dummies by Martin Doucette (published
by Wiley). You can uncover more camera
information in Chapter 10.
High Definition (HO) TVis anew technology that
takes the video image one step farther. The picture
is much sharper, richer, and closer to what
the human eye sees as opposed to what the
video camera shows you. Watching HD video is
like looking through a window - the picture
seems to breathe. The new HDdigital cinema
cameras (the ones used by George Lucasl combine
HD technology with the 24-frame progressive
technology to emulate a unique film-like
picture quality in an electronic environment,
without the use of physical film. Unfortunately,
HD digital is still expensive (much more costly
than using a regular digital camcorder); the
cameras are extremely expensive to purchase,
and daily or weekly rental rates are usually
beyond what the independent filmmaker can
afford. HD also requires special monitors and
viewing equipmentthat processes the high resolution
in this new technology, making this
medium too complicated and expensive to be
part of the independent filmmaker's equipment.



So where do you find the good ideas to turn into films? An idea starts in your
head like a tiny seed, and then it sprouts and begins to grow, eventually blossoming
into an original screenplay. Don't have that tiny seed of an idea just
yet? Turn to Chapter 3, where you develop strategies for finding ideas or taking
a story or book and turning it into a screenplay. In that chapter, I show you
how to option (have temporary ownership of) existing material, whether it's
someone's personal story or a novel that's already been published.
You have a story in you. If something is a curiosity, is constantly on your
mind, or is troubling you, write about it. See Chapter 3 for tips on turning
your idea into a feature-length script (at least 90 pages). You'll find yourself
answering many of your own questions - you may even solve your problem.
Best of all, you could very well end up with a screenplay.

Part I: Filmmaking and Storytelling _
Surfing sites for filmmakers
+
You can find avirtually unlimited number of Web
sites dealing with filmmaking and independent
films. Becoming a filmmaker includes plugging
yourself into informative outlets that help you be
more aware of the filmmaker's world. Here I list
six sites that may be helpful to you as a lowbudget
filmmaker:
yI The Internet Movie Database (www . i mdb .
com) is avaluable information source used
by Hollywood executives. It lists the credits
of film and TV professionals and anyone
who has made any type of mark in the
entertainment industry. It's helpful for doing
research or a background check on an
actor or filmmaker.
yI The Independent Feature Project (www .
i fp . 0 rg) is an effective way to get connected
right away to the world of independent
filmmaking.
yI In Hollywood (www.inhollywood.com)
is a research site updated weekly that
offers current information on film projects.
FinancinfJ Your Film:
Where's the MonelJ?
yI The Association of Independent Video and
Filmmakers (www . ai vf . 0 rg) is an organization
that (as the name suggests) supports
ind ependent filmmakers. At the Web
site, you can find subscription information
to The Independent (a magazine geared
toward the independent filmmaker), discounts
on film-related books, festival
updates, crew classified ads, and other
membership perks.
yI IndieTalk (www.indietalk.com) is a discussion
forum forfilmmakers. Here you can
post and read messages about screenwriting,
finding distribution, financing, and lots
of other topics. It's a great site for communicating
with other independentfilmmakers.
yI Amazon.com (www.amazon.coml, an
Internet store where you can purchase
movies and books, has a plethora of information
for the inde pendent filmmaker, from
films available for sale on VHS and DVD to
cross-referencing actors, directors, producers,
and all related movie memorabilia.
+
After you've turned your idea into a completed screenplay, you can't get it
made (produced into a film) unless you have the financing. In Chapter 5, I
give you some great tips on how to find investors and how to put together a
prospectus to attract them to fund your film. You also find out about other
money-saving ideas like bartering and product placement.
In Chapter 5, I even show you how to set up your own Web site to help raise
awareness for your film, attract investors, and eventually serve as a promotional
site for your completed film. Raising money isn't as difficult as it sounds
if you have a great story and an organized business plan. You can find investors
who are looking to put their money into a film for the excitement of being involved with a film and/or the possibility of making a profit. Even friends
and family are potential investors for your film - especially if your budget is
in the low-numbers range.
On a Budi}et: Schedulini} Your Shoot
Budgeting your film is a delicate process. Oftentimes, you budget your film
first (this is usually the case with independent low-budget films) by breaking
down elements into categories - such as crew, props, equipment, and so
on - the total amount you have to spend. Your costs will be determined by
how long you'll need to shoot your film (scheduling will determine how many
shoot days you'll have), because the length of your shoot will tell you how
long you need to have people on salary, how long you'll need to rent equipment
and locations, and so on.
When you know you can only afford to pay salaries for a three-week shoot,
you then have to schedule your film so that it can be shot in three weeks.
You schedule your film's shoot by breaking down the script into separate
elements (see Chapter 4) and deciding how many scenes and shots you can
shoot each day, so that everything is completed in the three weeks you have
to work with. An independent filmmaker doesn't usually have the luxury of
scheduling the film first (breaking it down into how many days it will take to
shoot) and then seeing how much it will cost. You also should have a budget
and even a possible schedule as ammunition to show a potential investor.
Plannini} Your Shoot~ Shootini} Your Plan
Planning your film includes envisioning your shots through storyboarding,
by sketching out rough diagrams of what your shots and angles will look like
(see Chapter 9). You can storyboard your films even if you don't consider
yourself an artist. Draw stick characters or use storyboard software, like
Storyboard Quick or the 3-D Storyboard Lite, which gives you a cast of
characters along with a library of props and locations.
+
You also need to plan where you'll shoot your film. You research where
you're going to film much like planning a trip - then make all the appropriate
arrangements like figuring out how you're going to get there and the type of
accommodations if it's out of town. Regardless of where you're shooting, you'll
need to sign an agreement with the location owner to make sure you have it
reserved for your shoot dates. Also, you'll have to choose whether to film at
a reallocation, on a sound stage, or in a virtual location that you conjure up
inside your computer.

Film feeling
Audiences experien ce distinct psychological
effects when looking at film or video. Film tends
to have a nostalgic feeling, like you're watching
something that has already happened. Video
elicits the feeling that it's happening right nowunfolding
before your eyes, like the news.
Many people love old movies, not just because
of the great storytelling, but because of the sentimental
feeling they get, especially with old
black-and-white films or even the color films of
the 1960s. Steven Spielberg made Schindler's
List in black and white to help convey both the
film as a past event and the dreariness of the
war. The medium on which you set your storywhether
it be actual film celluloid on which the
images are developed, videotape, or digital with
afilm-style look- has aspecific feel and effect
on your audience.
+
Hiring Your Cast ...
Your film crew becomes your extended family (although maybe a dysfunctional
one). You spend many days and nights together - through good and
bad times - so hiring people who are passionate about your project and willing
to put their all into it is important. You may have to defer salary to your
crew if you're working on a tight budget. (Find out how to do that and more


Acting is not as difficult as you may think. People are born natural actors and
play many parts on the stage of life. Everyone is constantly in front of an
audience - or performing monologues when alone. In Chapter 8, I lead you
step by step through the process of finding a great cast to bring your screenplay
to life. I also fill you in on acting secrets so that you can direct your
actors and get the best performances.
FitminfJ in the RifJht Direction
Making a film requires special equipment, like cranes (tall apparatuses on
which you place the camera for high shots), dollies (which are like giant skateboards
that you put the camera on for movement), camera systems, and so
on. Without the proper lighting, you'll leave your actors in the darkliterally.
Lighting can set a mood and enhance the entire look of your film.

In addition to seeing your actors, you need to be able to hear them as well.
This is where the art of sound comes in. Microphones need to be placed
close enough to the actor to get a good sound recording, but not too close
as to have the microphone creep into the shot. The skill of recording great
sound comes from the production sound mixer.
If you're taking on the task of directing, you'll become a figurehead to your
actors and crew. You'll need to know howto give your actors direction and
what it takes to bring the best performance out of them.
In terms of telling your story visually, you'll need to understand a little
about the camera. Much like driving a car, you don't need to understand how
it works, but you need to know how to drive it (your cinematographer should
be the expert with the camera and its internal operations). The camera is a
magical box that will capture images so that you can effectively and visually
tell your story to the world.
Seeint) the lit)
The eye of the camera needs adequate light to "see" a proper imagewhether
it be appropriate exposure for a film camera, or enough light to get
a proper light reading for a video camera. Chapter 11 gives you the lowdown
on lighting. Lighting can be very powerful and can affect the mood and tone
of every scene in your film. A great cinematographer combined with an efficient
gaffer (see Chapter 7) will ensure that your film has a great look.



Production sound is extremely important because your actors must be heard
correctly. Your sound mixer, who's in charge of primarily recording your
actors' dialogue on set, needs to know the right microphones and soundmixing
equipment to use, as you see in Chapter 12.
Actors takint) 'Jour direction
The director's job is to help the actors create believable performances in
front of the camera that lure the audience into your story and make them
care about your characters. Directing also involves guiding your actors to
move effectively within the confines of the camera frame. Chapter 13 guides
you in the right direction with some great secrets on how to warm up your
actors and prepare them to give their best on the set.



Threatening film
Chris Gore runs an e-mail newsletter called Film
Threat Magazine. If you're afilmmaker or want
to be afilmmaker, you need to be on this mailing
list. You'll find interesting reading including
information on film festivals, box office updates,
and brutally honest movie reviews, along with
actor and filmmaker interviews. Get more information
at www.filmthreat.com.
+
ShootinfJ throufJh the camera
Directing the camera requires some technical knowledge of how the
camera works and what each lens and filter does, which I explain in Chapter 10.
Chapter 14 addresses how to frame your shots and when to move the camera.
In that chapter, you also discover the skills that make up a successful director
and how to run a smooth, organized set.
Cut It Out!: EditinfJ Your Film
Editing your film gives you a chance to step back and look at the sequence of
events and all the available shot angles in order to shape and mold them into
the most effective production. You can even repair a bad film (or at least make
it better) during the editing process. Editing is the time when you'll really see
your film coming together. It's a fascinating phase of filmmaking and can be
very rewarding as you watch your baby come together piece by piece.
Nonlinear editing software is now available for virtually any computer (starting
at $50), and it allows you to edit anything from a home movie to a professional
theatrical-length piece (90 to 120 minutes). The technology of
nonlinear editing allows you to cut your shots together in virtually any order.
You can easily see different variations of cutting different shots together,
rearrange them, and move or delete in between scenes in a concise and easyto-
understand manner. Chapter 15 tells you what the new digital technology
makes available to you for editing your film on your desktop.
ListeninfJ to 'Jour film
At the editing stage, you add and create the audio, dialogue, sound effects,
and music as you see and "hear" in Chapter 16. Titles and credits are important,
too, and I discuss them in Chapter 18.


SimulatinfJ film with software
If you can't afford to shoot your movie on film, you can use a technology by
FilmLook (www. fi 1ml oak. com). FilmLook runs your video footage through
special processors, electronic settings, and so on, and creates the effect that
your image was shot on film.
Software programs can also make your video footage look more like film.
These programs emulate grain, softness, subtle flutter, and so on. Bullet software
available at www. redgi antsoftwa re. com can convert your harsh video
footage to look like it was shot on film. The video-to-film process converts 30frame
video to a 24-frame pulldown, adding elements to create the illusion
that your images were photographed on film as opposed to shot on video.
Using software that makes your video footage look like film takes time for the
computer to process. Depending on what software you use, the processing
time could take hours or days just to turn video footage into something that
looks more like film. With a 24-frame progressive video camera, you get the
film image immediately as you shoot. (See Chapter 10 for more information
on 24-frame progressive Video.)
DistributinfJ Your Film and
FindinfJ an Audience
The final, and probably most important, stage of making a film is distribution.
Without the proper distribution, your film may sit on a shelf and never be
experienced by an audience. Successful distribution can make the difference
between your film making $10 (the ticket your mother buys) or $100 million
at the box office. The Blair Witch Project may never have generated a dime
if it hadn't been discovered at the Sundance Film Festival by Artisan
Entertainment.
There's no business like ShowBiz Expo
+
ShowBiz Expo is one of my favorite conventions.
Four times ayear, Mind Ventures offers regional
conventions in Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, and
New York. Thousands of people flock to the expo
to schmooze with fellow filmmakers, network,
and see the latest developments in equipment
technology (and in some cases, even experiment
with the technology, hands-on). It's like a giant
toy store forfilmmakers.


Even mediocre films have done well commercially because of successful distribution
tactics. And great films have flopped at the box office because the
distributor didn't carry out a successful distribution plan.
Here are several suggestions on how to find a distributor for your film:
~ Send out your screenplay before shooting your film and see if you can
get distribution interest based on the script.
~ Send out screening cassettes of your completed film to distributors with
the potential that one will acquire your film and distribute it.
~ Enter your finished film in film festivals like the Sundance Film Festival
(see Chapter 20) and let a distributor discover you.
~ Have a premiere screening for your film and invite distributors and
industry people to the big event.
~ Set up a publicity stunt (see Chapter 22) to attract the attention of a
distributor.
Check out Chapter 19 for more tips and secrets to finding a distributor.


+

The disclosure of rights activist, Chekib el-Khiari,means that Morocco is going the right way to freedom of speech

The disclosure of rights activist, Chekib el-Khiari,means that Morocco is going the right way to freedom of speech.We are disappointed to know that Moroccan authorities have reported this latter to the Judicial Police in Casablanca on February 17, 2009.

Morocco is willing to get rid of its hellish past known in Arabic " Sanawat al Jamer " "years of terror".People are really fed up to hear such atrocities again.

I am sure that Morocco,because of its openness to freedom of speech and rights for the its citizens will set free Chekib el-Khiari very soon.

Cinema in Morocco resembles Gaza.

Poor cinema in Morocco.It is targetted by everyone and eveywhere.First,and sadly speaking;majority of cinema-theatres are closed because of the mediocrity of films introduced to cinephiles and cinema lovers, plus the everlasting and continuous existence of hacking either in Derb Ghallef ;Casablanca or in Essamarine in Rabat.

Another factor that is targeting these days Moroccan cinema is some political ideologists who called themselves “protectors of Islam”.They are also taking this burden into their shoulders and condemn publicly some movies starting with Laila Marrakchi's film “Marock” Noureddine Lakhmari ‘s “ Casanegra “ and finally Aziz Essalmi’s “Hijab Al Hob”.

Noureddine Lakhmari's has recently received financial offers from some hackers to put his movie into Derb Ghallef’s souk,but he refused insisting that his film should be seen at cinema-theatres in Morocco. It is obvious that watching a movie in a cinema-theatre is much better enjoyable than watching it on DVD even if the operation happens comfortably at your home.

These are not new things happening to Moroccan cinema, but let’s fresh our memories and go back to some Maghreb countries especially Algeria where also GIA ‘s fidels in the nineties banned cultural cinema and decisively closed some cinematic clubs in Algiers.No doubt it becomes ironic in these countries that censorship has been active after the independence of Morocco and Algeria and now the state itself is encouraging to promote cinema by giving money to cinematic investors and sometimes unfortunately to some people who have nothing to do with movies .


Around Rabat-Salé ,the future cosmopolitan capital of Morocco, if you take your car and circulate to see some cinemas among popular suburbs and also some clean streets, the majority of cinema-theatres have become closed ,ruined,abandoned to homeless, criminels and drug dealers. This bad image of cinema theatres reveals to me that they are similar to buildings of Gaza,abandoned and isolated like a frozen iceberg somewhere in the north of our beloved earth.

By Allal El Alaoui

Free souls in America sing for Gaza

WE WILL NOT GO DOWN (Song for Gaza)
(Composed by Michael Heart)
Copyright 2009


A blinding flash of white light
Lit up the sky over Gaza tonight
People running for cover
Not knowing whether they’re dead or alive

They came with their tanks and their planes
With ravaging fiery flames
And nothing remains
Just a voice rising up in the smoky haze

We will not go down
In the night, without a fight
You can burn up our mosques and our homes and our schools
But our spirit will never die
We will not go down
In Gaza tonight

Women and children alike
Murdered and massacred night after night
While the so-called leaders of countries afar
Debated on who’s wrong or right

But their powerless words were in vain
And the bombs fell down like acid rain
But through the tears and the blood and the pain
You can still hear that voice through the smoky haze

We will not go down
In the night, without a fight
You can burn up our mosques and our homes and our schools
But our spirit will never die
We will not go down
In Gaza tonight

links : http://www.michaelheart.com/Song_for_Gaza.html

We are all Hamas (Part Three)

Sequence 1 – Washington DC- Barack Obama – 2018

At the white house, Barack Obama is sitting uncomfortably in a sofa made in China.
Barack is extremely sad about some attacks complotted in congress. All of a sudden, a beautiful silhouette of a woman enters from a secretive door. She is Michel Obama, wife of the president of The United States of America.


Michel: Do not worry sweety.You have all the support of the street. The American people are great. We will come over it.

Obama: I have a dream .i have tried to give a new image of America to the world.At home, Aipac and fundamentalists wants Jerusalem in all means .

Michel: The world is fed up with blood. Justice must prevail. You have done great job. That is for sure, but they do not want to go the same way you have chosen.

Obama: Look at America now. Though our economy has boomed out .Still our dear country is bleeding. Europe has let us down as it usually does with Arabs. China has nearly taken over all our markets. We know that their dragon will make it through. The Chinese surprisedly wants to transfer UN somewhere in Tibet mountains .At least those bloody diplomats remain to work in their offices rather than finding some expensive restaurants in dangerous mountains there.


Michel :( with love and tenderness) That is my Barack Hussein Obama .I am very proud of you. You still keep your sense of humor.

Michel approaches Obama and hugs him with affection and love .Obama feels the heat of his dear wife and begins to kiss her passionately.




Sequence 2 – Jerusalem – a cyber café – two girls chatting


Girl 2 : who are you ?

Girl 1: I am a Jew girl from Sederot. I come to Jerusalem to pray Yahweh. And you?

Girl 2: My name is Somud .I am Christian from Palestine. I come to Jerusalem to pray my family destroyed in Gaza.


Girl 1: Sorry to hear that. But i also
missed my brother .He fought Hamas resistance in 2009 and he was killed.

Girl 2: Sorry to hear that too. Now It seems impossible for many to know that we will soon live in two states.

Girl 1 : After long sufferings .

Girl 2 : Nothing like the suffering of Jesus .


Girl 1 : The suffering of people of Yahweh is special.


Girl 2: What do you mean by special? The Jews kill too many prophets including our beloved Jesus.


Girl 2 : you offend me or what ?

Girl 1 : let’s talk about love …


Sequence 3 – Istanbul – Press conference - 2018

Turkey Intellectual: we support Hamas. .And I think that Israelis have committed crimes against Palestians.Yet; Hamas should have a cultural project in Palestine now that all political parties has been united.


Moroccan Intellectual: they should not ban cinema like GIA has done in Algeria. Moroccan voters boycott elections for that reason. look at our streets now. They are full of army and tanks. Political parties can not think of a cultural program for the sake of the nation.

Jewish Intellectual: Every body is fighting in the name of God. Bush has fought his war in the name of God. Ben Laden does the same thing in the name of Allah. Hezbollah is fighting Israel in the name of Allah too. Israel is fighting because it believes that it is a people of God. And our world is a tale told by an idiot .


Turkey Intellectual: ( laughingly) The idiot of Dostoyevsky.


Written by Allal El Alaoui.

We are all Hamas ( Part Two ).

Sequence 1 Saudi Arabia -Dawn –-The head of government of Saudi Arabia.

Outside a beautiful mosque, near Mecca, As soon as the king and his government come out from praying, a mobile phone rings .The head of government and his men armed with sophisticated mobile phones,prepare themselves to answer and everybody puts his hand mechanically to answer the phone. A small man bound fully approaches the king and whisper in fear that Cairo is calling.

The head of government: "Ahlen Raiss". It seems that Tehran wants to send us a poisonous package. The president of Iran is speaking out tomorrow.

The president of Egypt: I understand his position. No way man .Weapons can not go through Rafah.My people are everyday rioting for Gaza, but I am sorry ,I feel more responsible of that damned treaty.

The head of government: Pray Allah to be with us .By the way,I order Imams around the kingdom to pray more for us and shorten prayings for "Sahaba" peace upon them and fidels.

The president of Egypt: It won’t work. I am afraid to say that Allah has abandoned us.

The head of government: " Astarfer Allah " Do not say that. We will prevail. This is a dear expression that I have learned from Bush.

Sequence 2 – Inside a popular café in Casablanca. Morocco .Two ordinary men discuss the war on Gaza.

In a French designed café in medina somewhere in Casabalnca.Two ordinary men are watching ALjazeera television while they ,from time to time, comment on the bloody war on Gaza.
.

Man 1 :( fervently) I do not understand .Why do Arabs buy weapons?


Man 2:( sarcastically ) Just to paint and to repaint them early in the morning by poor military .

Man 1 : ( Laughingly) How come they abandon people of Gaza? I presume they do not have guts to help.

Man 2: that is true; Arab leaders help Israel to kill more innocent people of Gaza. You know that Israel can not launch any assault without permission of Arabs. How shameful.



The waiter interrups the conversation of those two men by putting on sound on television.Eveybody is disgusted to see children and women slaughtered monstrously by Israelis. All of a sudden,Samih al Qassim,a Palestinian poet pops up in vignette and states !

Samih al Qassim: Yes, kill children
Kill women
Destroy them
Vanish them from this pure earth
But, be careful you are marching under a sky of hell and hell
And a land of hell and hell.



Sequence 3 sharam el sheikh. Egypt -morning –Italian ,German and French president.

At the airport of sharam el sheikh, everybody seems to be in hurry even presidents and diplomats .Too many men wearing black suits with earphones,armed from toe to head have come to protect European presidents .Near the place where Egypt hosts this international summit, we hear loud voices of simple Egyptians rioting against Israel .

Voices : Long live Gaza and death to Israel.


The Italian president ( Annoyed ) I want Aida while I walk on the red carpet.

The French president: Shut.You mean glory. Do not say this word around here.Either Hamas nor Israel have won the war yet.

The German president: Please, do not say glory before Oulmert, this word is impossible to reach by his cabinet .After Sharam Shkeik; I will definitely be with him for dinner. You how much it costs Germany for that damned “Holocaust”.

The French president: Massacre of “Holocaust” is a thing happening to Palestinians now. We French people can not be hypocrite,do you know why ? because we have taught the world our "1789 French revolution" .


The Italian president (Sarcastically) You have not taught it to the Algerian people.

The German president: Let's talk business and think of our interests.Do you know It costs a lot of money to pay Tel Aviv for Hitler's war .We are shameful to mention the word Gestapo now.We prefer to be hypocrite rather than saying to Oulmert that he wins his war against Hamas. Our secret services will do its best to prevent smuggling weapons through the sea and the land of Egypt .Any way,we are happy to know that Oulmert has stopped his war on Gaza.

The French president: : Poor Egypt.It seems miserable and weak.Jamal Abdennasser would have resigned in such situations.

The Italian president : ( Ironically ) creating constipated mentalities by our secret services have always been successful.The age of Mohammed won't come back again.


All presidents laugh proudfully while they wait for their turn to walk on the red carpet. We hear far in distance people in the street still continue to riot saying loudly that Europeans come to veil crimes and atrocities that Israel has committed against the people of Gaza .


Written by Allal El Alaoui

Michael Kalatozishvili‘s Wild Field in Rabat.

Wild Field is about a doctor who lives alone in the wilderness somewhere in Russia. As we follow the story of its wonderful scenes beautifully fabricated by Michael Kalatozishvili, son of great film director Giorgi Kalatozishvili already realized a brilliant film called “Le Retour Des Seagulls” we notice a certain pace of developing his protagonist,the doctor.Kalatozishvilis are a Russian dynasty of intelligent cinema whose effort are to convey Russian beauty and Art through movies.

In this movie, The doctor,a handsome young man trying to give a hand to the people living around in this deserted place,seems to be calm and more communicative. We do not know at first the reason why he is there ,nor how he happens to work in this harsh place, but we understand that he works there comfortably as he receives each day patients from around his home.Yet,what strikes most is when the doctor cures a peasant from dying,because this latter has been drinking vodka for forty days,I said what strikes most is that choice of an intelligent montage nicely cut by Michel when the doctor goes to check if he gets something from his letter box around his ranch.

The method of subjectivity works beautifully well as we understand that may be our doctor is waiting for something special and that the director wants us to believe that his character is nostalgic and somewhat tragic may be looking for something hidden either love, tenderness or human comfort. This scene becomes more stronger and revealing when a voice off of a sweet Russian song comes out to confirm the feeling of the character’s state of mind.This cut of this scene has a tremendous effect on me and no doubt on the audience . When I ask Michael Kalatozishvili about why we are going to see his movie on DVD, he replies that this matter is out of his control,because he prefers evidently silver screen .Besides, the original copy is only in Russian and that his copy burnt to DVD is subtitled in english, unfortunately Agdal cinema-goers proudly named themselves KAD-M which is an association based in Rabat who organized this cinematic soirée on the 24th of December 2008,have succeeded to make us happy by this genre of films. They know only Russian language, because most of KAD-M audience was x-soviet union students.

As we enjoy the magnificent events of Michael Kalatozishvili’s movie, we are surprised later to find out that our doctor has been surveilled by a silhouette from a mountain near his ranch. The doctor at first does not care much about it .
Yet, we will discover later that this silhouette is about a mysterious man living in the wild who will ironically cause the death of our young doctor after this latter has cured him from his mysterious wounds.

FIFM has honored Michael Kalatozishvili by giving him "l'Etoile D'or Grand prix du festival de Marrakech",because he has simply realized a beautiful film and no doubt that unforgotten soliloquy of that Russian bureaucrat who comes to pay our doctor up to his ranch ,questioning himself “ Why has God abandoned us, we Russians ? “ this echoes may be an attempt of coming back a weary state called Russia .


Written by Allal El Alaoui

George W “Shoes” wakens up a shoe Intifada.

This foto was taken from http://www.iht.com/?pass=true

Muntadar Zaidi becomes an Arab hero with his surprising shoe shooting at George W Bush ,the most powerful president of the world .Millions of internet - goers around the world through youtube comment on this affair by stating that Muntadar was as good as that courageous pilot who flew from east to west during the cold war for the sake of peace . Muntadar Zaidi has dared to throw his shoes at the president because he thought that Bush was the cause of humiliating his country;Iraq and also he this latter,according to the Arab street, committed war crimes against innocent Muslims .However, too many international and Arab journalists disagree about this historic event made by Muntader .

MP members in Syria have fully supported Muntadar Zaidi and also the United Arab lawyers who confirm that they will defend Muntadar Zaidi with all their means. The Islamic world has been betrayed by Washington administration in the name of inserting democracy in thier states ,but on the contrary we see only The U S A government support Arab dictatorial regimes for the sake of interests .According to a middle eastern journalist,these dictatorial regimes will soon fall down by a gentle Intifada of throwing shoes .

Allal El Alaouitaken from

The professional card does nothing to Omar Chanbouth

Yesterday death took Hassan Skalli, today it does with Omar Chanbouth.He is One of the smart stage Moroccan actors who has gone for ever.It is officially known that Omar has been ill since last ramadan.Yet, only few fidel friends come to see our beloved actor,but others are busy to work or enjoy this life which upitifully snached our Casablanca artists called Omar .

Goodby Omar and may Allah have mercy upon your beautiful soul.

Marrakech in laughter but without Ahmed Snoussi

Marrakech is becoming international .That is sure .Today is the humain rights day and millioms of people around the globe are celebrating it wih pride and joy namely people in jail either of their thoughts or something else.Yet,Marrakech decides to become more cosmopolitan than ever by seducing again people from the world and is keen to make Marrakechis and the world in laughter without having negative thoughts stated by Shakespear,too much ado about nothing . Unfortunately , we were sad to know that the Moroccan icon of humour is not well invited. it is about Ahmed Snoussi known as Bziz.

Bziz is feared by many because of his truthful word and his political satire unlike Said Naciri whose humour is more social and pro-governement but funny enough to make Marrakech laugh.Too many humorists of Morocco are surprisedly ignored by the festival stating forexample El Khiyari ,Abderraouf, Fahid and so forth...

So, The International Festival of Laughter has started with its godfather; Said Nacirri proudly named by Foad Khairi ,a journalist and animator of his festival .Both men have eventually succeeded to make us laugh by bringing from abroad young talented people supported magnificently by Ismail ,a french born Algerian who said brilliant things on laughter.Arabs and Berbers living in France must not forget Ismail,because he was simply the pionner to tell the western world that the Arabs are humain and creative .They can suffer ,laugh, make love,die like anybody else and a merry heart doeth good like a medicine;but a broken spirit drieth the bones.


Allal El Alaoui

Mafia in cinema and movies.

Too many Moroccan film-makers still wait the moment to realize movies dealing with Mafia.This word derives from Italy and it is not really confirmed to exist in Morooco despite the keeeness of free-lance journalists stating that Morocco has itself Mafia-like people controling finance,politics and military.


Mafia exists welll in Italy.it becomes a common word and for so many, Mafia is dangerous to democracy just the case of Roberto Savianoa ,writer of a famous book called Gomorra screened by Matteo Garrone .Roberto Savianoa is now in full controll of police surveillance and he is not to appear in mercato italiano or to go simply to the cinema.Unlike some directors ,writers and actors in Hollywood supported by Mafia in America,Roberto is becoming a persona non grata as far as mafia is concerned.Italian govenement is embarrassed by the full invasion of Mafia in every sector financially,economically and politically .


Moroccan people does not have to be scared of Mafia because simply we do not have democracy and freedom of speech still bizarre words to the Moroccan Intelligencia whereas Italians ,they do not sleep these days ,because their true democratic institutions are at risk .Because we want to see Morocco and Italy altogether very democratic,we fully support those who fight for democracy and freedom of speech especially Roberto Savianoa.

Allal El Alaoui

Arab Tv stations blockade " Al Ejtiyah "

Palestine is besieged by the world ,by the Arabs ,by Israel and by Media . Food is unfound. The situation in Palestine is unbearable as its neighbor, Israel still frustrates children of Palestine from milk , bread and medecine.Palestinians are dying and nobody is there to help .Are we becoming sado-mazochists,indifferent and inhumain? Arab regimes also participate also in this kind of weird criminality in the name of staying in power to death ? Blockade carries on through cinema and television especially the majority of Arab TV stations recently refuse to air awarded drama series written by Riad Saif and directed by Chawouki AL Majiri series called « Al Ejtiyah ».

Children of Israel enjoy democracy based on criminality and children of Palestine enjoy culture of death supported unfortunately by the silence of the international community, weakness of Arab regimes and continuous coercion of Israel.Hello,are you listening ?...

Allal El Alaoui

Getting Extra-terrestre signals through cinema.

When 2001 was screened though out the world, everybody was fascinated about its images and music. Some say that Stanley Kubrick the director has done great efforts to convey human evolution, technology, artificial intelligence, and extraterrestrial life .The movie was a great box office hit .Its story predicts that our world will get a signal from a dark place in the universe.2010 was made too by Peter Hyams to confirm the idea and many science-fiction movies were nearly produced to confirm the same thought especially the recent TV series ,The X-files written Created by Chris Carter. With Gillian Anderson, David Duchovny, Mitch Pileggi. Two FBI agents, Fox Mulder the believer and Dana Scully.
May be ,by the approaching of 2010 ,the prophecy may come true and by then our elected president Obama will have to deal only with these mysterious signals that Dennis Overbye foresees in his article forgetting about Earth problems like justice,poverty,war and peace.
Allal El Alaoui

Public image wisely manipulated by artists .

Does public image exist in Morocco ? it is a question that media artists should ask themselves very often,because it is surely a tool that does a good thing to them.In same ways ,it is like taking an aspirine after suffering from a heavy headache .


Public image is well manipulated in America .May be the word derives from Hollywood Boulevards or from broadway theatre agents .However, to talk about public image in Morocco,one thinks immediately about our beloved artists.We surely like Amal Ayouch,Ahmed Snoussi despite of being rejected by current regime,Said Naciri,Mohamed El Khayari,Eddaasoukine and others .But, do these artists appreciate this word and know its impact in society ? Yes, personally ,I think they do . I remember when Mustapfa Eddasoukine was seriously ill, he was succeful and convincing to manipulate 2M ,and in indeed he made it; knowing that he was indeed ill, but he successfully manipulated media to pass his message knowing that in the past there was no professsional card to hold to help artists for heath care and social coverings .


Do we have rich actors to become philanthropists ? Yes, i think we have rich actors but not philanthopits,i doubt it .I never heard that any actor donates his or her money for the poor like they do in America.In civil society in Morocco it is that actors go around to visit the ill, the needy and homelesss but never give money .It is may be a culture that we will see getting popular very soon in Morocco,the fact that actors become philanthropists .I think public image is related to help people by donating money or opening up horizens of hope .


In America , "Brangelina," stands for the famous Hollywood couple ,Angelina Jolie and her husband Brad Pitt .Both actors have become a true icon of philanthropy.They give in the right and in the left and stand up for the needy .Despite of having full support of media,Jolie Angelina, the Oscar winner and former Hollywood eccentric, United Nations good will ambassador and mother of six, relies on herself to make her own public image.At home,we surely have smart actors and actresses,but for the sake of public image; please use your imagination of giving money to the poor and profit from charity journalistic input,you might lat last have brilliant public image in your society.

Written Allal El Alaoui

Mohamed Abderrahman Tazi,Europe controls Moroccan cinema via funding.

like business and politics,Fassi men and women invate arts in Morocco and among these people is Mohamed Abderrahman Tazi whose famous movie « Looking for my wife's husband » becomes an idol in the film industry in Morocco.El Massae has made an interview with this film-maker in order to highlight Moroccan cinema during its half century,its pioneers,foreign funding and the remarkable return of cinema of colonization in Maghreb.

How does a film-maker like yourself evaluate the fivety years of cinema in Morocco ?

Abderrahman : Whenever we talk about Moroccan cinema especially its history,we always link our thoughts to its first pionner who is Mohammed Ousfour.But, we should not also forget cinematic esperiences of directors like Lektaa ,El Darkaoui,and Tazi.This era of these film-makers was known right after the independence .In the seventies,we filmed « Oushma » the film that really marks the history of cinema in this country.i also consider 1968 the fundamenral year of professional cinema and these cinematic productions in Morocco you see now on screen are related to this era .

Does FIFM try to evaluate this half century of cinema in Moroco or do you think that the foundation has been unsuccessful to do this job ?


Abderrahman : Indeed,there was the thought to celebrate half century of Morocan cinema.but in general the way of celebrating this event by the foundation especiallay through that magazine of cinema is a little bit ugly namely that this magazine has forgotten some cinematic names . It is unfair to ignore my generation of cinema .It is just unbelievable .

Do you think that the generation of today in Morocco is much more lucky ?


Abderrahman : Yes,i think so.This generation has come to cinema after we have made things easier for them.In the past,every thing was difficult.It is unjust to come and erase our names .Moroccan cinema enjoys dome degree of freedom unlike our neighbors namely Algeria .This country was oriented and forced by the state to tackle subjects of forexcample the revolution of agriculture especially in the seventeen and eighties .In Morocco we were in some way free to work cinematically.
There is another orientation which is more dangerous than the intruding of the state which is the money of foreign countries ,Europe forexcample ?


Abderrahman : It is true. I feel sorry about this fact.Money is important to produce movies, and we observe that some directors just obey foreign directives so as to get money.This way of productions constraints our culture because these directors favor values and cultures of others and forget theirs .It is pitiful.
I am afraid to say that we fall into the dilemma of following France which insists on inserting its culture via movies .This action remains a little bit secretive .At last, the west is keen to see us the way it wants to that’s why we must be careful of this intruding.

Moroccan cinema has been metamorphosed in quality and quantity ,from 15 films per year ?


It is a question that prevails me whether we have produced more films in quality or quantity.We have arrived to produce indeed 15 films per year ,but for whom we are shooting ? Where is the public ,where are cinema-theatres knowing that our movies via box office have reached in the past 800 thousand cinema-goers but now box offices are going far less than this amount ;about 200 thounsand and yet sometimes we feel satisfied and happy about this result.Cinema policy should be studied carefully.

Written by El Massae
Translated by Allal El ALaoui

Fassi derives from Fes, a spiritual town in Morocco