RIYADH: A movie workshop focused on improving production standards in the burgeoning Saudi film industry was recently held in Riyadh.
Organized by the Saudi Film Commission, enthusiasts and sector specialists attending the event, titled “Analyzing Film Trends in Saudi Arabia,” looked at the impact of movie analysis, criticism, and review on production.
The workshop was presented by Musab Alamari, a film producer, director, and screenwriter, who in the first session noted that criticism involved the study, interpretation, evaluation, and determination of the status of film in the history of cinema.
He said: “It usually provides an interpretation of the meaning of the film, analyzing its structure and style, and judging its value compared to other films.
“Film criticism is usually written by researchers or experts in film studies, since it needs to discuss the historical, social, or political context. It may be presented years after a film’s release and is usually published in scientific journals or specialized blogs for filmmakers and researchers.”
Alamari pointed out that reviews could be in the form of an article published in a newspaper or magazine or a video describing and evaluating the film. Usually written by journalists, reviews played an important role in informing audiences as to whether a movie was worth watching, he added.
Analysis, he said, was an integral part of any critique and was concerned with monitoring aspects of a film, such as discourse and messages, and artistic or visual observations.
It was usually written by movie production graduates and those working in filmmaking due to the need to understand technical details such as camera angles, lighting, production design, sound elements, fashion options, and editing.
He also highlighted the trends and genres of films by venue, including commercial cinemas, digital streaming platforms, festivals, and independent cinemas, speaking about each category, their types, and the criteria for success.
The workshop’s second session concentrated on narrative, realism, and fiction in Saudi film, the dominance of comedy, and the courage to take on new experiences.
Alamari presented a set of models and examples of flicks that embodied the themes of the session.
The workshop concluded with activities and impromptu exercises for the participants to discuss the course of Saudi films in the coming years.
The event was part of a series of periodic workshops staged by the commission to help improve standards in the film sector, and the skills of the people working in it, by discussing the most important topics affecting the industry.
The seminars also address sector challenges and how to overcome them and turn them into opportunities.
