The age-old debate of censorship looks set to finally become an issue for the future of film in the Middle East as we enter the digital age, according to experts.
A heated debate called Digital Filmmaking in the Gulf explored the possibilities for digital film against classical methods, with a particular emphasis on the difficulties of digital films when it comes to censorship.
The panelists included Bahraini director Bassam Al Thawadi, Lebanese film critic and Muhr Awards manager Mohammad Rouda and Gianluca Chacra, the Managing Director of Front Row Filmed Entertainment LLC.
Film fanatics, up-and-coming directors and producers as well as industry experts packed a discussion theatre at Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre, Mall of Emirates, for the event which was held as part of the first Gulf Film Festival.
High cost
Chacra, a mind full of statistics on Middle East film, said the cost of digital cinema was still extremely high for theatres to implement but explained when it does eventually happen the Middle East may fall behind due to censorship necessities.
He said: "Luckily for the Middle East the cost of a digital projector for a cinema theatre is around $200,000 (Dh730,000). This would mean a cost of around $3 million (Dh11 million) for some of these ‘mega-screen' facilities - not an option most will even consider. But as with technology across the board these will become more accessible eventually.
However, until the region accepts films as they are made, there are many offerings which would not be able to cut the way they can be on the current 35mm system. This will become a problem for the future."
History
But not only an consideration for cinema houses, the panel explored and commented on the evolution of the filmmaking industry in the Middle East and suggested younger artists were trying to walk before they could run.
Al Thawadi said: "The worrying thing for me is seeing the younger people come through colleges and schools, believing it's all about new technology. That is not the way to make a movie and soon it will have a detrimental effect on the regional industry.
"They don't seem to know much about the history of cinema and film, about dubbing and screenplay. They believe as long as you have a great script and a camera it is a success and it doesn't work that way. I believe this is partly due to the introduction of digital cinema and the repercussions it is having on film across the world."
Rouda added: "It's true that while we have to accept digital options are available we should never forget the classic way. It's about a balance between the two to produce something that's real.
"People thought radio signalled the end of newspapers and that television would be the end of cinema but that was not the case, just as digital will not be the end of real film making."
