Egyptian director Marwan Hamed said the success of his film "The Blue Elephant", whose second-part revenues exceeded 100 million pounds (about 6.3 million dollars), is due to the public's appreciation for the respectable work.
"The audience is the main hero," Hamed said. "When the audience found a good job to respect, no less than the level of international films they watch constantly I accept and support."
"We are not screening our films apart from other cinemas," Hamed told Reuters in an interview. In (Blue Elephant) presented to the viewer a film that respects his mentality, and keeps pace with the development of the film industry ».
"Blue Elephant," in part, draws on the element of visual fascination and sound effects, and offers a mix of drama and horror. It is starring Kareem Abdul Aziz, and is participating in the second part Nelly Karim, Hind Sabri, Iyad Nassar, Sherine Reda, Tara Emad and Ahmed Khaled Saleh.
“The audience is young, this is the world,” he said. “Young people have the time and passion to go to the cinema and watch. Today's young people are different than before. They are open and familiar with the world. They have all the tools of technology and can easily compare what they offer. To him, and what is offered globally ».
"The film industry in Egypt has a very strong potential, and the recent summer season has been demonstrated by the films shown and the revenue generated by the strength of the industry, but besides the technology we must also have strong barriers to attract the public."
In most of his films, Hamed collaborated with the young writer Ahmed Murad, and turned some of his novels into films, including: The Dust of Diamonds and the Blue Elephant.
"Literature has always been a source of inspiration for cinema," said Hamed, a graduate of the Higher Institute of Cinema. "A lot of films are based on stories from major writers, both in Egypt and abroad."
He added: «When you build your film on the work of a novel that people have read and loved, you become very reassured to what you are submitted».
Remaining the process and the way to present the novel on the screen is the main challenge, the novel originally written in hundreds of pages and many details, how to shorten this in just two hours? "What will you take, and what will you leave while preserving the spirit of the novel? This is the most difficult thing."
Short films
The Blue Elephant's director, Marwan Hamed, presided over the jury of the short film competition at El Gouna Film Festival in its third session, which brought back memories of his first works, in which he presented himself to the public.
"The short film is the main exit gate for the feature film," Lee Lee said in 2001, which introduced me to the public. I went with him to many festivals around the world. When someone tells me he wants to make a film, I advise him to start with a short film.
"The circumstances may have been harder at the time, both in terms of technology and capabilities, but today things are much easier. You can make your short film with a mobile camera and put it online for everyone to see." “Film festivals also contribute to short films, both on the supply and funding levels, because most festivals now have support funds and funding for new filmmakers.” Twenty-four short films compete in El Gouna from Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Greece, Ukraine, China, Russia, and Kosovo. The total prize money for the competition exceeds $ 30,000, divided into four prizes.