From unfinished scenes and episodes, to sterile filming sites against the emerging corona virus, Ramadan's beloved series in the Middle East are having trouble keeping their cameras running a few weeks before the month of fasting begins.

Countries in the region imposed tight restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the virus, forcing photo studios to close their doors, or to operate under strict protection measures.

At the same time, residents were asked to stay away from the roads and work from their homes, which could lead to a significant increase in the number of viewers of TV channels, and increase the pressure on those channels to provide rich content continuously.

"We have four Ramadan series that we had started filming in Lebanon, in addition to another series in Syria ... all of which are currently suspended," said the program director for one of the Arab channels.

He added, asking not to reveal his name or the name of the channel: «The countdown has begun. We need all the content we can get before Ramadan. If we cannot finish our series, we will buy from production companies outside (the channel), even if it is at the expense of quality. ”

According to opinion polls conducted in the region, about 90% of the population of the Middle East watches TV. The number of viewers increases during the month of Ramadan, and the prices of advertisements rise insanely at times during Iftar and Suhoor periods during the fasting month that begins this year in the third week of April.

The topics of the series that the family members gather to follow together vary from gang wars in remote villages to history, love, betrayal, humor, and others, in light of intense competition between channels to attract viewers, as well as the competition that these channels are engaged in with applications on the Internet, such as "Netflix" and " Stars Play.

Do not laugh at me

For Gamal Sinan, owner of Eagle Films Production, there is a race over time to restart cameras at his company's three series locations before Ramadan. "We are currently committed to the decisions, while waiting for us to find a specific formula," Sinan told "France Press". We may return to work with a few photographers in the studio (...) but we do not know when. " He added, "All of this is subject to conditions so that we can be ready in the month of Ramadan."

In one of the company’s series, Lebanese actress Cyrine Abdel Nour plays the role of tailor, who falls in love with the owner of a fashion house.

And the artist published on her account on the application "Instagram" a video recording of her wearing a muzzle and gloves, while a young man sprinkled it with a sterilizer and she closed her eyes, before she entered a house where a scene was being filmed before the work stopped.

At the bottom of the video on her account, which is followed by about 8.9 million users, she wrote: “Please do not laugh at me, but this is how we were entering the filming location. God is spending this period well until we return to filming. ”

Emergency

The MBC group, which usually sits on the throne of channels during Ramadan, continuously sterilizes its offices, studios and photo locations, according to its spokesperson, Mazen Hayek, adding, “Mobile emergency units are deployed outside the entrances to our buildings, offices and headquarters in the countries we find In which".

In Egypt, where television is considered a source of huge revenues in a country with a population of about 100 million, no official decision has been issued to stop filming. But the president of the Union of Actors, Ashraf Zaki, said that "80% of the work has stopped", while representatives are calling for a formal decision to close the sites, accusing those involved in the risk.

The new Corona virus has claimed the lives of more than 50 thousand people around the world since its appearance in China at the end of last December, while the measures taken to limit its spread hit the entertainment sector with great damage, in light of the cancellation of concerts and festivals and the closing of cinemas in many countries.

For her part, Diana Jabour, director of "Imar Al-Sham Art Production", confirmed that her company stopped filming in the Ramadan series "before the official authorities requested this."

"No, we will not venture into the health of any of our artwork partners, from the youngest technician to the largest artist."

Great disappointment

For fans of soap operas such as Reham Ali (60 years old) who did not leave her home in Sharjah for three weeks for fear of "Corona", the absence of a sufficient number of series during the month of Ramadan may cause great frustration.

She said: “Ramadan is for prayers, delicious food, family gatherings, and for television as well. But I haven't seen anyone in weeks, and I don't think I will do that soon. Series numbers should be sufficient. We really need that. ”

Jamal Sinan:

"Maybe we will get back to work with a few photographers in the studio ... but we don't know when."

Diana Jabbour:

"We will not venture into the health of any of our business partners ... from the youngest technician to the largest artist."

Sirine Abdel-Nour: “God is spending this period well until we return to filming.”