RIYADH: A Saudi-based film company has launched a project — “I Love Acting” — in the quest to find new acting talent in the Kingdom. The project is the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia where there are no academies or schools for performing arts.
Organizers of the initiative intend to open the door for those who want to act. Budding actors — men and women — can submit applications. If successful, applicants may see themselves in popular Arabic dramas.
“There are many young aspiring Saudis who would like to act, but don’t know where to start,” said Hassan Assiri, director of Al-Sadaf For Sonic and Visual Production, the company leading the project. “Saudi production companies are also eager to discover local talent instead of being forced to look for actors from other Gulf countries,” he added.
Assiri said that as a part of the program, a database containing the details of budding Saudi actors and actresses would be formed. People with special needs would also be given an equal chance to join the project, he added.
Many people began submitting their applications online two weeks ago. Applicants have been asked to send in videos of themselves talking about their favorite actors and the kind of roles they aspire to play.
Assiri, who is also an actor, said the response has been great, and include both Saudis and non-Saudis. “So far we have received 1,800 applications and around 35 percent are Saudis,” he said. “The number of men is way higher than the number of women,” he added.
Does he see a challenge in selecting people who have never taken acting lessons? “No,” he says, “because part of our project is selecting people who have natural performing skills … we will enroll the first 20 into special acting courses provided by Teatro Studio in Damascus.”
He added: “The group will learn how to act … they will also be taught how to articulate and speak standard Arabic.”
This is the first time a call is being made to attract actors. “People have always believed in the importance of drama as a social tool to educate, but their desire to join the industry is stronger now than ever,” said Assiri.
Saudi drama has seen a dynamic revival in recent years — around 13 Saudi TV series were produced in 2008 while there were only four in 1998.
