Explore the evolving film industry of Oman

T-Mag Wednesday 22/February/2017 17:20 PM
By: Times News Service
Explore the evolving film industry of Oman

Cinema is an ever-growing industry with several intricate realms to it. In fact it can actually take a lifetime to understand it completely. While we drool over the glitterati and the paparazzi associated with those belonging to the industry, seldom do we get to know what goes behind the scenes.

From silent black and white films to the modern and sophisticated 4D movies, the development of motion pictures and filmmaking in general have come a long way and has now become an integral part of our lives and society. Gone are those days when films were known to be just a source of entertainment; with advancement in technology the creative potentials of filmmakers have broadened manifold making films an important medium to inspire, motivate, and create awareness.

When I say film industry, I’m not just talking about commercial films. The entire industry is like one big umbrella that covers short films, documentaries, feature films, ad films, and various other motion pictures that are made to inform, entertain, or used as a form of expression. And today, with the advent of social media, most filmmakers don’t have to go looking for a platform to showcase their talent and hardwork. They shoot a film on their DSLR’s, edit them on reasonably priced softwares, and publish it for free on YouTube. That has not just made the whole process convenient, but it has also given people the much-needed liberty and control that all these young filmmakers deserve.

Last year when I got an invitation to attend the Muscat International Film Festival, I was overwhelmed with curiosity to know more about the film industry of Oman which I always thought was non existent.

I was in for a real surprise when I learnt that there are quite a number of independent filmmakers in Oman, who in spite of having limited resources and options, are relentlessly trying their best to bring their creativity and imagination on the forefront. Prominent filmmakers in Oman like Maitham Al Musawi, Sultan Khalfan Al Abdali, and Jassim Al Battashi have made a mark both nationally and globally in the world of films.

It was during the event when I met Amer Khatib and his wife Julia who started Barasti, a production house, which is a strong team of international film and TV producers. Amer is a vibrant filmmaker and his production house has been promoting Oman in the west as an ideal location to shoot.

Barasti was started almost a decade back with the aim of bringing a professional filmmaking company to Oman so that people associated with the industry here didn’t have to outsource resources; both human and technical. In the last nine years they have filmed all over Oman and even attracted various international producers and broadcasters including top feature films such as Plonger and Personal shopper, TVC’s, documentaries, and corporate videos.

“What is a movie?” Amer asked me a straight question on our first meeting and while I tried to look for a more technical definition of it by referring to moving pictures, overlapping frames, and more, he made it simpler by saying that, ‘It is an art that is capable of making people feel the varied levels of emotion’.

“Cinema over the years have evolved in terms of its raw quality and what it means to people. From the black and white silent films of 1900s to the High Definition 4D films we see now, filmmaking has come a long way. However, it is the connect that each film and the industry in general has with the people is the real indication of its progress,” said Amer.

“Cinema, cannot be taken away from people. From being a mere source of entertainment, it has advanced into being an irrevocable part of our lives,” he added.

While Oman’s film industry is evolving, Omanis’ love for movies have been there since long and they have been following regional and international movies. They have also shown a keen interest in making films in the past few years. Many, on a quest to pursue their passion of making films, have gone to places like America and Europe to master the art. They have preferred to stay there and work with established directors and producers. But there are many, armed with degree and experience have returned home and have gone into making short documentaries and films for YouTube.

Highlighting this new trend Amer said that just putting together footage on YouTube isn’t cinema. “It has become a fashion and many people without learning the basics and understanding the essence do it only because that’s the trend. People can use inexpensive camera, limited resources, and still make great movies, but it all boils down to the intent, hardwork, and dedication for the piece of project that has been taken up. Art is free, but art has rules,” he added.

It’s true that Oman’s topography and landscape have attracted various productions from across the world for international shoots in Oman but the industry has a long way to go and Amer is hopeful about it.

“Although, currently we don’t have a full blown film industry, we do have the necessary resources and talent,” he said. After all the country’s natural gifts such as the sun, sand, mountains, and the ocean contribute to the global film industry, and with new technologies and many untapped resources, growth in the filmmaking industry of Oman will continue to evolve unpunctuated. [email protected]