Let’s Explore Media in #MENA: Producing a Video Across Multiple MENA Region Countries: Lessons Learned and Practical?Advice.

The MENA region is a vast and diverse landscape with rich cultural, linguistic, and geographical variations. While this diversity is a source of many opportunities, it also poses unique challenges when producing video content that spans multiple countries. Whether it’s a documentary, a film, or a corporate video, creators face a myriad of obstacles when working across the MENA region. In this article, I will delve into some of the most prevalent challenges I encountered during my recent experience alongside my colleague Ahmed, a Senior Producer based in the UAE. We embarked on the production of a short scientific, corporate video spanning several countries, and we managed the onsite part. I am delighted to share with you today, our adopted tactics for overcoming some obstacles on-site. Crafting an exceptional script is a crucial initial step, yet it’s equally vital to consider the local context of the filming.

To begin, producing video content across multiple countries presents a host of intricate logistical challenges. Each country maintains its distinct set of rules, regulations, and customs processes, making the movement of equipment and personnel a potentially time-consuming and costly affair. This is precisely why collaboration with a local team is imperative. Furthermore, factors like infrastructure, including roads and transportation services, can be unreliable in certain regions. Hence, meticulous planning and seamless coordination serve as linchpins for the success of any video project.

I strongly recommend dedicating ample time to research and comprehending the specific requirements of each country involved in your project. To facilitate this, we collaborated closely with local fixers and production teams, possessing experience navigating the intricate web of local logistics.

Meticulous planning and seamless coordination serve as linchpins for the success of any video project.

To illustrate further, it’s essential to recognize the significant differences between filming in Casablanca compared to shooting in Tangier or Meknes, all within the same country of Morocco. These distinctions stem from variations in cultural nuances and the unique urban atmospheres inherent to each location. Similarly, consider the case of planning a shoot in Downtown Cairo. It’s essential to bear in mind that you should allocate a minimum of 1 hour and 30 minutes of travel time just to reach The 5th Settlement, even if you’re still within the administrative boundaries of Cairo Governorate.

Secondly, the MENA region is home to thousands of dialects. When working across multiple countries, language barriers can pose significant challenges for communication with crew, talent, and locals. Being Tunisian, I didn’t converse with Egyptians in my native dialect. Instead, I chose to communicate in the Egyptian dialect. Even when conversing with Ahmed, I opted for his dialect to ensure he felt at ease during our conversation. I consider myself fortunate to hail from Tunisia, a nation where people readily embrace the opportunity to acquire diverse dialects and languages. But you can also engage local people to bridge language gaps. Don’t forget to consider working with multilingual crew members familiar with the region’s languages.

Being Tunisian, I didn’t converse with Egyptians in my native dialect. Instead, I chose to communicate in the Egyptian dialect.

Then, the biggest challenge we faced was the political and Legal one. Did you know that filming inside a coffee shop in Egypt is prohibited? None of the coffee shop owners agreed to host our team, which left us with no choice but to seek an alternative indoor location. However, an unexpected complication arose when the interviewee expressed reluctance to be filmed in a closed home with unfamiliar individuals. We all grew up with the wisdom imparted by our mothers, cautioning us never to visit a stranger’s home, and this cultural norm was deeply ingrained in us. Recognizing the sensitivity of the situation, we arranged for a shuttle and the presence of a company representative to reassure her. While searching for an appropriate location, we fortuitously stumbled upon design firms that provided purpose-built simulated studios for filming.

By the way, navigating the complex landscape of political instability and evolving regulations can introduce significant complications into the video production process. Each country typically imposes its unique prerequisites and approvals, and these procedures often exhibit a sluggish and unpredictable nature. As a matter of course, we dedicated extensive efforts to thoroughly acquaint ourselves with the political and legal intricacies of all the countries involved in our projects.

For instance, in the case of Dubai, embarking on a video production venture requires establishing contact with the Dubai Film and TV Commission (DFTC), the primary authority entrusted with granting filming permits within the emirate. You can initiate communication with them through their official website or by direct correspondence to discuss the specifics and requirements of your project. The DFTC conducts a meticulous examination of your application, and they may seek additional information or adjustments to your plans. Once all the necessary elements align satisfactorily, they will give you the essential permits. It’s essential to be well-prepared for potential expenses associated with obtaining these filming permissions, as the fees can vary depending on the scale and scope of your project. Furthermore, it’s quite common to be required to provide evidence of insurance coverage that encompasses liability and potential damage to public or private property during the filming process. For this reason, we collaborated with a local team in each country.

It is crucial to partner with a local team that has already established connections with local authorities and agencies to streamline the permitting process.

For all these reasons, it is crucial to partner with a local team that has already established connections with local authorities and agencies to streamline the permitting process. Additionally, it’s essential to proactively develop contingency plans in case unexpected political developments occur. Ahmed and I experienced a profound sense of satisfaction upon completing the filming stage, which holds greater importance than the subsequent editing phase, even though the latter significantly influences the final output’s quality. The day we wrapped up the filming was a moment of sheer joy for me. I wished to celebrate this moment in person with Ahmed in Dubai (We will do that soon in front of Burj Khalifa).

Undoubtedly, undertaking video projects spanning multiple countries presents a complex challenge, but it also offers the potential for immense rewards. Succeeding in this videographic production endeavor has required not only meticulous planning but also adaptability, cultural awareness, and a profound respect for the diversity within the region. By surmounting these challenges, video creators have the opportunity to breathe life into narratives that capture the richness of culture and landscapes in the MENA region, ultimately sharing these stories with the global audience.

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