Vol. 24 Issue 10 | October 2022 Ahmad Al Morsy on bringing to life the largest production in Arab history and Egypt’s highest grossing movie, Kira & El Gin WHEN ART MEETS CINEMA THE COLOURIST SPECIAL ISSUE How colour theory drives the narrative, emotions, and perceptions of a fi lm INTERVIEW WITH ARI WEGNER, ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEE AND CINEMATOGRAPHER OF ‘THE POWER OF THE DOG’ AN ITP MEDIA GROUP EVENT Celebrating the titans of industry in the Middle East WEDNESDAY 7 TH DECEMBER 2022 DUBAI, UAE NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN FOR PARTNERSHIP AND FURTHER DETAILS CONTACT SARASWATI AGARWAL GROUP COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Tel: +971 4 444 3352 | GSM: +971 52 895 2214 | Email: saraswati.agarwal@itp.com SAMIR GLOR SALES MANAGER Tel: +971 4 444 3320 | GSM: +971 58 824 6859 | Email: samir.glor@itp.comCONTENTS OCTOBER 2022 6 UPDATE METARVERSE HOLDINGS ANNOUNCES ABU DHABI AND DUBAI AS THE WORLD’S FIRST CITIES WITHIN GLOBAL METAVERSE LAUNCH, ROSS VIDEO CONFIRMS DEAL TO ACQUIRE SPIDERCAM, EMIRATES A350 FLEET TO FLY WITH THALES’ AVANT UP, AND OTHER HAPPENINGS FROM THE INDUSTRY 10 EXCLUSIVE REPORT THE COLOUR CRAFT MASTER: IN CONVERSATION WITH CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED CINEMATOGRAPHER, ARI WEGNER, BEHIND THE POWER OF THE DOG MOVIE 14 INDEPTH FEATURE HOW COLOUR THEORY SHAPES THE PERCEPTION AND EMOTION IN THE NARRATIVE OF A FILM 18 COVER STORY WHEN ART MEETS CINEMA 24 EYES ON EXPANSION Inside SHAREit’s gameplan to expand in the GCC and beyond 26 THE BUSINESS OF NEWS How the launch of CNN Business Arabic will change the dynamics of the Arabic news landscape 28 SPECIAL FEATURE Inside the ground-breaking production set-up for The Lion King’s Middle East debut in the capital this November 30 EVENT IBC 2022 review 34 5 MINUTES WITH... Director Visuals and Supervising Colourist, Andreas Brueckl 28 14 10 18 www.digitalstudiome.comOCTOBER 2022 / 3 SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE WWW.ITP.COM/SUBSCRIPTIONSWW W. IT P.COM/SUBS CR IPTIONS DON’T MISS AN ISSUE! CH-1CH-2 Published by and © 2022 ITP MEDIA GROUP FZ-LLC PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 444 3000 Web: www.itp.com Offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, London & Mumbai ITP MEDIA GROUP CEO Ali Akawi Managing Director Alex Reeve Deputy Managing Director Nicky Dawson EDITORIAL Group Editor Carla Sertin Editor Misbaah Mansuri Tel: +971 4 4443454 e-mail: misbaah.dilawar@itp.com ART Designer Mohammed Irqsosy ADVERTISING Digital Publisher, Enterprise Technology Group Paul Hylden Tel: +971 4 444 3396 email: paul.hylden@itp.com Sales Manager Philip Johnston Tel: +971 4 444 3637 email: philip.johnston@itp.com ITP LIVE General Manager Ahmad Bashour Tel: +971 4 444 3549 email: ahmad.bashour@itp.com PHOTOGRAPHY Photographer Marwan Elsayed Videographer Julius Garcia Videographer Muhammad Kaleem Video Editor Liju Cheruvathur Sound Engineer Borys Hridin PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION Group Production & Distribution Director Kyle Smith Production Manager Denny Kollannoor Production Co-ordinator Manoj Mahadevan Senior Image Editor Emmalyn Robles CIRCULATION Circulation Executive Rajesh Pillai Distribution Coordinator Avinash Pereira MARKETING Director of Awards & Marketing Daniel Fewtrell ITP GROUP CEO Ali Akawi CFO Toby Jay Spencer-Davies Subscribe online at www.itp.com/subscriptions The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the reader’s particular circumstances. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair review. www.digitalstudiome.com4 /OCTOBER 2022EDITOR’S COMMENT www.digitalstudiome.comOCTOBER 2022 / 5 s someone who is a part of such a visual industry and absolutely savours creativity in all forms, colours have captured my imagination for years now. The power of colours to lend an emotional charge and how they can turn even a simple object into a true work of art is something I’ve always been so enamoured by. It is regrettable that historically, the work of creatives in this space has been undervalued on so many occasions. Look at Vincent van Gogh, who died in poverty with one fewer ear, being celebrated only after his passing. A lot has changed since then, yet the importance of celebrating these unsung heroes who put in hours of work to bring beauty into our lives even during hardest times cannot be stressed enough. With the above thought in mind, we present to you an edition which is an ode to the art of colour across the world and aims to refl ect the cultural, visual, and technical values of the international colour grading community of today. Colourists give their magical touch to enhance the visual expression of the DP and it is high time they are brought into the limelight from their dark rooms. From critically-acclaimed colourist Ari Wegner, who was recently nominated at the Academy Awards for her work for The Power of the Dog to our cover star, DOP and director Ahmad Al Morsy, the issue brings to you the faces and voices behind some hauntingly beautiful work. Our cover story takes you behind the spectacular work of Al Morsy on the just released Kira & El Gin, the highest grossing fi lm in Egypt and the largest production in the history of Arab cinema. Al Morsy infused creativity in this piece of work with such zeal and detail that the imagery of the movie truly makes it stay with you for a long, long time. In conversation with him, we bring to you how he brought to life such a challenging yet path-breaking cinematic marvel. Yet another compelling read that shouldn’t be missed (p14) is our indepth report on how colour theory shapes the way we perceive fi lm and the visual storytelling techniques used by colourists to communicate emotions and the fi lm’s ideas. To be sure, big-ticket industry events have been in full-swing keeping us delightfully busier than ever. The recently- concluded IBC in Amsterdam, as broadcast industry expert Ananth Sam puts it, “was an adrenaline injection for the whole industry.” So we review IBC 2022, with an eye on the learnings, conversations, and solutions that could well defi ne the months ahead for the industry. Lastly do not miss our story on Disney’s The Lion King where we exclusively bring to you the artistry, music, and the captivating set-up that will bring to life the award-winning production in Abu Dhabi, this November. The stage is set! Join us as we celebrate those bringing colour, beauty, and depth to our worlds. TO THE POWER OF COLOUR MISBAAH MANSURI ATOP NEWS AND HAPPENINGS IN THE TV AND FILM PRODUCTION INDUSTRY INSIGHT METARVERSE HOLDINGS ANNOUNCES ABU DHABI AND DUBAI AS THE WORLD’S FIRST CITIES WITHIN GLOBAL METAVERSE LAUNCH U sers globally will now be able to experience Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s greatest attractions and landmarks alongside real world utilities from the comfort of their homes – merging the physical and digital world. Unlike other VR applications that create small scale, digital fantasy worlds, the new platform is bringing a complete metaverse with full device compatibility and designed to stream quickly. Users can fi nd synergy between their needs and the platform that encompasses NFT block chain trading, functionality to shop and view products in the biggest retail stores, buy advertising space in the virtual city, attend simulated lectures, register for licences and government issued documentation and many more. Priven Reddy, CEO of Dubai based Metarverse Holdings said: “Dubai and Abu Dhabi were the obvious selection for the very fi rst simulated areas within our new metaverse. After evaluating other territories, the decision was made easy with the UAE as global leaders in disruptive technologies, and driven by the mission and vision of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed and the Dubai Government as a whole. This vision consolidates the Emirates as leaders in adopting innovative new concepts and disruptive economic and technological models, so for us, there was only one place we could launch. People all over the world are fascinated by the rise of the Emirates and the attractions, developments, transport, education and culture. With the new platform, Metarverse Holdings is committed to investing AED 200 Million into our project, to help us showcase all of this and satisfy the demand of all users who can now experience Dubai and Abu Dhabi for themselves.” Following the Government of Dubai announcing the formation of the Higher Committee for Future Technology and Digital Economy to oversee the city’s push to become a leading global hub for metaverse technology adoption, Metarverse Holdings has selected Dubai and Abu Dhabi as the fi rst cities to be launched within the ‘world fi rst’ virtual world to replicate true real life experiences and places, with a Beta version due to be live by October 2022 and available globally by the end of the year 6 / OCTOBER 2022www.digitalstudiome.comINSIGHT R oss Video has agreed to terms to acquire Austria-based Spidercam, the global supplier of broadcast cable camera solutions. “Spidercam’s technology creates visuals that are simply spectacular, and we’re thrilled to integrate them into our production universe,” said David Ross, CEO of Ross Video. “We’re committed to continuing Spidercam’s excellent customer experience as a part of Ross while off ering more capabilities to even more customers. On a more personal level, I just love cable cameras, they’re such an awe-inspiring and dramatic technology.” The Spidercam system is suspended on four cables with winches that navigate a camera dolly in 3D space utilising a stabilised head to provide HD or 4K video. ROSS VIDEO CONFIRMS DEAL TO ACQUIRE SPIDERCAM Spidercam made its television debut in 2005 and is now the market leader in cutting-edge cable camera solutions used to create unique outdoor shots for sporting events, concerts, esports, and TV shows around the globe System rentals include an accompanying technician, pilot, and camera operator. The company also recently launched a fi xed mini solution for smaller internal production environments. “Becoming part of Ross Video is an incredible opportunity to truly unlock the potential of Spidercam,” mentioned Herbert Neff , Spidercam CEO. “We are looking forward to the benefi ts of integrating our camera systems and services off ering a highly innovative, true end-to-end live production company. We’ve already been working together producing live augmented reality with the combinations of our technology and Ross’ and there is a lot more we will be able to do in the future. Our camera solutions extend the current robotic solutions from Ross Video by off ering really unique and creative images.” Notable Spidercam production work includes major international sports leagues and tournaments, award shows, entertainment events, and esports competitions watched worldwide. Spidercam is based in Feistritz im Rosental, Austria, supported by service facilities in Hamburg, Germany; Kennesaw, Georgia; and has a joint venture with Gravity Media to serve the Australian market. WE’VE ALREADY BEEN WORKING TOGETHER PRODUCING LIVE AUGMENTED REALITY WITH THE COMBINATIONS OF OUR TECHNOLOGY AND ROSS’ AND THERE IS A LOT MORE WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO IN THE FUTURE. ” OCTOBER 2022 / 7 www.digitalstudiome.comINSIGHT E mirates’ award-winning entertainment system, “ice”, features over 5,000 channels of entertainment. Content will be delivered on Optiq, Thales’ new 4k QLED HDR displays. These are the only aircraft displays using Samsung’s QLED, the best technology for optimal in-seat viewing. Optiq is the fi rst smart display in the industry to off er two Bluetooth connections, built-in Wi-Fi for passengers to pair multiple devices including phones, tablets, headphones and even game controllers, while also supporting up to 70 watts of in-screen charging for passenger EMIRATES A350 FLEET TO FLY WITH THALES’ AVANT UP Emirates, one of the largest and most prestigious international airlines, has 50 Airbus A350-900 aircraft on order with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2024. This new fl eet of A350’s will be equipped with Thales’ premier AVANT Up infl ight entertainment solution to offer the fi nest cinematic and personalised customer experience. Thales’ IFE system will be integrated with Emirates’ preferred next generation connectivity solution charging performance will be unaff ected no matter how many users are charging their devices at the same time. To enrich passenger engagement, Emirates has chosen several AVANT Up digital services. These services include highly integrated personalisation features, expanded personal electronic device (PED) capabilities and user interface enhancements enabling visually impaired passengers to have a seamlessly immersive and engaging experience. Thales and Emirates continue to build on their successful collaboration to advance the future of travel. Through the partnership in Dubai’s Aviation XLab, an aviation-specifi c incubator, Thales and Emirates bring the passenger’s “Joy of Journey” to new heights. devices – 10 watts from the USB-A and 60 watts fast charging from the USB-C. Emirates is the fi rst airline to select Thales’ award-winning Pulse. With Pulse’s patented power management technology CONTENT WILL BE DELIVERED ON OPTIQ, THALES’ NEW 4K QLED HDR DISPLAYS. THESE ARE THE ONLY AIRCRAFT DISPLAYS USING SAMSUNG’S QLED, THE BEST TECHNOLOGY FOR OPTIMAL IN-SEAT VIEWING. ” 8 / OCTOBER 2022www.digitalstudiome.comINSIGHT EMPIRE ENTERTAINMENT AND BG FILM SET TO BRING TURKISH MOVIES TO THE MENA REGION Empire Entertainment, the exclusive theatrical distributor for Sony Pictures Releasing International and Star Studios in the Middle East, and BG Film, an entertainment company offering innovative solutions from production to distribution of Turkish movies and series, have joined forces to distribute and produce high-quality Turkish content and bring Turkish movies to the MENA region as well as setting up a joint venture based out of Istanbul specialised in entertainment for the Turkish market Entertainment is the right step towards opening doors of opportunities for exponential growth in the Turkish cinema industry. “Multiple researchers have confi rmed that the Arab world remains the biggest market for Turkish movies and series. We believe this step addresses an increase in demand for Turkish content,” said Benhur Guzeler, Founder of BG Film. Empire has been distributing movies for over 100 years, representing big studios as well as smaller independent movies and recently co-producing a high-quality Arabic fi lm and recent Netfl ix sensation – Perfect Strangers. Some of the new and upcoming movies on their slate include Bullet Train, Spiderman: No Way Home, Brahmāstra: Part 1 – Shiva, Where the Crawdads Sing, and Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. “We understand that quality comes with diversity and we believe that there is no better time than now for us to expand our portfolio,” said Serge Zabbal, Business Director at Empire. STAY UPDATED FOR LATEST NEWS, VISIT WWW.DIGITALSTUDIOME.COM MULTIPLE RESEARCHERS HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THE ARAB WORLD REMAINS THE BIGGEST MARKET FOR TURKISH MOVIES AND SERIES. ” W ith eight movies per year ranging from high production blockbusters to educational animations, the partnership allows cinema goers of all ages to enjoy some of the most anticipated Turkish titles on the big screen. The fi rst release is set for October 2022 starting with an animated picture, “Thinking About You” (T.A.Y.). Always aiming to expanding their portfolio, Empire Entertainment believes Turkish movies could be a major part of the region’s theatrical successes: “We always go the extra mile to provide the best content for entertainment in the region and this partnership with our friends at BG Film will allow us to tap into a whole new world,” said Mario Jr Haddad, CEO of Empire Entertainment. BG Film believes that partnering with a legacy company like Empire OCTOBER 2022 / 9 www.digitalstudiome.comNext >