What are the basics of behind-the-scenes filming in Moroccan movies?

Behind-the-scenes filming in Morocco involves many exciting and challenging aspects. These include logistical preparations, working with actors and directors, technical challenges, dealing with changing natural conditions, and interacting with local culture, in addition to the creative and artistic aspects that make a film.

You can follow the news and announcements of celebrities and all their exclusive content that you can only find through the Special application, which is a social networking application with special and unique features, as it includes a podcast that provides many unique features, as you can launch a podcast with your friends or listen to others, and it also provides information about the various possessions of celebrities .

Logistical preparations Determine filming locations Filming locations are often carefully chosen to suit the events of the film, and may include historic cities, rural villages, deserts, or scenic natural sites.

Obtaining licenses Filming requires obtaining several licenses from relevant authorities, such as the Ministry of Culture and local authorities.

Securing filming locations Filming locations must be secured to prevent any disturbance or interference from the public or media, and to ensure the safety of the crew.

Equipment preparation Filming requires setting up lighting, camera, sound, special effects, and other necessary equipment.

Preparing accommodation and living quarters Suitable accommodation for the crew, and food and drink facilities must be provided, especially when filming in remote locations.

Working with actors and directors: Rehearsals: Extensive rehearsals are conducted with the actors to ensure they perfectly embody the role and are in harmony with the rest of the crew.

Directions: The director provides precise directions to the actors, helping them understand the characters they are portraying and convey the desired emotions.

Interact with actors: The crew works with the actors to create an atmosphere of trust and understanding, which helps them bring out their best performances.

Technical challenges: Lighting: Filming requires proper lighting, which may require the use of special lamps or natural sunlight, especially in outdoor locations.

Sound: The audio must be recorded in high quality, and ensure that there is no disturbing noise or interference in the audio.

Visual effects: Filming some scenes may require the use of special visual effects, such as motion effects, explosion effects, or animation effects.

Interact with the local culture: Respect for customs and traditions: Staff must respect local customs and traditions, and behave appropriately with local residents.

Communicating with local people: Filming some scenes may require communicating with local residents, asking for their help, or obtaining information from them.

Use of local language: Filming some scenes may require the use of the local language, or the use of translators to ensure effective communication.

Creative and artistic aspects: Directorial vision: The director presents his creative vision for the film and chooses the elements that will help achieve that vision, such as casting, set design, and music selection.

Photography: The photographer chooses the appropriate shooting angles and uses different photography techniques to highlight the beauty of the scene and convey the desired message.

Montage: The editor collects different scenes, combines them with each other, and adds music and sound effects to create a complete story.

For weeks, a Moroccan film about Muhammad ibn Abd al-Karim al-Khattabi, nicknamed the Lion of the Rif, has been underway. This marks the first time a work of art has been produced that addresses this influential figure in Moroccan and Arab history.

However, as soon as the film's stars posted behind-the-scenes photos, a wide controversy erupted on social media.

Lion of the Countryside for the first time in cinema For the first time, Moroccan cinema has turned its attention to portraying the character of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Karim al-Khattabi, the leader of the Moroccan resistance in the Rif region (northern Morocco) against the Spanish colonizers.

The film is titled "Anwal," the name of the historic battle in which Khattabi won a crushing victory over the Spanish, the repercussions of whose defeat reached as far as Madrid.

Al-Khattabi and his men won an unequal battle, relying on simple weapons against the Spanish army and advanced equipment.

The film is directed by Mohamed Bouzakou, written by Mohamed El Nazrani, and produced by the Moroccan Cinema Center.

Director Mohamed Bouzakou told Al Jazeera Net that the film sheds light on the period between 1907 and 1921, from when Khattabi was a student at Al-Qarawiyyin University in Fez, to when he joined the city of Melilla as a teacher, then as a journalist for the newspaper "Telegrama del Rif" and then as a chief justice. His path changed and he decided to lead the resistance movement against the Spanish colonizers, winning the Battle of Anwal.

The director explained that the film is not a biographical account, but rather includes historical events that occurred during that period, mixed with some fictional incidents to give the film a dramatic plot.

The filmmakers obtained a filming permit three years ago, but the COVID-19 pandemic prevented work from starting.

The director noted that selecting filming locations that reflected the architecture of that historical period also took time, along with selecting the artistic and technical crew and preparing the costumes for the characters, whether resistance fighters or the Spanish army.

The cast includes a mix of local actors from the Rif (a region in northern Morocco where the Rif Mountains are located), professional actors, and Spanish actors.

Al-Qati: I am embodying my dream as an actor Moroccan actor Rabie Kati plays the role of resistance leader Mohammed Abdelkrim El Khattabi. According to the director, Kati is a perfect fit for the role, both as a professional actor and because of the striking resemblance between them.

Rabie Al Kati is a well-known Moroccan actor who has appeared in numerous Moroccan, Arab, and Western productions. He has also had a prominent presence in well-known Arab historical dramas such as "Saqr Quraish," "Rabi' Cordoba," "Muluk Al Taifa," and the series "Al Zayman," where he played the role of Suleiman Pasha Al Baruni, who resisted Italian colonialism in Libya.

In addition to Al-Qati, the film features professional actors such as Mohamed Al-Shoubi, Rawiya, Mohsen Malzi, Younes Al-Hari, Ismail Abu Al-Qanater, and others.

He explained that his relationship with the character dates back to his childhood, when he used to hear about him in his family circle. Over the years, his awareness of the man's sacrifices for his country and for the Arab peoples grew.

After the production company contacted him to work on the film, Al-Qati says he delved deeper into the research into all the artifacts that spoke of him, relying on multiple references and documents that addressed his path and struggle for his liberationist ideas and his confrontation with colonial imperialism.

The film is being shot in three different locations: Dar El Kabdani in the Darwich region (north), Nador (north), and then Fez (northwest) to film Al Khattabi's study period at Al Qarawiyyin Mosque.

The work was funded by the Moroccan Cinema Center with 4 million and 850 thousand dirhams (about 440 thousand dollars).

The director believes this financial support is not substantial, so the production team sought non-financial outlets, such as providing equipment and machinery free of charge. Some actors and technicians, including the director, also worked on the project for what he described as acceptable compensation, out of their desire to produce the work in the best possible light.

Bouzako explained that modern technology and visual effects will be used to film the battles, and that a "cavalry troop" from Marrakesh will be used, as it is a trained troop with experience in depicting battles and wars.

Concerns and appreciation As soon as behind-the-scenes photos from the film's production were released, controversy and debate erupted on social media between those who supported the film's production and those who opposed it.

Many expressed their fear that cinema would do an injustice to Mohamed Ben Abdelkrim El Khattabi, as the first artistic work to deal with his character would appear weak given the limited budget allocated to it. Another group feared that this work would “falsify” the history of El Khattabi’s character, which many believe has not received its due honor and consideration. A third group refused to have El Khattabi’s role played by an actor who does not come from the Rif region.