by Sherif Awad
The rise of Turkish TV production in the last two decades
followed the footsteps of Turkish cinema that is being acclaimed in world
festivals. The popularity of Turkish
content also resulted from the launch of TurkSat whose colorful Turkish
channels can also be viewed in many Arab countries including Egypt. For their
high production values, handsome actors, and beautiful actresses, Turkish TV series
have acquired great popularity among Arab TV viewers, especially young women and
housewives. Being dubbed into the Arabic language and shown across the Arab
world, Turkish TV series easily stole the show from American soap operas like The
Bold and the Beautiful and Mexican soaps dubbed in Lebanese dialect. This
phenomenon, however, raised the concerns of Egyptian TV critics and TV
producers who started to foresee a cultural invasion generated by Turkish
drama. But since Turkey and Egypt are sharing many historical and
sociopolitical aspects, some Egyptian TV producers considered the exportation
of their Egyptian TV series, especially the successful Ramadan series, to
Turkish TVs.
followed the footsteps of Turkish cinema that is being acclaimed in world
festivals. The popularity of Turkish
content also resulted from the launch of TurkSat whose colorful Turkish
channels can also be viewed in many Arab countries including Egypt. For their
high production values, handsome actors, and beautiful actresses, Turkish TV series
have acquired great popularity among Arab TV viewers, especially young women and
housewives. Being dubbed into the Arabic language and shown across the Arab
world, Turkish TV series easily stole the show from American soap operas like The
Bold and the Beautiful and Mexican soaps dubbed in Lebanese dialect. This
phenomenon, however, raised the concerns of Egyptian TV critics and TV
producers who started to foresee a cultural invasion generated by Turkish
drama. But since Turkey and Egypt are sharing many historical and
sociopolitical aspects, some Egyptian TV producers considered the exportation
of their Egyptian TV series, especially the successful Ramadan series, to
Turkish TVs.
It was Amin al-Masri, producer of Lahazat Harega (Critical
Moments, the Egyptian ER spinoff), who first announced the dubbing of
his series into Turkish among other languages like Chinese, following its
success when premiered on Dubai TV few years ago. Flash-forward to last year, Waleed Youssef,
writer of the popular Nour al-Sherif starrer el-Dali, has also announced
that the three parts of the series are being dubbed into Turkish as a first
step of exchanging video content between the two countries. Veteran TV producer
Mohamed Fawzy, whose credits include el-Dali among many other TV series,
was behind the start of the dubbing project. “Unfortunately, the process slowed
down because Mohamed Fawzy recently went through his third heart operation”,
says Youssef when being contacted by Egypt Today. “I guess el-Dali
will be very interesting for Turkish viewers because its events are very
intriguing and since we shot some scenes of its first part in Turkey”, he adds.
Moments, the Egyptian ER spinoff), who first announced the dubbing of
his series into Turkish among other languages like Chinese, following its
success when premiered on Dubai TV few years ago. Flash-forward to last year, Waleed Youssef,
writer of the popular Nour al-Sherif starrer el-Dali, has also announced
that the three parts of the series are being dubbed into Turkish as a first
step of exchanging video content between the two countries. Veteran TV producer
Mohamed Fawzy, whose credits include el-Dali among many other TV series,
was behind the start of the dubbing project. “Unfortunately, the process slowed
down because Mohamed Fawzy recently went through his third heart operation”,
says Youssef when being contacted by Egypt Today. “I guess el-Dali
will be very interesting for Turkish viewers because its events are very
intriguing and since we shot some scenes of its first part in Turkey”, he adds.
Among the Egyptian TV series that will receive the same Turkish
treatment, Ghada Abdel-Razek’s Maa Sabq al-Esrar (Premeditation)
that was aired last year. Producer Maha Selim is the CEO of SelMedia Egypt that
was also behind this successful TV series. “A Turkish company that seemed to
monitor Egyptian TV series in Ramadan 2012 contacted us and asked for the
acquisition of the series in order to be dubbed and aired on Turkish TV”,
explained Selim. “I asked them to send us samples of the dubbing Turkish
talents in order to check their suitability of replacing the voices of Ghada
Abdel-Razek, Maged el-Masri and Tarek Lotfi, the original stars of the series. Following
the approval of the voices, we send the script of the series that will be
translated into Turkish dialect then the series will be dubbed in the
facilities of the Turkish company. I am flying soon to Istanbul to finalize the
deal because I did not discuss any financial details till now because my
priority was to give the series its first Turkish premiere. We will also
discuss the possibility of a Turkish-Egyptian production in the form of a new
film to be directed by a Turkish director”, she adds.
treatment, Ghada Abdel-Razek’s Maa Sabq al-Esrar (Premeditation)
that was aired last year. Producer Maha Selim is the CEO of SelMedia Egypt that
was also behind this successful TV series. “A Turkish company that seemed to
monitor Egyptian TV series in Ramadan 2012 contacted us and asked for the
acquisition of the series in order to be dubbed and aired on Turkish TV”,
explained Selim. “I asked them to send us samples of the dubbing Turkish
talents in order to check their suitability of replacing the voices of Ghada
Abdel-Razek, Maged el-Masri and Tarek Lotfi, the original stars of the series. Following
the approval of the voices, we send the script of the series that will be
translated into Turkish dialect then the series will be dubbed in the
facilities of the Turkish company. I am flying soon to Istanbul to finalize the
deal because I did not discuss any financial details till now because my
priority was to give the series its first Turkish premiere. We will also
discuss the possibility of a Turkish-Egyptian production in the form of a new
film to be directed by a Turkish director”, she adds.
Regarding the opening of new markets in Turkey for Egyptian video
content, Selim has some reservations: “Given the lack of competition from
Syrian drama due to the political situation in Syria, opening new markets for
Egyptian TV series in Turkey will also depend on the available airtime on Turkish
TVs. I also heard that many Far East Channels are showing interest in Egyptian
TV series, particularly those belonging to the historical genre”.
content, Selim has some reservations: “Given the lack of competition from
Syrian drama due to the political situation in Syria, opening new markets for
Egyptian TV series in Turkey will also depend on the available airtime on Turkish
TVs. I also heard that many Far East Channels are showing interest in Egyptian
TV series, particularly those belonging to the historical genre”.
For next Ramadan, Maha Selim will again cast Ghada
Abdel-Razek in a new TV series called Hekayet Hayat (The Story of
Hayat).
Abdel-Razek in a new TV series called Hekayet Hayat (The Story of
Hayat).
