InfoAnda - Lebanon's 'Shankaboot' brings Arab drama online

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Facebook steps into middle of smartphone lifestyles | 4 November 2010
Japan unveils budget austerity guidelines | 28 July 2010
Research in Motion sued by NXP over patents | | 3 April 2012

NetEase wins license to host World of Warcraft | 16 April 2009

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Lebanon's 'Shankaboot' brings Arab drama online

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Asia Pacific World Lebanon's 'Shankaboot' brings Arab drama online AFP - Thursday, April 22 Send IM Story Print Lebanese actors Hassan Akil (right) and Latifa Saade film an episode of the online series "Shankabout", in the Bekaa Valley village of Taalabaya. Driving through Beirut's maze of alleys can demand a certain death-defying flair, so it comes as no coincidence that the hero of the Arab world's first webdrama is a delivery boy -- and his noisy, trusty moped. TAALABAYA, Lebanon (AFP) - – Driving through Beirut's maze of alleys can demand a certain death-defying flair. So it comes as no coincidence that the hero of the Arab world's first webdrama is a delivery boy -- and his noisy, trusty moped. The online series follows happy-go-lucky Lebanese delivery boy Sleiman as he zooms through the streets on his "Shankaboot," a name invented for his scooter and title of the drama, delivering food, medicine, a gas cylinder or an oversized floral lampshade which he balances on his head. "What we aim for is to keep the series close to ordinary, daily life, to the way people are on the streets," said Katia Saleh, producer of the first Arabic-language online sitcom. Funded by the BBC World Service Trust in cooperation with Saleh's production house Batoota Films, Shankaboot pays tribute to aspects of Beirut overlooked on local television: quirky city residents, underage drivers, class, drugs and prostitution rings. While films, music and television must first pass muster with Lebanon's general security, using the Internet as a medium has given Shankaboot unprecedented freedom. As the online use of Arabic grows at record speed and more and more young Arabs gain access to the Internet, Shankaboot makes a change from the diet of Latin American and Turkish soap operas so popular in the region. The script is witty and crude at the same time, echoing the everyday vernacular of the Lebanese rather than the polished Arabic of dubbed soaps. "What's popular in the Arab world is Mexican and Turkish drama, and I think Shankaboot has appealed so widely to so many people first because it is well-made and second because it speaks to them," Saleh told AFP on the set in the eastern village of Taalabaya where the crew was shooting season two. "It speaks their language." While the Beirut cityscape is dotted with landmarks easily recognisable to anyone who has visited, director Amin Dora instead chose to focus on the city "as Beirutis know it." "In season one, what I aimed for was to reflect the reality of life in Beirut," Dora said. "We avoided everything artificial. We want to show Beirut as it is." The quest for authenticity also prompted Dora to cast first-time actors in most of the key roles. "I think what really helped the authenticity come through was the acting, which is a direct reflection of the reality of the people of Beirut," Dora said. Starring as Sleiman is first-time actor Hassan Akil, 17, who like his peers was attracted to the project's script and medium. "I don't watch Lebanese television at all. I think it's totally fake," Akil told AFP on set. "I don't think I would have continued to play Sleiman if the script was fake ... But this is something else, and I'm proud to be contributing to it." And even before its official launch in May, Shankaboot has already become a hit in the online world with more than 7,000 views and 5,000 Facebook fans, or "Shankaddicts." "I'm very surprised - and happy -- with the series' success among Lebanese expatriates and foreigners," said Dora. "After the Arab world, most of our hits come from the United States. "A major concern for us was download time, because we didn't want the viewer to give up on the downloading process," he said of the five-minute episodes. The first season is made up of 11 episodes during which viewers meet the lovable Sleiman, the beautiful runaway Ruwaida and the enigmatic Chady, whose story is not unveiled until season two. Sleiman and Ruwaida's lives become intertwined when, chatting on his phone as he speeds down the street, he knocks her over down as she emerges from a bus. As the complex plot unravels, the series looks at issues of abuse, drugs, and poverty, dotted with generous doses of comic relief. Season two takes Sleiman, Chady and Ruwaida to the eastern Bekaa Valley -- Lebanon's Wild West -- and introduces characters from rural life, far removed from cosmopolitan Beirut. Actor Nasri Sayegh, who plays the dark, sinister Chady, said what drew him to the project was its loyalty to the reality of life in Lebanon. "Lebanon's 'nakha,' its unique flavour, comes out on the screen ... In season one it was Beirut and in season two it is the Bekaa. You can see it, smell it, taste it," said Sayegh, 31. "Sleiman is the main character," the actor added. "But the real hero is the city" -- from Beirut to the Bekaa and wherever else the noisy little Shankaboot takes the series. Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles Punk pioneer McLaren to be buried in London Reuters - 35 minutes ago US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary Reuters - 53 minutes ago Film fetes small steps to address climate change Reuters - 56 minutes ago "Shrek" series finally ends with tired 3D outing Reuters - Friday, April 23 Cartoon Network reviving "Looney Tunes" Reuters - Friday, April 23 News Search Top Stories Greece hit by widening deficit, ratings downgrade Obama makes defining pitch for finance reform At least 45 wounded in Bangkok blasts: hospital Airlines want compensation as Europe's skies reopen Deficit slide plunges Greece deeper into turmoil More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended Apple engineer loses iPhone prototype Iceland turns to jokes -- and soul-searching Airlines want compensation as Europe's skies reopen Former IOC chief Juan Antonio Samaranch dead at 89 Airlines lost '$1.7 bln' from ash chaos More Most Viewed » Apple engineer loses iPhone prototype Two-million-year-old hominid sheds light on evolution Taiwan's male 'Susan Boyle' a web sensation Airlines want compensation as Europe's skies reopen More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos World Cup 2010 Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Thursday, 22 April 2010
NATO ministers to meet on Afghan trainers, nuclear policy
Ukraine extends Russia naval base lease for 25 years
Turkish soldier killed, another hurt, in blast
eBay founder's online Hawaii news service launches
Former IOC chief Juan Antonio Samaranch dead at 89
Greece races to finalise aid deal by May 15
Afghanistan 'peace jirga' delayed until end of May
Greek debt costs soar at start of EU/IMF talks |
Visa buying CyberSource for two billion dollars
Turkey in transition seeks closure on troubled past
Global recovery patchy but quicker than expected: IMF
Russia, Ukraine extend Black Sea fleet lease
Inventors float novelties at Geneva fair
American Airlines Parent, AMR, Posts $505 Million Q1 Loss
International anti-counterfeit plans published, EU reassures
50 years on, Brazil's utopian capital faces reality |
Mo'Nique Upset About Oprah's Interview With Sexually Abusive Brother
Apple shares hit record high, slides
Police battle Bosnians protesting IMF-imposed cuts |
McDonald's Q1 Profit Tops Estimates On Strong Global Sales
Florida Police Search For Man; Found Napping
1 Dead, 3 Survive Fishing Vessel Sinking In Gulf of Alaska
Wells Fargo Q1 Profit Dips On Credit Costs
U.S. warns Syria again on alleged Scud transfers |
Josh Groban, Olivia Newton-John Guest Star On "Glee" Finale
Justin Bieber Holds #1 For Third Week On Billboard Albums Chart With "My World 2.0"
Patriot battery seen in Poland late May |
Men Who Tunneled Into Medical-Marijuana Dispensary Arrested
Bomb-hit India fights to secure major sports events |
EADS To Bid For Pentagon Tanker Contract; Seeks U.S. Partner
Missing found after Gulf of Mexico oil rig blast: report
Cargo plane crashes in the Philippines; 3 dead
6.2-magnitude earthquake strikes Samoa
Cargo plane crashes in the Philippines; 3 missing
Antonov aircraft crashes in Philippines; 3 missing
Facebook's Zuckerberg says site use increasing |
Tibetan monks ordered out of China's quake zone
Popular ex-minister quits Japan's main opposition party
Sri Lankan president tightens grip on power
Target to carry Kindle at stores in late April |
Indian guru arrested over sex scandal: police
IMF backs stronger Chinese currency as Asia powers ahead
AmEx to issue travelers checks in Chinese yuan
Day of mourning for China's earthquake victims
Sotheby's to auction manuscript by America's Mark Twain
Irish top Europe's binge drinking chart: EU survey
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Weller on course for 6th no.1 album in UK charts
Iceland turns to jokes -- and soul-searching
Japan says 'sayonara' to Tokyo's kabuki theatre
Russia bans texts by Scientology founder
France to ban full Islamic veil from public spaces
Police Pinch Lady Claiming Lost Purse Containing Cocaine
Florida Police Search For Man; Found Napping
Men Who Tunneled Into Medical-Marijuana Dispensary Arrested
Muslim group issues warning to South Park show |
Green Day musical no time of your life: critics |
Billy Joel, ex-drummer settle royalty lawsuit |
Weller on course for 6th no.1 album in UK charts |
Iran Guards start three-day military exercise
Deutsche Bahn buys Britain's Arriva for 1.585 bln GBP
Rogue McAfee update paralyzes PCs worldwide
Ahmadinejad plans exodus to avert Iran quake disaster
Building up Afghan capacity seen as key challenge |
Facebook seeks to spread across Internet
NATO ministers meet on Afghan trainers, nuclear policy
Blocking single gene 'aids spinal cord injuries'
China military paper spells out nuclear arms stance |
UN launches website to track Haiti aid use
Obama Syria outreach under fire amid Scud reports
Airlines want compensation as Europe's skies reopen
Kindle to be sold in Target stores in first for Amazon
GM has repaid all government loans: CEO
US-TECH Summary
Ahmadinejad plans exodus to avert quake disaster |
Target to carry Kindle at stores in late April
Option of striking Iran never off the table: Pentagon |
Fast-growing Facebook aims for more social Web
North Korea torpedoed South's navy ship: report |
Kyrgyzstan to hold election on Oct 10 |
Bill Gates and Geithner to launch agri-fund for poor |
Tension deepens in Bangkok, fears unrest may spread |
New warnings for tourists in New Delhi
Microsoft charters flights for stranded workers |
China GoMe tycoon goes on trial for graft
Building up Afghan capacity seen as key challenge
Challenge to IPCC's Bangladesh climate predictions
Snow the latest challenge in China quake recovery
11 missing after Gulf of Mexico oil rig blast
Foot-and-mouth spreads on mainland S.Korea
Anger rises against Red Shirt protests in Bangkok
US warns Syria over 'supplying' missiles to Hezbollah
Gales and snow hit China's quake zone
U.S.'s Geithner, Bill Gates to launch agri-fund for poor
Sri Lanka former army chief demands 'rule of law'
Sri Lanka's former army chief demands freedom
North Korea torpedoed South's navy ship
Moody's lowers Toyota debt rating
Privacy chiefs keep watch over Facebook |
Japan exports recover after record fall
Brazil tops world asking Google to remove content |
Hyundai Motor's Q1 net profit hits record high
China puts appliance tycoon on trial
Seoul shares slip; Hynix, Hyundai Motor advance
S.Korea spotted buying dlrs to stem won's rise-traders
Japan's exports rise for 4th straight month
S.Korea's Samsung Heavy wins major order
Hyundai Motor's Q! net profit hits record high
Himalayan trail takes trekkers across top of world
Hyundai Heavy 1st-quarter net profit hits record
'Cove' director defiant of base ban, harassment
"South Park" airs censored episode after threat
Commercial paradigm brings inventors down to earth
Ogre "Shrek" looms in 3D to open Tribeca festival
Tim Urban out as "Idol" raises millions for charity
Weinsteins, Burkle continue exclusive talks with Disney
'South Park' creators draw radical Muslim ire
No drug role in suicide of Marie Osmond's son: officials
South Park airs censored episode after threat |
Ogre Shrek looms in 3D to open Tribeca festival |
Tim Urban out as Idol raises millions for charity |
Patti Smith rescued from penury by song royalties |
No drug role in suicide of Marie Osmond's son: officials |
We still don't know Jack, despite Pacino's efforts |
Weinsteins, Burkle continue exclusive talks with Disney |
Networks blasted for shunning plus-sized models |
Lisa Ray -- cancer-free and ready to re-embrace India |
New Afghan elections chief sworn in
UK Catholic Church apologises for abuse scandal
German bishop tenders resignation to pope
Armenia halts ratification of Turkey peace deal
Greece plunges deeper into debt turmoil
Study launched on health impact from mobile phones
Iran tests speed boats in major Gulf war games |
Greek 2009 deficit surges to 13.6% of GDP: EU
Jordan confirms blast near Israeli city
Japan eyes 'mind-reading' devices, robots 'by 2020'
European flights back to normal Thursday |
Obama says US economy doomed without finance reform
Rockets fired at Israel fall in Jordan
Sony brings streaming baseball games to PS3 console
Obama urges Wall Street to back finance reform
Rockets fired at Israel fall in Jordan: source |
U.S. Mideast envoy launching new mission
Belgium, France, move against full Islamic veil
Nokia slashes prices, to delay new software
Bomb halts Iraq-Turkey oil pipeline flow
Goldman chief says US charges are political: report
Privacy chiefs keep watch over Facebook
France wants to apply burqa ban to tourists |
Iran tests speed boats in "major" Gulf war games
ICC prosecutor seeks ruling against Sudan over warrants
Riding surge in support, UK's third party in spotlight |
Two rockets fall near Israeli city of Eilat: TV
Pakistani troops kill 20 Taliban in Orakzai |
Study launched on health impact from mobile phones
Armenia halts ratification of Turkey peace deal |
Sony brings streaming baseball games to PS3 console
Nokia slashes prices, to delay new software
Belgian government collapses, economy at risk |
Iran president on controversial visit to Zimbabwe |
Thai army threatens new crackdown on protesters
Bristol Palin: Hacked e-mail meant harassing calls
Cigarette sponsor pulled from Kelly Clarkson show
Pakistan announces measures to save energy
3 Kashmiris sentenced to death for India bomb
Motorcyclist deaths drop, sour economy cited
Series of grenade blasts wound 50 in Bangkok
Sri Lanka's Fonseka says govt trying to silence him
New animal species discovered in Borneo
Defector accuses N.Korea over S.Korea ship blast
China to punish those who dumped babies at river
S.Korean warship 'hit by N.Korean torpedo'
Sony brings streaming baseball games to PS3 console |
Hyundai Heavy 1st-quarter net profit hits record
Study launched on health impact from mobile phones |
Pakistani stocks rise; rupee firms; o/n rates down
Pakistan's forex reserves flat at $15.05 bln
Pakistan's budget deficit to overshoot target
Nokia slashes prices, to delay new software |
Hyundai Motor's Q1 net profit hits record high
"Shrek" series finally ends with tired 3D outing
Fresh Greek debt woes send Asian markets down
Cartoon Network reviving "Looney Tunes"
LG Display turns Q1 profit as sales, prices gain
"The Losers" an action film for ADD sufferers
Moody's lowers Toyota debt rating
Kelly Clarkson flies into smoke storm
Moody's downgrades Toyota credit rating
Don't blame sports stars for young fans boozing: study
US, China announce anti-dumping steps
Lebanon's 'Shankaboot' brings Arab drama online
Indonesian workers protest against foreign manager
Patti Smith rescued from penury by song royalties
Kelly Clarkson refuses to cancel Indonesia concert
Film fetes small steps to address climate change |
Kelly Clarkson flies into smoke storm |
Punk pioneer McLaren to be buried in London |
Cartoon Network reviving Looney Tunes |
The Losers an action film for ADD sufferers |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01