Pre-Production

The project was a short film about Egypt. Starting the journey was very difficult, especially determining the target audience and the sequence of the film. Initially, I wanted to showcase Egypt’s beauty underwater, which was the beginning of the idea. By conducting research, I developed the film’s sequence and how it would look in the end.

The idea was to present Egypt from three different perspectives: from the sky to the ground and then under the sea. I chose the sky to showcase the beauty of the hot air balloon, which was famous in Egypt, particularly in Luxor. It was also an exciting way for viewers to observe Egypt’s temples and beauty from a different perspective. This was the opening of the film.

The second part of the film was on the ground, where I talked about Luxor Temple and the main attraction, Karnak Temple. After conducting more research, I decided to add another temple, Abu Simbel, which was also an excellent temple as it was carved into the mountains.

The third location was in Cairo, which was initially supposed to be the Citadel, but I changed it to the Grand Egyptian Museum as it was a new and unique place to shoot in. Finally, the whole idea evolved from the last location, which was underwater, to showcase the beauty of Egypt.

To start the production, I conducted a lot of research and developed the idea to ensure that all parts of the project were revised and planned. Additionally, the script was carefully crafted to make sure that all the researched information was included in the dialogue in an engaging way so that people could learn about Egypt’s culture and history in an easy way.

One of the biggest challenges I faced when starting this project was obtaining the necessary governmental permits to film in each location. This was a difficult process because I had to provide detailed explanations of why I needed the permits, how the results would be used, and the method of publication. However, I was ultimately successful in obtaining permits to film in Luxor and at the Grand Egyptian Museum.

The main point that I took into consideration was that I was targeting Generation Z. They preferred to travel abroad without knowing about the culture and history of the places they visited. Therefore, the film needed to be easy to understand and engaging, allowing viewers to watch it without getting bored.

Production

I started the production phase before traveling to Luxor, which involved several tasks to ensure the success of the shoot. First, I created a comprehensive shooting list that included all the necessary shots and angles needed for the project. Then, I gathered all the details required to execute the shots smoothly, such as lighting, camera equipment, and props. I also collaborated with three brands for wardrobe and jewelry to be used in the shoot.

Upon arriving at the first location, which was a hot air balloon, we began shooting according to the previously prepared shooting list. We captured breathtaking aerial views of the city and the surrounding landscape. We then moved to the two temples El Karnak and Abu Simbel for more shots, which also went smoothly. However, we faced some permit issues that affected our shooting time at each location.

We successfully completed all the shooting requirements at the first location, despite the challenges we faced. Moving to the second location, the Grand Egyptian Museum, which we faced difficulties due to permit and restriction issues for shooting inside. We had to obtain special permits and comply with strict regulations to be able to shoot inside the museum, but we were able to overcome these challenges and capture some stunning footage that added significant value to the project.

The pre-production phase played a crucial role in ensuring the success of the shoot and the quality of the final product. By taking care of all the necessary details beforehand, we were able to execute the shoot smoothly and efficiently, despite the challenges we faced along the way.

After filming at all the planned locations and having all the required footage, I began the post-production phase. However, the process of selecting the best shots from the different camera angles and shot sizes was difficult. I had to carefully choose the most visually appealing footage to create the final cut of the film. Therefore, we created more than five drafts before we reached the final version of the film.

To enhance the overall quality of the film, I collaborated with the music producer and composer, Hisham Kharma. He is known for his exceptional work and was keen on supporting me on this project. He provided valuable feedback and helped me choose the perfect track to use in the film, which gave it a unique and captivating flavor which was (valley of the Kings) track.

Moreover, I launched a comprehensive social media campaign to promote the film and raise awareness about Egyptian history and culture. The campaign targeted the younger generation, with the aim of educating them about their heritage in an engaging and entertaining way. The campaign included teaser trailers, and behind-the-scenes footage, which helped generate buzz around the film. Through this campaign, we were able to reach a wider audience and make the film go viral on various social media platforms.