 |
Al-Ahram Weekly 10 - 16 August 2000 Issue No. 494 
|
||
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
|
Al-Ahram Weekly 10 - 16 August 2000 Issue No. 494
|
||
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
I want
to be
on MTVBy Tarek Atia
Which of these youngsters will producer Tom Jackson choose? Below: Filling out the application
Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Books Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons
Apparently, I don't have what it takes to be on MTV. The heart-breaking rejection came this week. It was something I'd always wanted to know about myself and now I know for sure that I am not prime VJ material. Maybe, 10 years ago, I might have had a shot. However, 10 years ago, MTV was not in Cairo. The globalisation wave was but a ripple in my cultural sea.
photo: Youssri Aql
Like it or not, MTV is a world altering force. Music is no longer just the sounds we hear but a whole universe that draws from far and wide for our cathode-ray enjoyment. Slowly but surely, Arab artists have begun to understand the awesome power of this medium.
Yet, some artists are better than others at this, of course. These are the ones who make it to the big time of MTV. Arabic videos are the fodder of Mashaweer. The programme appears on MTV Europe and is produced by the Showtime network in conjunction with MTV itself. It is targeted specifically at Showtime subscribers in the Middle East. MTV Mashaweer is Arabic music packaged in Western promotional hype. Tom Jackson, the producer, explains, "The slick style of MTV adds a cachet to the artists' appeal." For the musicians and artists, getting on MTV Mashaweer is the benchmark of stardom.
This week, the producers are in Egypt in search of a new face for the show. In September, they plan to begin filming live from the streets of Cairo. At the tryouts, I met 17-year-old Ahmed, who thinks he has what it takes. Indeed, his charisma won him a screen test. Unfortunately, I was not so lucky. I failed miserably to impress the panel of king-makers.
Perplexed, I tried to get some answers as to why this travesty had occurred. Rana, the young woman who had interviewed me, assured me I wasn't inadequate. I merely lacked animation. My demeanor, she thought, was too serious. I wasn't fun enough. Personally, I suspect her blindness to my obvious talents was due to the fact that she had somehow seen through my clever disguise. She knew I was actually an undercover journalist.
Embittered, I looked at the menagerie of hopefuls around me. Some strutted about. Others waited nervously. Suits, gowns, and jeans stood side by side. After mingling in this diverse crowd, I got the distinct feeling that the more serious you are about wanting the job, the less likely you are to be chosen. However, my charismatic friend Ahmed likes the way these tryouts are going. He is looking forward to the MTV party in Media Production City tomorrow night where the winner will be announced. So am I, but deep down inside I wonder if I'm actually fun enough to attend.
