lifestyle WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016

MUSIC & MOVIES

Sara Jadallah, the daughter of legendary Sudanese film- German documentary film-maker Katharina von Schroeder shows her laptop as she talks German documentary film-maker Katharina von Schroeder looks at a picture of leg- maker Jadallah Jubara, speaks at her house. about the project to digitize the film archives of legendary Sudanese filmmaker Jadallah endary Sudanese filmmaker Jadallah Jubara. Jubara at his daughter’s house in the capital Khartoum. — AFP photos Daughter of Sudanese film legend preserves his legacy

s she drove past an apartment complex on Journey into the past Darfur, where a deadly conflict since 2003 has “Without any judgment, it was a different a street in Khartoum, Sara Jadallah turned In his early years, Jubara faced resistance from killed tens of thousands of people. His early films place,” she said as she showed footage from Asilent. It was here that her late father, the a conservative Sudanese society, making it diffi- preserved a snapshot of Sudanese society before Jubara’s collection. In one commercial, a young legendary film-maker Jadallah Jubara, set up cult for him to find actors. But a determined the 1989 coup that installed an Islamist-backed Jadallah is seen dressed in a red top and a skirt. In Sudan’s first private film studio in the 1970s. But Jubara encouraged family members to work with regime. Prior to the coup, Sudan was home to another clip, Sudanese couples in Western clothes in 2008, following an eight-year court battle over him, including Jadallah. “He believed that camera- more than 60 cinemas, including 16 in Khartoum danced at an late evening open-air party-some- ownership of the land, the government demol- men were the most important people in the that often screened films from Hollywood and thing rare in today’s Sudan. “There is no conflict ished Studio Jad. The demolition, shortly before world... and in their hands was the most impor- Bollywood. Today, after years of economic hard- between religion and cinema,” said Jadallah, “but the film-maker’s death at the age of 88, left little tant weapon,” she said. Jadallah, who made a ships and government restrictions on importing some extremists reject cinema without even trace of the studio. name for herself as a national swimming champi- foreign films, just three cinemas operate in understanding it.” “If you don’t have cinema, you But stopping next to the blocks of flats that on despite having polio as a child, also studied Khartoum. German film-maker Katharina von don’t have a voice,” she said. now stand in its place, Jadallah pointed at a white film in Cairo. She worked with her father when he Schroeder, who is helping Jadallah to digitize patch on an old wall among the new buildings. began to lose his eyesight due to old age, helping Jubara’s collection, said watching his work was A gift to Sudan “The screen is still there,” she said. With her him film part of an adaptation of Victor Hugo’s like taking a journey into the past. “There were lot Over his five-decade career, Jubara produced father’s studio gone, Jadallah has vowed to pre- “Les Miserables”. more enterprises and factories at that time, a lot more than 100 hours of film. Digitizing them is an serve his life’s work. With help from German Jubara’s documentaries included films on more night clubs,” she told AFP. enormous job. Around 40 hours have been experts, she has started digitizing his entire film processed so far, at a cost of tens of thousands of collection to create what she believes is Sudan’s dollars. The project has received backing from a first private archive of 15 and 35mm films. German foundation, the Arsenal Institute for Film “Through his camera he documented Sudan’s his- and Video Art, and the German embassy in tory. I want to preserve this legacy,” Jadallah, 66, Khartoum. “It was definitely worth saving this her- told AFP at her home in a southern Khartoum dis- itage... and Sara had this wish to preserve her trict. father’s legacy,” said Schroeder. The processing Jubara was once an officer in the British army. was done in Berlin. Jadallah was initially hesitant Shortly after World War II he began work as a to hand over rare footage. projectionist in a British mobile film unit. He “I could understand that... in films as opposed went on to capture iconic moments in Sudan’s to digital, you just have one copy and there’s history, including the hoisting of the country’s nothing you can do if it’s gone,” said Schroeder. “As German documentary film-maker Katharina flag as it gained independence from Britain in far as I know this is the only private film archive for von Schroeder looks at film archives of leg- 1956. In a career spanning more than five 15 and 35 mm materials in Sudan,” she said. Tayeb endary Sudanese filmmaker Jadallah Jubara. decades, he produced more than 100 documen- Mahdi, director of a Khartoum-based film school, nessing his studio being demolished... I feel sad taries and four feature films, including a famous said the project was a fitting tribute to Jubara. when there is no cinema,” she said, wiping away 1984 love story “Tajooj”. But years of storage in “This government doesn’t care about cinema, tears. “I want to preserve his films, because poor conditions have taken a toll on his film while the private sector is disinterested,” he said. Sudan’s future generations should see their coun- archives. “Film rolls have a life span and because “Despite this, Jubara kept on making films.” For try’s history.” — AFP of exposure to heat and dust they have been Sara Jadallah, the daughter of legendary Sudanese filmmaker Jadallah Jubara, speaks at her Jadallah, preserving her father’s legacy is a gift to damaged,” said Jadallah. house. Sudan. “I feel sad when I remember my father wit- ‘Motown’ star Allison Semmes credits show with 1st big part James and Gale Anne Hurd on how to save moviegoing creening Room, the home streaming movie really VR. It’s an immersive omni-vision camera sys- Because illegally streaming a song does not replace ne of the best moments in the careful- ensemble member and understudy for Ross service backed by Napster co-founder Sean tem where you have some interactivity to change seeing someone in person. I go to my local cin- ly crafted Broadway show “Motown: in “Motown” - going on twice as the diva - SParker and former SFX Entertainment execu- your field of view. But you have no control over your emaplex and I can still hear all the explosions of the OThe Musical” is when the unpre- before starting a long national tour as Ross, tive Prem Akkaraju, made waves earlier this year with spatial displacement in the environment. They’re film in the next auditorium. It takes you right out of dictable happens. That’s when actress Allison maturing into the role. big names like and JJ Abrams support- going to do that for you. And the second you create the experience. Related Denounces Semmes, who plays Diana Ross, goes off “Before, I was just extremely careful and ing the platform. With his producer Jon Landau, something that realistic and then you move the Screening Room as ‘Threat’ to Theaters Not to men- script to ask a member of the audience to join extremely conscious with every single choice James Cameron was one of the first filmmakers to camera, people throw up. How are you going make tion, to your point about brightness levels, projector her onstage to sing “Reach Out and Touch.” that I made, making sure that it captured her speak out against it, arguing for the sanctity of the a movie and not move the camera? How can you and bulb issues. I don’t know what it’s like today but I The good-natured Semmes, who has played essence. But as I’ve done the show and lived theatrical experience. But what is the future of exhi- make a movie where you can’t cut? So there may be certainly remember working in a movie theater and Ross for 21/2 years on tour, has seen audience in the role, I’ve found similarities that we have bition, really? While promoting the 30th anniversary a narrative art form that emerges from that, but it’s the companies pinching pennies by not replacing members do everything from giving her sug- - Diana and myself,” she said. The show traces of “Aliens” at Comic-Con last week, Cameron and not a movie. bulbs. gestion a chilly reception to folks running up the life of Motown Records founder Berry producer Gale Anne Hurd spoke to Variety about So, what’s going to happen with movies on the Cameron: That’s right, or not turning them up all the aisle to the stage, screaming. Gordy, who wrote the musical’s story, and what that future could be, the pitfalls of virtual reality big screen? We’ve got to make them brighter. I think the way [to stretch out their time of use]. “You never know what you’re going to examines how Gordy helped start the careers and the importance of exhibitors to protect the screens can be larger and fill more of the peripheral Hurd: I’m sure Jim does this to this day but we get,” said the Chicago native. “Honestly, you of Ross, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, experience and infrastructure they already have in vision. I love 3D but that needs to be brightened up. would go in and read the brightness of the screen. feed off that energy. It’s kind of like improv. Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and many place. You need high dynamic range. All of these things are Cameron: Yeah, with a foot-lambert meter, just in Every night is different.” Semmes has been more. The dozens of songs include “War,” Reuters: After all the discussion around possible, it just becomes a price point issue and the some of the flagship theaters, to make sure the film lifted up into the air by an overeager fan and “What’s Going On” “Sign, Sealed, Delivered,” Screening Room, where does exhibition need to go exhibition community knows they’re fighting for was being run properly. And then go up into the she’s had a feather boa wrapped around her. “My Girl” and “Dancing in the Streets.” next? With “Avatar,” you brought 3D to the forefront their market share and they need to spend the mon- booth and get them to turn it up. Sometimes patrons refuse to leave the stage and it’s become pretty standard, but where do ey to do it. Hurd: Or get the studio to call and say, “If we’re or want to clamber up onstage with their Musical legend things need to progress to continue offering a drinks. Other times, it’s very clear they’ve had Chester Gregory, who plays Gordy, dynamic, singular existence? way too much to drink. “I always think, ‘What became friends with Semmes two years James Cameron: Well, you’ve got high frame Gale Anne Hurd and James Cameron would Diana do in this moment?’ And there’s before they joined the show. They would rate. You’ve got HDR. Brightness levels are critical. plenty of footage of her doing ‘Reach Out and send each other messages in which they Dolby is doing a whole high-end experience. There Touch’ and she’s playful and she likes to poke sang to each other. Then they met up again are IMAX-like things that are proliferating. I just think fun and she likes to flirt with the crowd. So I on the tour “Now we’re onstage doing what it’s incumbent on the exhibition community to pro- just play along,” she said. we did as friends just for fun but now we get vide the absolute maximum possible experience. paid to do it,” he said. “We get to meet, we We’re never quite there. The tech is always a little Long national tour get to fall in love, we get to break up, we get ahead of the mass rollout. The question for the film- The song-heavy story of Motown Record’s to handle business together, all in the con- maker is, “Am I authoring for what it should look like, tumultuous history won’t last long on text of Berry and Diana.” One of the biggest or am I authoring for what it will look like?” And Broadway - it closes Sunday - but it has been nights on the tour was in Detroit, when when you’re doing a 3D digital intermediate these an important show for Semmes. It was her Semmes and Gregory led the cast in days, like I was just doing on “ 2” for the first big part and helped her fulfill the dream Motown Records’ hometown. She got a 3D re-release in October, it’s a little bit heartbreaking. of singing onstage with Stevie Wonder. chance to meet some of the artists, includ- You say, “Well, it should be at 10 foot-lamberts as a Hurd: My big concern is piracy. That’s the thing going to play your circuits, this has to be a premium Semmes studied opera at the University of ing Wonder. They kept in touch, and when minimum,” but you’ve got to author for three and a that people aren’t even thinking about, the fact that experience.” Illinois at Urbana-Champaign before trying the tour rolled into Toronto, she found out half. So the exhibition community still needs to step so much content is pirated immediately. “File Cameron: [George] Lucas was a big firebrand for her luck in New York, graduating from New Wonder was also in town for a concert. So up to protect what they have. Now, what they have Sharing” sounds like a good thing. It’s file stealing. this with the theater alignment program and so on York University and snagging a part in “The she reached out and joined him onstage. is still very powerful and it’s a bastion that I don’t I’ve just seen the figures-there’s money to be made and you can hire people to do theater alignment. Book of Mormon.” She was then hired as an “I first met Stevie Wonder - wow. I can’t think is going to be assailed by all these other plat- in it and that’s not what people are thinking about. If Just collectively the industry needs to know if we fail believe I’m saying this. That’s insane just say- forms any time soon, because the group experience they go to a torrent site or whatever, they’re making at creating a premium immersive experience in the ing that,” said Semmes, laughing. “It was of a movie in passive mode where you can’t pause it money through advertising. So it’s not like, “Oh, your theater, then the Napster-like downloading phe- amazing. He’s a musical legend and to be and picture-in-picture and text over it and all this friend is helping you out.” There’s billions that people nomenon will destroy the industry, because then close to him and to share a stage with him - other stuff, where it’s just going to flood into your are making. The more that’s siphoned away because you won’t be able to afford to make a movie like I’m never going to forget that.” One person brain, is still going to be sacred, I think, indefinitely. It people are like, “Oh, I’ll just wait and I’ll stream it and I “Avatar” or “Transformers” or “Captain America” or any who hasn’t seen her portray Ross is Ross her- doesn’t mean there won’t be other alternatives. don’t even have to pay to stream it from a legitimate of these big films. The economics will no longer self, who came to the opening on Broadway Reuters: Is there a bigger idea, though? Beyond source,” that is making it so much tougher on the make sense. And you simply won’t have them in any but has kept her distance from the show the proscenium? exhibitors. format or platform. And to your points about piracy, since then. Semmes isn’t sure she could han- Cameron: What, do you want us to just zap it Cameron: The biggest hedge against piracy is that’s the answer I never heard from Screening dle it if one night she reached out and into your visual cortex? [Laughs] I’d do it if the tech still the sanctity of the viewing experience in a movie Room. They and their supporters kept insisting there touched Ross. “I think I’d rather not. I think it existed! A lot of people are looking at augmented theater-when it comes to movies. With “The Walking was an anti-piracy element, but I never got details on would be absolutely too much pressure,” she reality and virtual reality. These are interesting Dead” or something like that, that’s not what you’re that. said, laughing. — AP authoring tools, but to me, they’re not there yet. selling, but if we’re talking about movies and theatri- Cameron: Yeah, and what mode or what relief Gale Anne Hurd: They’re gimmicks! Virtual reali- cal exhibition, keeping it great, making it a special did they offer for somebody bringing 20 friends, ty makes me throw up. experience, is still the biggest hedge against that. who might have bought a ticket, over to watch it. Cameron: It’s a little rough on the vestibular sys- Because even if piracy was totally legal and down- They were compensating for concessions losses, tem, yeah. load rates were much faster, you’re still watching it basically. They weren’t compensating for those Image taken from video shows Hurd: I literally, four seconds wearing it, I’m like, on a small platform, and it’s not that social experi- phantom viewers, all of whom represent a potential Allison Semmes, who plays Diana “I’m going to throw up.” ence. lost ticket. — Reuters Ross in ‘Motown: The Musical’ on Cameron: Well, you can’t move the camera. Hurd: It’s why the music industry, that has been Broadway, during an interview in When they talk about shooting a film in VR, it’s not destroyed by piracy, has gone back to touring. New York. — AP