Actresses have no control on what they wear on screen

Published January 26th, 2004 - 03:00 GMT

A major crisis took place between Egyptian belly dancer and actress Dina and her colleague actress Athar Alhakim while shooting the scenes for the TV drama “Frisca”. Dina was about to shoot one of the scenes wearing a very revealing dress triggering Athar to begin criticizing her appearance. Athar stressed that she is not comfortable acting alongside someone dressed in such an inappropriate manner, adding that Dina can not shoot the scene wearing the dress she had on.

Dina refused to change the dress saying that it is essential for the part she is performing. Dina added that there is censorship in Egypt and if they felt her appearance is inappropriate they will omit the scenes. Athar was not convinced and insisted on her opinion. All attempts from director Magdi Ahmed Ali failed to convince Athar that he was the one to decide if the dress was improper or not. Athar left the scene very angry and all efforts failed to make her change her mind.

The incident triggered a major discussion between artists and the whole society on who decides what costumes are to be worn, is it the actors or the producers and directors? The director of the drama "Friska" , Magdi, commented by saying that costumes are decided by the director and not by the actors and added that the costumes in this drama were his idea after a consultation with fashion designer Samia Hawash. So the bottom line was that Dina did not choose what to wear, and Ahtar did not have the write to complain on the director's decision on who wears what. Magdi added that Athar might not have been aware that the fashion at the time they were shooting implied this kind of costume.

According to the UAE based daily, Al Bayan Egyptian actress Elham Shaheen commented that every work has its suitable costume and depends on the character you are performing. She added that she normally does not interfere with other actors and actresses dresses because it's the director's decision. She said that she will only interfere when the costume is not suitable at all for the scene. Elham ended by saying its all depends on team work and mutual understanding between all the cast.

Egyptian actress Hanan Turk stated that she wont let anyone interfere in her choice of clothing yet she wont comment on any other colleague's costume , adding that it is the directors job to decide the kind of costumes that suites the place and the time of the drama. Hanan ended by saying that no one has the right to interfere with the director's work and his decisions.

Tunisian actress Hind Sabri uttered that she will only object on the outfit if it's seductive and does not suit the scene and there is no need for it. She added that she refuse to be a sex object on the screen. She ended by saying that she won't mind wearing seductive costumes if she accepted a seductive part in the first place other wise it's not necessary to were such kind of costumes.

Director Magdi Abu Ameera, comments by saying that there is a great difference between TV drama and cinema. And the liberty in choosing costumes in cinema is wider so this is what new directors should realize when they direct a TV drama.

Producer Mohammed Aladel disclosed that some famous actors do interfere in the director's work and imply certain kinks of costumes and even nominate some names to share the work. This is not professional and they must realize that all technical details are the right of the director. –Albawaba.com