The Donkey used by director Majdi Abo Amireh in the Ramadan series “Juha Al Masri” (The Egyptian Juha), will be stealing the spotlight by appearing seventeen times throughout the series. Abu Amireh stressed that the donkey was carefully selected among many to play the part of Juha’s loyal companion.
The director sent a team to the Egyptian village of Kardasa before the shooting to choose the right donkey, among 120 other donkeys to short listed for the act. The donkey matched all the criteria required for the part in the series as written by playwright Yusri Al Jundi.
According to the London based Al Sharq Al Awsat, the donkey received a daily fee of twenty five Egyptian pounds, which amounted to 500 Egyptian pounds (approximately US $108) at the end of screening. The owner of the donkey demanded that a contract be written between Production City and the ‘Donkey’ to ensure they return him at the end of the show. The contract also stated that the donkey be fed corn, beans, and wheat throughout his working hours.
The owner of the donkey had also demanded that he visit his donkey once every two weeks and watch his friend in action with the renowned actor Yahia Al Fakhrani.
Al Sharq Al Awsat also stated that Production City tried to buy the donkey from its owner for 1500 Egyptian pounds (approximately US $324) due to its calmness and cleanliness. The owner of the donkey strongly refused saying that this donkey brings him money everyday, and that tourist prefer riding him than others due to his good appearance. -Albawaba.com
