Video Products on Information Highways for IDSC/RITSECJoint Production by Two sets of products were envisaged for this joint production team.
Each of these projects can draw on material shot for the others. For example, interviews short in July/August for the first project include excellent bites useable in the second. In what follows, each project will be discussed separately, but reference will be made where appropriate to the other. 1. Information and Development in Egypt: Achievements, Vision, Plans Objective. The purpose of video presentations and television programs to be produced, starting from the base of materials recorded in Betacam SP PAL format during the Forum is to:
Video products. The following video products are being produced with a view to achieving the general objectives set forth above.
English and Arabic versions of the 12 and 27 minute programs will be fraternal rather than identical twins, because much of the interview material is slightly different in the two languages, and because IDSC/RITSEC seek to pitch the presentations/programs slightly differently for global as opposed to Arabic-speaking audiences Preliminary sketch of video treatment Introduction, 2 minutes. One possible way to approach both the video presentations and TV programs would be to begin with parts of the interview with Dr. El Sherif or a narrator pointing out that at very different stages of Egypt's history, national leaders have focused the nation's energy in different ways, with "monumental" results. The Pharos gave us the pyramids (non-productive, but certainly impressive), Nasser the Aswan High Dam intended to increase agricultural and industrial production, and today Egypt's leaders are building something much more dynamic and flexible but equally demanding of national effort, the NII (a dynamic, flexible tool) and the content necessary to make it more than a pipe, but a real vehicle for development. B-Roll: Images of these ancient (Pyramids and Sphinx at Sunrise), modern (Aswan High Dam under construction and in operation), and now-being-built "Egyptian Icons" (e.g. IDSC, computers with operators, satellites, fiber being pulled, multimedia applications) would appear as they are discussed. This ntroductory segment should be approximately one minute in length. This introductory segment might be preceded (or followed) by a series of very short bites of different interviews included in the main body of the video, as windows covering perhaps 1/4 of a screen over a background of ancient, current, and future (as seen in IDSC/RITSEC) Egyptian scenes. These very short bites and the backdrop could be seen as a "trailer", a kind of sampler to interest the viewer in watching what is to come in the rest of the video. If so, this might be another 45 seconds or so. Vision and Implementation, 5 minutes. This segment of the program will cover the vision (embracing the challenges and opportunities posed by information and communications technology) on which IDSC was founded how this vision was implemented, and some of the obstacles which had to be overcome. This segment, about 5 minutes long, would not treat the future. It would draw on interviews shot with Hisham El Sherif, Ahmed Nazif, and other people yet to be interviewed (especially Sherif Kamel and Moatssem Kaddah) at IDSC and RITSEC. The B-Roll for this will include scenes shot in IDSC (people working on computers, the network operations center at RITSEC, ITI and RITI , the buildings, and some establishing footage of Cairo, the Nile, Alexandria, Suez Canal) during interviews (as when Hisham El Sherif talks about Egypt from Aswan to Alexandria). Achievements, 6 minutes. Here the emphasis will be on IDSC's principal achievements, including such projects as Debt Management (Central Bank), National Identity Card, Legislative Data Base, Internet development, ITI and RITI training programs, and RITSEC as a regional body which IDSC hosts and participates in. Interviews material will come from Ahmed Nazif, Tarek Kamel, Moatassem Kaddah, Minister of State for Administrative Development Atef Abeid (yet to be interviewed), Nabil Said, Rafaat Radwan, Sameh Fahmy (IBM), and Nashua Abdel Baki (Supreme Council of Egyptian Universities). B-Roll is needed for this segment showing the things talked about, e.g. Central Bank Computer Center and Boardroom, prototype of lab for identity card production at IDSC, physical collection of legal documentation (contrasted to electronic displays of legislation); satellite ground stations and RITSEC network control center (possibly the university network control too); classrooms with students at ITI and RITI, computer graphic of map of Arab World with Affiliates appearing and linked by, possibly with a satellite and earth stations appearing. The GIDSC Project, 6 minutes. This section will feature the interview with the Minister of Local Administration, Mahmoud Sherif, General Radwan Said (Project Manager), some of the governors (Beni Sueif, Assyut, North Sinai are the best, perhaps a selection of others); Director of the Ismailia Training Center, the teacher from Assyut. B-Roll includes shots of rural Egypt; irrigated agriculture; upper Nile; Assyut images (church, mosque); Suez Canal, olive groves and factory in El Arish, satellite imagery of Sinai, the visit of the Prime Minister to booths at the Third Annual Governors' Forum on Information and Development; shots of people explaining booths during the Forum, shots of the plenary sessions of the Forum showing stage, speakers, and audience interaction. A clear message is that the program spans the entire country and benefits local decision makers and ordinary citizens. Egypt's Broadband Multimedia Information Highway and its Regional and Global Links, 7 minutes. But there are important challenges to be faced, and more powerful technologies to be enlisted. That will require massive investment in physical and human capital, but the returns will be high in improved government services, competitiveness of enterprise, and well being of Egypt's citizenry. Hisham El Sherif's and Ahmed Nazif's interviews will be central here, supplemented by Vince Kamel Minister of Science and Technology, and interview to be shot with Minister Abeid Atef. B-Roll would include shots of pulling fiber optic cable, satellite ground stations, multimedia in action (CD-ROMs, Cultureware products, Web Servers, videoconferencing, etc.), faces of children and young adults in schools and training courses, using computers, and leaving schools (a lot of good material here from field shooting)--they are the faces of the future. Telemedicine and teleeducation footage if possible (could be from other countries if necessary). The old "Icons" (Sphynx, Pyramids, High Dam, Citadel, Cairo Tower) will reappear backdrops to futuristic scenes. Part of this could come from the Cultureware. If telemedicine footage is not available, Healthnet section of Information Highway can be used to show appropriate websites around the world. Here it is important to get this done on a workstation with flicker (or to synchronize the Betacam with screen to eliminate computerscreen flicker). Conclusion, 1 minute. The conclusion will focus more on the future than on past achievements, and be geared to projecting an image of a country with a vision of how to use information to promote economic and socio-economic development, and the drive it takes to realize the vision--a promising area for domestic and foreign private investment, and a country willing to share its achievements with others. Bites from Hisham El Sherif and Ahmed Nazif can be used with selected others (complemented by Atef Ebied and Vince Kamel). Egypt wired to the whole world will be a theme, making use of this to enhance its development and help its neighbors at the same time. Use can be made of computer generated graphics, showing Egypt's growing connectivity within itself, and reaching out to the Arab World, Africa, and Globally. The bites can talk about using strategic alliances, dynamic leadership, strong human resources, and empowering technology. In general, the overall visual thrust of the program will project Egypt as rooted in an impressive past, proud of its ancient culture, but at the same time creating a brighter future by mobilizing information for development. The achievements will be seen as real, not just plans, and personalized through the testimony and images of those who have created and used them. Egypt is on the move, seeking to leapfrog into the twenty-first century. The main difference between the 12 and 27 minute products will be the depth of treatment. The case studies, to be completed later, would provide more detailed documentation of a variety of IDSC/RITSEC projects. Team. For IDSC/RITSEC Mmes. Effat El Shooky (Regional Cooperation Manager) and Hebattallah R. Mohamed (Program Officer), Mr. Mohammed Amin Lotfi, General Radwan Said (Head of the Governorates Project) in various capacities including interviewing, directing, and facilitating and Dr. Hisham El Sherif as Executive Producer; for South Productions, Ms. Shahira Makram (Producer), Mr. Andrew Botros (Scriptwriter), cameramen and sound men as required; for the Electronic Media Center, Dr. Peter Knight serving in various capacities as Executive Producer, interviewer, and scriptwriter; Prita Chathoth may be involved in scriptwriting and editing; Neal Dickerson may be involved as digital editor. Arrangements were made for South Productions and IDSC/RITSEC to have access to all the footage shot by Channels 1 (news) and 3 (features) of Egyptian Television, which had their own crews present during parts of the Forum. Approach at the Forum. Taking advantage of the presence at the Forum of key members of the Egyptian national sub-national governments and others involved in the development of Egypt's information infrastructure, some 30 interviews were shot. The team did not seek to produce video material on the Forum itself. News coverage, and a feature on the Forum , were the responsibility of Egyptian Television. Nevertheless, in the course of the team's work ample footage on the Forum was obtained, and should IDSC/RITSEC need to make a program or video presentation on the Forum , there is sufficient material available. The team concentrated its effort on obtaining in-depth interviews with Ministers, Governors, IDSC and RITSEC Managers, and other participants in the Forum . Interviews were conducted whenever possible first in English, and the interviewer had the interviewee repeat the answers to the questions in Arabic. The team made an effort to conduct each interview in with a different visual background (a number of them with distinctly Egyptian character), where possible seated in quiet surroundings, but in some cases standing in the displays of the various Governates and government agencies surrounded by other participants. The general approach used in questioning was to ask the interviewee first to cite specific examples of how IDSC's system had helped them to do their jobs, then ask them about what lessons their experience in using information to promote development might have for other countries, and finally, looking to the future, to give their ideas on how the development of the Egyptian information highway could help deliver needed services directly to enterprises and individual citizens as well as to government agencies. When the team was aware of specific achievements, more specific questions were asked. Achievements to date. In all, 36 interviews were conducted (see Annex 1 for the list of interviewed), the Ministers of Local Government and Science and Technology, about a dozen Governors, IDSC managers and staff at various levels, and others from the universities, the private sector, and even a visiting Minister of Local Government from Syria. There is also ample "establishing footage" on the Forum , its sessions, some key speeches, the impressive displays (with computers in action as well as printed materials visible), and the crowds visiting them, including the visit of the Prime Minister. Preliminary selection of bites has been made, and work on a script begun. Shooting November 12-27. Shooting except of limited amounts of B-Roll was completed over this period.On November 12 Ms. Makram and her crew shot B-Roll at IDSC and RITSEC. This material is to provide images to accompany interviews and narration on IDSC and RITSEC and their achievements. It includes ample shots of the buildings; IT equipment in action; the RITSEC Internet node and its equipment; screen shots of RITSEC Cultureware (including Egyptian Museum and Islamic Manuscripts), material from the Environmental Information Technology Program, and health and education-related WWW pages.
Beni Sueif—establishing shots of Bani Adey village, interview with the head of the village information center, inside shots of information unit, school and medical unit in the village, greenscape shots (irrigated agriculture), entrance of Beni Sueif IDSC. Ayssut—Assyut IDSC Center, shots of the Nile from roof, establishing shot of the IDSC, school computer lab, interviews with headmistress of school and head of IDSC. Ismailia—IDSC training center, interviews with the head of the IDSC and training center, shots of Suez Canel. El Arish—GIS maps (tourism, agricultural, and geological); olive press, olive fields and date palm trees, granite factory, sandy beach on Mediterranean. Additional shooting or archival footage still required. In general, good footage of principal "Egyptian Icons" is needed to provide a unique Egyptian character to the whole set of products. This must include "icons" of Egypt's ancient civilization, of the Nile River and Delta, and of modern industrial, agricultural, and telecomunnications/IT achievements: Sphinx and the Pyramids. The latter should be particularly dramatic, probably shot at dawn or sunset as they will be used in the introductory and possibly closing sequences of the video products, as well as B-Roll for the interview with the Governor of Giza. For the latter purpose, it would be good to shoot some use of IDSC technology in use with the Pyramids in the background if possible. Aswan High Dam in construction and in operation should be be obtained from archives as this will also be used in the introductory sequences. Maadi Satellite Earth Station. This should be shot as dramatically as possible, perhaps at dawn or dusk, with sun shining on the antennas. Citadel, Old Cairo, and Cairo Tower and other historical sites, including Nile River front at Cairo. Interviews. Atef Abeid, reshoot interview with Ahmed Nazif (bad lighting on face in current version--but the content is excellent), Motassem Kaddah, Sherif Kamel. Preliminary review in Washington. From November 26-28, Heba Ramzy worked with Peter Knight in Washington reviewing footage shot to date and developing the video treatment, needs for additional shooting, and new production schedule. This document reflects that work and a subsequent visit to Cairo by Peter Knight on February 1, 1996. Priorities, timing, and next steps. There are economies of scale in producing at least the first four products in parallel if time and financial resources permit. Fragments from the case studies can be incorporated into the other products if they are designed with this in mind, and intellectually the whole set of products can be seen as highly linked, with good synergy. Production of this set of products will be demanding of both the RITSEC/IDSC staff involved and the South Productions team, and if the production schedule is to be a tight one (a decision by IDSC/RITSEC management on this is needed as soon as possible), will involve close to full-time dedication over the next few months by both groups. South Productions will need to know very soon the intended production schedule. They have other clients, with their own needs, and must schedule their time.
2. Expanded Internet Connectivity - Wiring Africa On November 12 the South Production team, working with Peter Knight as interviewer, shot interviews with participants in the First Meeting of the High-Level Working Group on Telecommunication and Information Technologies in Africa. Momar Aly Ndiaye (Senegal), Mike Jensen South Africa), Karima Bounenra Ben Soltane (Tunisia), Nancy Hafkin (UNECA/PADIS), Peter Knight (World Bank/EMC) and Robert Valantin (IDRC). Questions included the following:
Annex 1: List of Interviewees
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