CAIRO - In the good old days, Egypt's summer cinematic season would witness a thrilling bullfight between local superstars, vying to attract the fans. But this year's summer season is likely to pass unnoticed. Managers of cinema houses downtown look puzzled when asked what they're planning to dish up for the fans this season. They have no idea. I believe them. The superstars, who usually vie for the limelight every summer, are keeping a low profile. For example, comedian Ahmed Helmi has put his new film Extra Large on hold, after a meeting with its director Sherif Arafa. Helmi's decision is unavoidable, as the market has yet to recover from a painful post-revolution economic crisis. Even though the Government insists that it can see positive economic signs on the horizon, film producers are afraid that Egyptian families will opt to stay at home and watch soap operas and other light-hearted programmes, tailored specifically for viewers during the holy fasting month of Ramadan this summer. The aftermath of the Egyptian revolution has also compelled the two swashbuckling superstars Ahmed Ezz and Ahmed el-Sakka to suspend the shooting of their film Al-Maslaha. The decision has been taken in collaboration with the film's director, Sandra Nashaat. Al-Maslaha, written by scriptwriter Wael Abdallah, also stars Hannan Tork and Kenda Aloush. The state of uncertainty has also compelled super comedian Mohamed Henedi to ignore the incessant calls from the director of his new film, Tita Rahiba, to come to the studio. Henedi, whose comic movies are traditionally hits in the box office, is more interested in filming his new television serial, due to be screened in Ramadan. Like Henedi, his rival Mohamed Saad, who excels at playing the idiot and people with mental problems, has left several offers to gather dust on his coffee table at home, because of the stagnation in the film market. The disappearance of many actors and pop singers this season is surely the price these people must pay for their anti-revolution sentiments. They include pop singer Tamer Hosni, whose popularity in the youth community plummeted when he insulted demonstrators in Al Tahrir Square on January 25 and afterwards. Hosni was badly beaten up by his former fans when he told them to go home. The bruised singer appeared on a video clip on the Youtube crying like a child, because of the misunderstanding his visit had caused. “I did not mean to insult my fans [the demonstrators] by visiting the square and calling them to reconsider their position,” he whimpered. The singer's ebbing popularity forced the producer of the third part of his film Omar and Salma to suspend his co-operation with Hosni, until his situation improves. Superstar Ahmed el-Sakka was also beaten up in Al Tahrir, when he behaved in the same manner as Hosni.
