Famous Lebanese actress Elsi Ferneini Beirut – Sohaila Keyali Famous Lebanese actress Elsi Ferneini has said that television shows in the past were classic and romantic, and that viewers still enjoyed watching them. “Nowadays, though series are bolder, they lack romance,” she said.
Ferneini said in an interview with Arabstoday: “I like art to be based on transparency and romance, especially since people lead difficult lives. So it's not desirable when they go back home to watch more suffering.”
The star said romance was necessary to make the viewers "dream and forget about the day’s problems".
Ferneini, who won a prize for being Lebanon's most famous actress in the year 2001, said: "We should think about why viewers in the past used to watch series from the first to the last episode."
Ferneini participated in a string of local shows that are still popular today, such as “Modhakerat Momareda” (Memoirs of a Nurse), which was her first TV production and also where she met George Shalhoub, now her husband.
She first worked in the media before taking up acting, as she worked in Lebanese TV in 1973 for nine years.
Following is our interview with Elsi Ferneini:
AT: You were away from viewers for quite some time; do not you agree that a long absence could make people forget you?
EF: No doubt people forget artists who do not appear on the screen for a while. However, the positive side is I hope to leave a significant mark so that viewers do not forget our work. On the contrary, they long to watch the old series.
AT: What is the secret behind the absence of the old artists?
EF: In my opinion, today's production budgets do not allow the involvement of well known and professional artists.
AT: What distinguishes the shows of the past from those screened today?
EF: Stories in the past were classic and themed on true romantic. They can be viewed at any point in time, and viewers still enjoy their reruns. As for today's series, they are bolder and with different ideas than the older ones’, so consequently we begin to lose the feel of romance, and long for it.
AT: What stories attract you?
EF: I like art to be based on transparency and romance, as people may lead difficult lives. They do not want to return home and watch more suffering. Here we should wonder why viewers in the past used to follow series from the first to the last episode. However, today there is no diligent following of TV shows, although they include a great deal of boldness. People need relief, not more problems and suffering.
AT: Is there a dearth of good writers?
EF: Somewhat. They are few in number.
AT: What do you dream of?
EF: I dream of Lebanon restoring its place in culture and art. It was the cultural hub of the entire Arab world, and an important channel to the West. I also hope that art and creative work find support, especially on the national level.