Mohammed Al Turki attends amfAR's Cinema Against AIDS Gala party during the 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Hotel Du Cap

Mohammed Alturki can be known as (Mister has-it-all). As a Saudi Actor, Producer and Philanthropist Alturki surpassed all the imaginable challenges that exist in any cinema industry, in particular the ‘turbulent’ Hollywood.

As a child, his talent took place before a camera was ever switched on. And as a man, his passion separated him from being just a good producer/actor to being a highly talented one. For Alturki, “There is no end. There is no beginning. There is only the passion of life” as Federico Fellini-the famous Italian Director- stated.. No wonder why both did crack the “Holly-Wood!”

Was it difficult, as a Saudi, getting into the Film Industry (Hollywood) at that time?

It’s hard as is it is getting into the Entertainment industry you can imagine how much harder it is for a Saudi or a Middle Eastern.Contacts and networking are key in this industry I’m blessed to have that. It eased my way in working on certain projects. You have to be open minded and accepting to a lot of criticism you get.

For me the factor of being a part of an industry that has no value or a proper understanding of its purpose in my country doesn’t make things easier.

I’ve grown up loving film. I grew up in a household where we were told we could pursue whatever we want as long as we work for it. I wanted it I worked for it and now I’m a member of an industry I longed to be a part of.

Tell us more about your latest project “Arbitrage”?

Arbitrage is a film about Robert Miller “Richard Gere” a hedge fund billionaire trying to get rid of his empire before being caught in his scheme, in modern day Manhattan with the after math of the financial crisis.

We got a great ensemble cast that includes Oscar winner Susan Surandon, Tim Roth , Nate Parker, Sundance favorite Brit Marling and French sensation Latetica Casta. It is directed brilliantly by Nicholas Jarecki and we have a great cinematographer Yorick Ke Saux who worked on “I am love”.

Who was the most important mentor in your life and why?

The most important mentor in my life is my father Abdulaziz Al Turki. I’ve learned so much from him. I am so proud to be his son. I learned from him the importance of giving back to the community you both live and work in. CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) is important to him. I now understand and see why. The simple fact of joy and the feeling of satisfaction after you helped others. Simply makes you appreciate what you have nevertheless wanting to do better in life.. My father made us appreciate small and big things in life. Family for me is important as friends come and go but family lasts forever. They are the support system that will always live by your side.

In the last five years, what has been your most unforgettable meeting or experience and why?

I have many memories and experiences that are unforgettable. I cant decide which one is the most unforgettable. But I am on the start of my journey and I am looking forward to more unforgettable memories.

What is the one question do you wish someone would ask you in an interview today?

I’m not sure, but I sure know the questions that I wouldn’t want to be asked in an interview. (Smart one!)

The neighborhood is filled with fresh cut grass, where children waving their hands carrying homemade signs and their body language implies a rhythmic samba steps. The cheers coming from them make it easy for me to blink my lazy morning eyes.My olfaction is restricted with the sharp smell of grass. It’s an odor that makes me believe life is nothing but a green pitch. And Pelada street is my pitch!

It starts with the referee’s whistle. I strap on my jacket with great enjoyment and head towards the pelada field with other samba fans. The rush started and the weather began to sprinkle.The rain drops and the mingling wind joined together to perform the samba tunes. At that moment, The air was filled with screams and yells. How powerful the pelada street is! Flags and scarves were waving like Brazilian curves. They twirled rhythmically in the wind. And the paper scoresheet was blown over and following my steps by the corner of the street.

As the rain rolls down my face my eyes start to shut down. My hands start to sweat. I am having hot flashes in a freezing weather. Suddenly, I feel a gentle breeze. I look up, but all I can see is a glare from the yellow sun, and a smile from the green grass which revived me in one of the most tensed Friday mornings in my yearly calendar.

I look around me, all shops were closed, and the neighborhood was occupied. Even ‘El Arbi’ the neighborhood morning guard vanished from my sight. All the crowd from men, women and children were captivated by pelada fictional stadium. Even taxies gave no service. Knowing that the game have just started, the faster I walked. Just then, I heard the fans screaming…Goaaaaaaaaal!

I fought my way against the wind. The crowd got all wet through by the sobbing for samba victory. At that moment, I saw ‘Sokaina’, the old lady who is always in green and yellow dress, rushing to her bakery shop on the right hand side of the street despite the chaos taking place in pelada. And ‘Mehdi’ the face painter staining calmly yellow and green paint on his face, saluting pelada street football. Now I can only smell the yeast, and flour mixed with sugared water. As I only hear ‘one Dirham….one Dirham.’ Sokaina is celebrating with her freshly-baked Pao de Queijo. How exciting! I was celebrating too in a downbeat street in Morocco I call, my pelada.

The Saudi-Syrian meeting came on the heels of a three-year rapprochement between the two countries that started in Doha, Qatar, in May 2008.

With both sovereigns ought to be alert to any attempts to break their relationship of purpose in addressing the critical situation in Lebanon, is there any regional party who is willing to break the hegemony of both leaders in the country and stage a continuos civil war?

Students interviewed in the Lebanese American University campus were totally acknowledging the critical situation in the country, specially after the recent visit of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the southern part of the country near the Israel’s border.

Farah Jouni, 23, LAU Ex-Student from Lebanon, says “if they are planning for another civil war, I would suggest them to explode this country with a nuclear bomb. It is much cheaper, and faster in resulting massive damages than a civil war can actually do!” Jouni is now residing in New York city said, ” the country might transforms to the Islamic Republic of Lebanon. Maybe after Ahmadinejad’s visit.”

Mohannad Zahran, 25, major Interior Architecture, Saudi, objects thoughts of a civil war as a solution to settle down the critical situation in the country saying,”if a civil war is stepping into a process, then Lebanese people should war their country to death. I am somehow very judgmental and offensive in discussing critical issues in the country and the attempts of another civil war. It is just because I have experienced two wars since I moved here in 2005 for studying. I need to graduate. After then, if they are willing to stage a civil war, then let them do.”

Miriam Mahdi, 23, major Interior Architecture, shares the horrifying moments of the last civil war between government supporters and members of Hezboullah opposition. “war talks are never guarantied in Lebanon. It is more abroad than sects, religion, or the lebanese resistance.I remember the day before the 2008 civil war starts, I was peacefully in a deep sleep under my warmth blanket. Suddenly I woke up on a phone call from the Saudi Embassy ordering me to leave my place and take the road immediately to the Embassy in Quraitem. After leaving the country I came back to continue my study. And I just can’t wait to leave it and go back safe to my family in Saudi. “

For most Arab leaders, the Iranian-Hezbollah relationship represents everything they fear for their own tenure. And for many Lebanese that relationship represents their first fear.

Sara Elarab, 22, major Finance, Lebanese, expresses her increased worries about “the growing influence of Hezbollah in the country. Maybe veiled women will be the majority. Liberalism will be oppressed, and a civil war can be a good solution to stop it all!”
Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Hariri’s international tribunal, and the Lebanese resistance in itself questioned the credibility of the ongoing investigation that could be manipulated by Israel’s spies.

Rana Aboud, 23, major International Business, Jordanian, says ” the ongoing investigations concerning Hariri’s February assassination can easily drag the country into a civil war that could extend to decades, in the case if anything went wrong in making the final accusations.”
Lina M, 21, major Special Education, Lebanese, states that “from September 11 terrorist attacks to Hariri’s February assassination are all Israeli conspiracies. Hezbollah should respectively exonerated from all charges effective immediately. These are all Israeli projects coming out fresh from the Israeli lobby.”

Lina believes that if their is any war attempts in the country it would be part of the wider Israel-Lebanon Conflict which has its roots back first Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1978. ” Lebanese people are done from war. We are rebuilding our country. We want to celebrate peaceful Lebanon. We had enough. It is time for us to live without war obsession.”

Fair Play

Playing for the World Cup

Playing Half Gay!

VANITY FAIR MAGAZINE
Photographed by: Annie Leibovitz

Maradona has classified Messi his “successor” on the pitch, and Messi has already surpassed the former legend and everyone’s expectations in terms of successes at club level. He won it all with Barca. He is just lacking one Golden Masterpiece, the World Cup.

The world is so silent that it feels vague, but I have the power to dig with my own hands and make the noise!

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