Khaberni - Director Khaled Youssef spoke about the controversy surrounding the grand opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, explaining that he expresses his opinion in his professional capacity only, away from any flattery of the authority or alignment with the opposition.
Youssef said in a post on his Facebook account that he attended the ceremony while in Cyprus with a group of foreigners who expressed their admiration for the show, considering that the ceremony included artistic details and surprises that deserve appreciation.
He noted that his opinion might not please supporters of the regime nor the opposition, but it reflects his conviction as a director. He affirmed that he did not find anything in the ceremony that would warrant describing it as a "disaster" as some portrayed on social media, describing the criticism directed at him as harsh and unfair.
He clarified that attributing full responsibility to the person called “the director of the ceremony” is not accurate, because the one who managed the television broadcast is not the one with the complete artistic vision, just as a football match director is not accountable for the players' performance, or a TV director for a play based on the actors' performance.
Youssef added that such performances rely on a comprehensive team of creatives that includes coordinators for the segments, designers of costumes, decor, dances, music, and lighting, as well as the writer, all under the true director’s vision, who has the final word after discussing details with the technical team.
He asked, "Was there really a director with a vision who supervised the work? And was he the one called the opening director? I don’t think so."
He concluded his talk by asserting that his opinion is not intended to defend anyone, but to adhere to the principles of the profession, saying, “Yes, there were some mistakes, but they do not diminish the value of what was accomplished. We should first rejoice and celebrate, and then criticize later constructively."
He also called to remember those who started the museum project from the time of the late President Hosni Mubarak and the former Minister of Culture, Farouq Hosni, leading up to President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi who completed the implementation up to the stage of the opening.
