Shankabout is an interactive web-based video series filmed in and around Beirut, Lebanon. It is the world's first Arabic web drama series.[1][2]

Shankaboot
Also known asShankaboot
GenreWeb series, drama, comedy
Created byBassem Breish, Ashraf Nasr, Leila Mroueh, Basima Takrori, Jamal Ghosn, Nadim Deaibes, Katia Saleh, Chris Carey & James Payne
Developed byJames Payne
Directed byAmin Dora
StarringHassan Akil
Samira Kawas
Nasry El Sayegh
Latifa Saade
Juliana Yazbeck
Saseen Kawzally
Moudi Hamadi
ComposerRayess Bek
Country of originLebanon
Original languageArabic
No. of seasons5
No. of episodes52
Production
Executive producerChris Carey
ProducerKatia Saleh
Production locationSaseen Kawzally
CinematographyMuriel Aboulrouss
EditorsRana Sabbagha
Wajdi Elian
Simon El Habre Christian Bitsch
Running timeApprox 5 minutes
Production companyBatoota Films
Original release
NetworkYouTube
Facebook
shankaboot.com
ReleaseMarch 13, 2010 (2010-03-13)

Series overview

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Delivery Boy Suleiman on the Shankaboot

Shankabout follows Suleiman, a 15-year-old, delivery boy. Other characters include 19-year-old Ruwaida and the mysterious 20-something Chadi. The show presents Beirut life and the life in Lebanon in a realistic style. The show's creators cast actors with little to no prior acting experience for a naturalistic acting style.

Additional elements in Shankaboot

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Between seasons, weekly episodes called “Inside Shankabout” were released. These short videos provided insight on the characters’ thoughts, desires, explanations to events and the comical endeavors that surrounded the production of the series.

In Autumn 2010, Shankabout released “Shankactive”, an online forum and showcase platform for creative talent in the Middle East. This platform enabled Shankaboot viewers to participate in creating their own stories through various media and visual means. In parallel with the launch of “Shankactive”, young Lebanese were trained in video production and storytelling through a series of workshops.

Production

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The production of the first season of Shankabout took place in Beirut in December, 2009, largely in the area of Burj-Hammoud, a densely populated town on the Eastern borders of Beirut. The second season of Shankaboot was filmed in Beirut and the Bekaa Valley. The third season was filmed again in Beirut during July 2010. The fourth and fifth seasons were released in 2011. Shankaboot was produced by Batoota Films in Association the BBC World Service Trust and The Welded Tandem Picture Company.

References

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  1. ^ ""شنكبوت": أول دراما على الإنترنت في العالم العربي" [Shankaboot: The First Internet Drama in the Arab World]. As-Safir (in Arabic). 2010-03-12. Retrieved 2015-08-14.
  2. ^ ""شنكبوت" أوصل الـ "ويب دراما" إلى بيروت" ["Shankaboot" Brings Web Drama to Beirut]. Al-Akhbar. Archived from the original on 2010-03-13.
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