An Exclusive Chitchat with the

“Valda’s vision is credibility, efficiency and integrity. “

Mohamed Mahmoud, CEO of Valda Developments

Ahmed El Dessouky Managing Director & Board Member of Valda Developments

“When you hear Valda Developments, you will always remember the most trusted developer in the market. “

AN EXCLUSIVE CHITCHAT WITH THE WOMEN OF NETFLIX’S AL RAWABI

by Aya Aboshady

“Al Rawabi School for Girls” (RSFG) has been making headlines left and right in the Middle East and around the world ever since it was released on Netflix on August 12th 2021. RSFG is the second Jordanian original on Netflix and one of the few Arabic originals on the streaming platform. So far, the previous Arabic originals did pretty well. But “Al Rawabi’’ is a whole other story.

Following its release, the limited series soon became the number one trending in almost every Arab country and globally as well.

The story revolves around an all-girls school where bullying and tearing each other down is the norm of their everyday life but when a revenge plan is finally in action, things get even more complicated in multiple unexpected ways. The drama series is starring Noor Taher, Andria Tayeh, Rakeen Saad, Joana Arida, Yara Mustafa, Salsabiela and is created and directed by Tima Shomali. and Andria and chatting about the experience of shooting the series, how they feel about the story, the audience reactions, preparing for their roles, and whether or not we could keep an eye out for a second season!

How did you feel when you read the script/story for the first time?

Noor: Pure excitement. Every time we received an episode we’d spend hours analyzing every line and visualize what it would look like on screen. I couldn’t wait to bring the character to life and tell her story. Layan is a very complex character given that she is the optimum description of the saying “what you see is not what you get”. This is mainly because despite her tough facade, she is a loyal, good-hearted and sensitive person.

Rakeen: When I first read the script, I felt that it was very well-written. I kept reading and wanting to know more. The characters were 3 dimensional and none were either good or bad. All have both sides instilled in them.

Andria: When I first read the script, I was blown away by all the details and uniqueness of each character. I fell in love with Mariam due to her complex character that comes from being exposed to many tough experiences in the show. I could feel the pain that my character had endured since I went through the same thing. In addition to that, the series consists of 6 episodes which tackle issues faced by young adults nowadays. I believe Tima and Shirin often brought that to light throughout all the episodes.

How did you prepare for your role?

Noor: Fortunately, we had enough time to prepare, so I made sure to be curious about everything by bombarding Tima with questions. I wanted to know exactly what she had envisioned for Layan and how I could add to it. I also had a “Layan notebook” that I would write in as Layan, as if it’s her diary. That really helped me get into the role and prepare for my scenes. The fun thing for me was getting to transfer my real experience in high school on screen and trying to picture myself as the bully and bullied person to get the real essence of the character.

The great challenge I faced was to properly introduce Layan’s character and highlight its different aspects so that she would win the public’s sympathy in some situations and have them demand her expulsion from school at other times.

Rakeen: The preparation phase for any character I portray is very essential. For me, it is a process that includes a lot of meditation, research, reading, music learning skills and trying out new things. Preparing for the role of Noaf required a full transformation into the character on the outside (during prep I had to cut and shave my hair, do a number of makeup tests to get to the actual final look). In addition to that, we did some acting workshops, table readings and discussions with Tima which helped me get closer to the girls and connect more and overcome the age gap between us.

Andria: As an actress, I ought to study everything there is to know about the role I’m playing. And since we had enough time for preparations, I read the script thoroughly to understand my character’s backstory, motivations, relationships with the other characters and many other details that would enable me to truly assess it. I also had a long meaningful conversation with Tima to look for the similarities between me and my character, and I was able to relate to Mariam due to our similar experiences in high school. Tell us about the behind the scenes of shooting Al Rawabi School for Girls. Any special or fun moments you can tell us about?

Noor: The behind the scenes of shooting our show were definitely the best part of the entire experience. The entire cast and crew became this one big family that cares about each other; we were always joking around and having the best time. A memorable moment would definitely be towards the end of shooting when we were at the Dead Sea location, after a long night-shoot the entire cast and crew decided to stay up at the pool and celebrate. We spent the whole day there and ended it with the most beautiful sunset I’ve ever seen. It’s definitely a special time that I’ll remember for the rest of my life.

Rakeen: Al Rawabi was a really enjoyable project for me! We had so many fun moments behind the scenes; whether it was listening to music and having our little party in the makeup truck or doing videos and TikToks with the girls. However, I think one of the most special things behind the scenes was that I was literally working with family and friends. Tima is an old friend of mine and I have worked with her and most of the crew many times before. Sari Silawi, my brother, was our production manager and also played the role of Hazem. My sister Razanah and her husband Oan were propmasters. Our costume designer Farah Karouta is my actual real life school friend and classmate. So this literally couldn’t get any better!

Andria: There were many behind the scenes moments that were truly special to me. Sometimes I would finish filming my scenes, but stay to watch the rest of my castmates. Not to mention our strong bond with the crew which made us feel more like a family! Most importantly, the endless pranks, our sleepovers at the hotel, and the time the crew ran after me when I was eating peanut butter despite my allergies.