Comments on: The Sixth Circle Will Return After These Commercial Messages

By: Fares

Fares — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:35:11 +0000

So that running around aimlessly looking shaddy as hell is going to be in a damn ad? Who on earth would buy a product with an advertisement like that!!

By: Moabite

Moabite — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 02:01:19 +0000

Mr. Nassem, I was interested in the discussion between you and the so-called "FT". I think that you have weak argument against FT's comment . Take the following story as an example: [Blogger X is "not writing as a Jordanian journalist" nor "writing in the name of a publication". One day, this "Jordanian citizen" decides to share his thoughts "after they emerged" about "The Black Iris Blog". Blogger X "shares" very negative "thoughts" of The Black Iris Blog. He "almost guarantees" that the black iris blog is very horrible and disgusting. Moreover, he "safely assumes" that The Black Iris of Jordan is one of the most un-popular blogs in whole Jordan. Though,as sure as he is, Blogger X fails to provide any "scientific" evidence for his almost definite claims. For example, to support the "un-popularity issue", he didn't go back to Alexa.com in order to evaluate traffic details of the Blog. Moreover, he didn't quote what Jordanian bloggers or newspapers had to say about the Blog.] Story ends... OK, it is the mere "personal opinion" of Blogger X that was published. But, wouldn't you describe the opinion of Blogger X as an "irresponsible" and "weak" argument? Don't you, as the owner of blog which was accused without evidence,have a right to edit Blogger X "in the name of argument-strengthening"? Don't you believe that Blogger X post need to be "based on scientific evidence" even though he "isn't a scientist?

By: Moabite

Moabite — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 01:54:14 +0000

My brother has a satellite card attached to his PC. In other words, he can both watch and record TV on his PC. Yesterday’s evning, I watched what my brother had recorded of the celebration in Sports city. This celebration was broadcasted live on JRTV.

I agree with “UmmFarouq”. In TV, I saw a bunch of young men and women carrying large boards, like those in the above video. I believe that the above video shows us the shooting process of the video broadcasted on JRTV.

By: UmmFarouq

UmmFarouq — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:44:23 +0000

Yesterday we saw what the commercial was for; it was featured in the King’s 10 year celebration at Sports City. Anyone else see it?

By: Siwash

Siwash — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 17:54:28 +0000

Although I was not involved in this commercial, as a marketing manager who has supervised several commercial shoots, I feel that I should attempt to rationalize what the advertising company has done. It is true that this action interrupts normal traffic and might wreak havoc for some, but let us look at the benefits.
1) Commercial shoots create money for the economy (the advertising agency, the director, the actors, and all of those extras). From the video, it seems like a good number of people (over 50) were acting in this in addition to all the production people (i.e. make-up artists, DOP, props guy) in addition to the municipality and police. That is extremely important for all of those down-trodden people who rely on the income to make ends meet. Why do we not encourage it instead of attempting to ridicule it?
2) If our government is flexible and pro-active, then success of big productions (which this one seems to be) will breed future success, thus making Jordan available for photo shoots instead of Cairo or Beirut (where most regional photo shoots take place)
I agree that perhaps it should have been done on Friday morning but the lighting is the responsibility of the DOP.
Thanks,
Siwash

By: henno

henno — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:07:11 +0000

hi nas i have been (reading you thoughts)-iam not even sure if this is a true sentence- ,any way like i said ,and i have been wondering for a while now ,and i have a question for you ,and you are free not to answer ,after all we are a free country ,with all your great thoughts ,courge and honesty ,allah bless you,i believe that some day inshalla you will become a very important person in the country assigned by another more important man to work for ,my question is are you going to change your thoughts ,ideas and believes when you become that important man?
as silly as my question sounds sit with your self and think of it .and like i said you dont have to answer ,its just i always wonder why good minds change when they have the power
they wish when they were just good?GOT IT?
allah bless you and kep on the good work,

By: Basem

Basem — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:08:45 +0000

I came to the Black Iris to read an anticipated reaction on Obama’s speech… Just to find a story that reminds us of the little things that knocks out the little remnants of “common sense” that sort of keep us just about sane in our country…

Have it been a foreign film crew hosted by the Royal Film Commission featuring an actual plot with a scene requiring the ambiance of a “busy” week-day cit/Amman; it would’ve been a more edible senseless nugget to much on, but the fact its a crew shooting a freaking commercial… that’s just vomit inducing!

Especially when actual road and directional signs get covered by street-wide billboards licensed by the municipality! (at your nearest underpass from the 3rd circle all the way to the 7th)

أخ بس

By: madas

madas — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:03:36 +0000

Arno, an amusing theory I like it.

for me, it really boils down to rights in this country… the official that allowed this, is someone who does not respect the citizens of this city, or their rights or their jobs or their lives… This person only respects one thing… MONEY!
Hopefully, we will find out which brilliant company is behind this … and with a bit of luck, maybe someone would sue them…. (sigh)

By: Arno

Arno — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:08:43 +0000

But think about it for a moment. If you were a clever government propaganda official and you would want to mislead the public into thinking there is no protest, all you have to do is to surround the protest with police , cut off all access to the protest, bring a camera crew and some lights and and when people ask what’s going on say we are shooting a commercial.

By: Onzlo

Onzlo — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:42:05 +0000

Oh well its annoying, but not the end of the world I guess.

By: MommaBean

MommaBean — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:34:02 +0000

Very interesting. And how disappointing to go expecting to see citizen self-expression and find instead corporate indifference to the very customer they hope to attract. At least when we see the commercial, we’ll know which brand to bypass…

By: Hareega

Hareega — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:04:53 +0000

If they had paid a shit-load of money to the municipality to shoot it that may be justifiiable

I once saw the crew of National Treasure shutting down downtown Philadelphia to shoot scenes from the movie.

By: SimSim

SimSim — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:10:23 +0000

something similar actually happened to me and my cousins few weeks ago ….. we were having breakfast in Jabal 3amman 1st circle and we had to got thru share3 5erfan to go home ….. and here we go they were closing the street but that was for shooting a movie so they didn’t put a sign !! u had to go thru the street, then get disappointed and then drive back !! and it’s one way street !! we were 5 girls we couldn’t start yelling and start a fight because it’s just like 50 meters we need to go thru it made u feel like starting a fight !! but other men did and asked for a phone number to call the man in charge !!

yaaa i guess they got nothing

By: am1

am1 — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:05:46 +0000

Nas, you’re a blogger, and a fine one. Blog away.

That said, Sixth Circle is the one with the Safeway, right?

By: Nas

Nas — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:26:50 +0000

@ft: what does my day job have to do with the price of tea in china? Your expectation essentially boils down to the need for my posts needing to be based on scientific evidence if i were a scientist. If thats your reasoning then you have dramatically missed the point of blogging and this post in particular. Thanx

@suha and amp: wish i knew. I think it was something in the manufacturing sector.

By: AMP

AMP — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:57:18 +0000

hahahaha! what are they selling? i want to buy it!

By: Suha

Suha — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:51:29 +0000

HA I wonder whats the commercial for?
Look at ^ all the fumes coming out of jordanian cars!

By: FT

FT — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:40:24 +0000

aren’t you the deputy editor of a major publication? sounds like a journalist to me.
i’m not trying to edit you. as someone in your position, though, i do expect more than the average rant. i guess expectations are the root of all disappointment, as they say.

By: Nas

Nas — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:20:57 +0000

@FT: I’m not writing as a jordanian journalist (as I am not one to begin with) nor am I writing in the name of a publication. I am writing as a jordanian blogger, as a citizen who shares his everyday thoughts as they emerge. In other words, I can use whatever phrases I want and I don’t think anyone has a right to edit me in the name of argument-strengthening. This is a rant. Pretending that it is anything other than that would defeat the purpose of this exercise. Thanks

@Samer: I have no idea but I assume that’s a question that will be answered soon enough!

By: Samer Marzouq

Samer Marzouq — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 10:30:36 +0000

They cold of done it on a Friday morning, less traffic!

But I wish this is the worst thing we experience on Amman roads; I mean from holes and trenches that spread all over streets of Amman, to the tiny stupid accidents that block main streets for hour(s) until police comes, to the jerk drivers who think it’s ok to stop the car in the middle of the street to say hi to someone or to pick/drop someone.

btw, did you know the company/brand of this TVC?

By: FT

FT — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 10:28:11 +0000

Naseem, please stop using phrases like “almost guarantee” and “it’s safe to assume” in your posts and articles. as a journalist, i would expect more from you. either do the research and fact check where you can actually guarantee, or don’t make such statements. it’s irresponsible and weakens your argument.
That said, I agree it was a nuisance.