ARFU
- My role
- Co-founder — Strategy, Business Model, Identity and Management
- Period
- September 2025 — founding began
In September 2025, Badr AlFalqi and I began founding the Asir Region Filmmakers Union. Members exchange filmmaking knowledge in a WhatsApp community. I developed the business model and identity and prepared a guide for members. We are seeking an investor to develop the initiative.
Choose document · 4
The work in detail
- It was hard for filmmakers in Asir to find information about local production opportunities. We wanted a place where enthusiasts and professionals could share what they knew.Founding proposal · p. 5
- In the operating model I distinguished the existing community from the nonprofit association we hoped to establish. The model came out of our work on the concept, with incubation identified as a next step.Operating model · p. 2
- I built the mark from four colored diamonds inspired by Al-Qatt Al-Asiri. Each holds one letter of ARFU, alongside the union name in Arabic and English.Identity · p. 3
- We took part in the workshops as founders and built the union’s business model together. We used it to define whom we wanted to serve, what filmmakers needed and how the community could support them.Operating model · p. 3
- In the Tharaa pitch we proposed workshops for filmmakers and support for local films, with indicators for participation and the films receiving support.Tharaa pitch · p. 16
- We proposed a board for production opportunities and crew requests, along with a brokerage to help teams find resources. We identified platform development as a risk and proposed starting with a basic structure. The investor card lists D7M.CO as a strategic and marketing partner.Filmmaking community service model
A community guide to filmmaking
I prepared this guide for union members. It follows a film through production, then introduces the crew roles so readers can decide which one they want to explore. This is a short reading of the original nine-page guide.
Guide pages 2–3
What does a scene need before the shoot?
Preparation starts with the script. The team then casts performers, finds locations, plans the visual design and schedules the shoot.
- Location scouting
- The team looks for a place that suits the scene and can accommodate filming.
- Assembling the crew
- Production identifies the people the shoot needs, from the cinematographer to the production and costume designers.
Guide page 3
How does the crew work together on set?
On set the director guides the performances. Camera, lighting and sound crews work together to record the scene as planned.
- Directing performance
- The director follows the actors through a take and calls for adjustments or another take when needed.
- Sound and lighting
- The crews light the shot and record the dialogue and other sounds the scene calls for.
Guide page 4
How do the shots become a film?
After the shoot, the editor assembles the footage. Picture and sound are refined, the final mix is prepared and the cut is reviewed before screening.
- Color grading
- The colorist adjusts the shots to fit the intended look of the film.
- Foley and mixing
- A sound such as footsteps can be recreated, then mixed with dialogue and the rest of the scene.
Guide pages 5–9
Which part of filmmaking draws you in?
The second half of the guide describes what different crew members do. A member can start with what interests them, whether that is drawing a scene, organizing a shoot or creating sounds.
- Storyboard artist
- Draws shots before filming so the team can see the composition and camera movement. The role appears on page 6.
- Production assistant
- Supports day-to-day work on set. On HATF, my responsibilities included props storage, purchases and catering. The guide introduces the role on page 7.
- Foley artist
- Recreates the sounds of movement to fit the picture. The role appears on page 9.
Source · What are the stages of film production, and which specialty suits you? · 9 pages
Project documents and data
The union’s mark and graphic pattern
Initiative report
The union’s objective
The initiative report describes how the union aims to support filmmakers in Asir by improving production quality and building the skills they need to develop their work.