The Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (the Hai'a) is to be the subject of a 30-episode television series addressing the “importance of the Hai'a and its relation to Saudis and society”. The as-yet unnamed series, which is being made by well-known Saudi thespians and scriptwriters Mohammed Al-Zahrani and Ahmed Talal, is due to start filming soon and, they say, will “highlight the positive aspects of the Hai'a's work in serving society and the individual”. “We've nearly finished the script which Ahmed Talal began working on two months ago,” Al-Zahrani said. Before filming, which is set to take place predominantly in Jeddah and Riyadh, the script will be put before officials at the Hai'a, however. “Of course it will be shown to the Hai'a, but not for it to be changed, but because there are events which we want to find endings for that are in accordance with the Hai'a's work practices, as they naturally know more about that than me and the writer,” Al-Zahrani said. The series is expected to produce a considerable reaction from audiences and the makers are hoping for local funding. “The series addresses a lot of interesting events, but it will be a costly production, and although we have had offers from some channels they haven't quite met what we require, and we are hoping instead for greater support from major channels, particularly local ones who have a direct connection with what goes on in Saudi Arabia, as the work probably won't be of such interest to others,” Al-Zahrani said. As for women, Al-Zahrani assures that there will be females appearing in the episodes. “There are episodes in which women appear as the events are related to women, but the viewer will have to wait to find out more,” he said.
