Latest news with #BigTime
Campaign ME
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Campaign ME
BigTime Creative Shop claims milestone Sports Emmy® win
BigTime Creative Shop has received a Sports Emmy® Award for Outstanding Promotional Announcement at the 45th Annual Sports Emmy® Awards presented by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) – a win BigTime says marks the first time a Middle East and Africa-based creative shop has taken home the honour. The award was for Obsession – Usyk 2 Fury Reignited, a stylised promotional film created for Riyadh Season's highly anticipated boxing rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury. The film was conceptualised by BigTime, directed by French collective Megaforce, and produced by Riff Raff Films. Set to Kylie Minogue's Can't Get You Out of My Head, the film offers a surreal and comedic depiction of mutual obsession between the two boxers. From Fury imagining Usyk replacing his entire family to Usyk spotting Fury's face on a sausage – a nod to the fighter's infamous taunts – the film built global buzz around one of the sport's most talked-about rivalries. The campaign was part of Riyadh Season's broader strategy to cement Saudi Arabia as a global hub for major sports and entertainment events. BigTime Creative Shop has worked across sport, culture and entertainment and was recognised as the most awarded independent agency in MENA at Dubai Lynx and The One Club, and named Middle East Agency of the Year at Adfest.
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Five new podcasts to add to your playlist, from the latest updates in Diddy's trial to teens bonding over their glass eyes
This week's recommendations include Big Time, Everything Is Stories, Love Me and Deep Cover: The Truth About Sarah Conmen and chancers take centre stage in this week's podcast roundup. True fans will be captivated by stories that delve into the extremes of the human experience, as well as a summary of the latest developments in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' trial. Piece of Work Entertainment/ Campside Productions Big Time is lots of fun and a welcome, fresh take on the true crime genre. Each episode is opened by everyone's favourite bug-eyed movie star Steve Buscemi. The Reservoir Dogs and Boardwalk Empire star's cameo, albeit minimal, does bring a certain gravitas to the series. He tees up each story with an anecdotal reflection on his life and career. It's a fitting role for Mr Pink and has me questioning how much he is getting paid for his contribution.
Campaign ME
09-05-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
Industry Snapshot: The creative rise from Saudi Arabia to the world
In this industry snapshot, BigTime Creative Shop's Mohammed Sehly shares how bold ideas, cultural insight, and creative trust are propelling Saudi Arabia onto the global stage. What does it take to be a multiple award-winning agency that also helps clients meet their brand and business objectives? It started with building an exceptional team – talent from diverse creative disciplines and cultural backgrounds, all united by one mindset: How do we push boundaries and go bigger? Insight and research have been core to our process from the beginning, especially when speaking to global audiences. We focus on creating culturally resonant work – storytelling that fans instantly connect with, share, and remember. But above all, it requires trust. We're fortunate to work with clients who empower us to think boldly and execute without compromise. That trust has allowed us to explore a wide range of creative expressions – from turning a golf cart into a mobile DJ experience with LIV Golf to designing a bespoke luxury watch with Riyadh Season and Jacob & Co. which was auctioned at Sotheby's for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. It's also taken us from a psychological thriller boxing promo voiced by Kylie Minogue that got us our first Emmy nomination to an all-star production tennis film featuring six of the sport's biggest names. Each project represents a different kind of creative risk – but all share the same DNA: bold ideas, cultural relevance and the trust to bring them to life globally. These initiatives didn't just win awards – they delivered impact. They broke out across social, earned global media coverage, and elevated brand visibility. More importantly, they positioned us as a creative force -attracting world-class directors who now seek to collaborate because they believe in the BigTime vision. None of this would be possible without the belief and support of His Excellency Turki AlAlshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority and Riyadh Season – a driving force in enabling us to take Saudi creativity global. His support continues to inspire us as we build culturally relevant work that delivers results on local, regional, and global levels. How is BigTime helping Saudi Arabia reshape the way the world views the Kingdom in line with Vision 2030? Our work is shifting global perceptions of Saudi Arabia – not just as a market, but as a creative powerhouse. Through global sports and cinematic storytelling for Riyadh Season, the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. Thanks to Riyadh Season, we've produced promos that set new standards – locally and globally. One tennis promo was described as 'bigger than a Marvel movie'. This momentum earned BigTime a place among the Top 12 Independent Agencies globally – a first for Saudi – and the Independent Agency of the Year recognition at Dubai Lynx, Adfest and Cresta. It is important not to group Saudi Arabia within 'Middle East marketing strategies', but instead to focus on marketing specifically for Saudi Arabia because … Saudi Arabia is a distinct nation with five major regions, each with its own subcultures, dialects and humour. With 70 per cent of our population under 30, we're young, hyper-connected, and culturally fluid. Marketers must move beyond assumptions. They need to understand us with precision and nuance – like the TikTok algorithm does. Only then can brands truly speak our language. Brands, marketers and agency leaders in Saudi Arabia must prioritise … Pop culture. If a brand isn't participating, it risks irrelevance. We don't respond to hard-sell tactics or recycled real-time bidding (RTB). We want smart, emotional, and culturally in-tune storytelling. When a message feels native, it sticks. Get it right, and it becomes part of the culture. The biggest marketing disruption in Saudi Arabia in the next two years will be … The intersection of high-quality content, technology, and gaming. Gen Z sees gaming creators as bigger than athletes. The real opportunity is building content with this audience – content that blends smart storytelling with the platforms and formats they care about. The biggest proportion of marketing budget allocation for brands in Saudi Arabia should be towards … Ideas that work. Not fixed deliverables. When briefs are outcome-driven, not media-led, bold and effective campaigns are born – the kind that truly moves the needle. Local Saudi Arabia icons, celebrities, influencers, and gamers will have an effect on Saudi marketing because … We're seeing Saudi creators gain real global appeal – from singers and artists to gaming icons. This gives brands a powerful opportunity to collaborate with talent that's locally relevant and globally resonant. The most important challenge that needs to be addressed within Saudi Arabia's creative, marketing, and advertising industry is … Consistency in creative standards. We've proven we can break through. Now, we need to sustain it – through investment in originality, nurturing talent, and committing to ideas that are media-neutral, insight-driven and globally competitive. My opinion on the brand versus performance debate is that … This debate is outdated. Today, the right creative can deliver both brand impact and performance in one shot. When work lands culturally, everything else follows. By Mohammed Sehly, Chief Executive Officer, BigTime Creative Shop
Express Tribune
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Saudi Arabia announces completion of largest ever Arabic film
The head of the Saudi Entertainment Authority, Turki Al-Sheikh, announced the completion of the shoot for what is said to be the largest Arabic film in history. In a post on the social media platform X, Al-Sheikh shared that the filming took place at the "Big Time" studio, located in the Al-Husn area of Riyadh. The movie, titled 7Dogs, features some of the biggest stars from the Arab world, including Karim Abdel Aziz, Ahmed Ezz, and Nasser Al-Qasabi. The cast also includes popular actors such as Said Rjab, Tara Emad, Sandy Bella, Hana El Zahed, Hala Sedky, and Mona Shalaby. Al-Sheikh added that the film will also feature several international actors, whose participation is considered a major surprise for audiences. In his statement, Al-Sheikh expressed pride in the national talent development program, revealing that the production process involved training young Saudi men and women in various fields of film production. This initiative aims to nurture local expertise while boosting the country's entertainment industry.
Egypt Independent
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Egypt Independent
Video: Turki al-Sheikh's ‘The Seven Dogs' cancellation is April Fool's prank
Turki al-Sheikh, the head of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia, stirred up controversy on Tuesday after announcing the cancellation of the film 'The Seven Dogs,' starring Karim Abdel Aziz and Ahmed Ezz, following a horrific accident involving the crew during filming. Al-Sheikh posted photos of actor Ahmed Ezz during the filming of a large explosion scene on his official Facebook account, writing, 'Due to circumstances beyond our control, after the director and two members of the filming crew were injured, the project will be canceled with compensation for the producer, actors, and filming crew.' Al-Sheikh continued in another post, writing, 'Photos from the accident that injured the director and filming crew, and thank God for the safety of the star Ahmed Ezz.' He added, 'The film will be canceled, and the producer, actors, and crew will be compensated with an additional 25 percent due to their significant effort over the past months. Those responsible for negligence and shortcomings in safety conditions will be held accountable.' Returning to his official Facebook account, Turki Al-Sheikh wrote, 'Hope we never come around with bad news,' indicating that the uproar he caused regarding the accident was an April Fool's prank for 2025. 'The Seven Dogs' stars Karim Abdel Aziz, Ahmed Ezz, Hana El Zahed, Tara Emad, Sayed Ragab, and a plethora of Egyptian and Arab actors. The film also features appearances by international stars as guest of honor. The story is by Turki Al-Sheikh and the Big Time team, with the screenplay and dialogue by Mohamed El Dabbah, and directed by the internationally acclaimed duo Adel and Belal, whose last project was 'Bad Boys 3.'
