TEDGlobal 2010
Jamil Abu-Wardeh: The Axis of Evil Middle East Comedy Tour
Jamil abu-Wardeh: 邪惡軸心國喜劇巡演
Filmed:
Readability: 4.2
1,187,607 views
在看到邪惡軸心國喜劇巡演的喜劇演員，把歡樂帶進中東地區後，Jamil Abu-wardeh 也一頭栽進阿拉伯的喜劇表演世界。他發現，只要能避免談及色情、宗教和政治等話題，就可以在中東世界為觀眾帶來跨越國界的爆笑喜劇。
Jamil Abu-Wardeh - Producer
Jamil Abu-Wardeh believes in the community-building power of a shared laugh -- especially in Arabic. He jumpstarted the Dubai standup comedy scene and produced the Axis of Evil Middle East Comedy Tour. Full bio
Jamil Abu-Wardeh believes in the community-building power of a shared laugh -- especially in Arabic. He jumpstarted the Dubai standup comedy scene and produced the Axis of Evil Middle East Comedy Tour. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:16
This talk is about righting writing wrongs.
0
1000
3000
我要講的題目是：糾正故事裡的錯誤。
00:19
No, the sound's not faulty -- righting writing wrongs.
1
4000
3000
不，你沒有聽錯，就是：糾正故事裡的錯誤。
00:22
The Middle East is huge,
2
7000
3000
中東世界很廣大，
00:25
and with all our problems, one thing's for sure: we love to laugh.
3
10000
3000
儘管我們有許多問題，但有一件事是確定的：我們很愛笑。
00:28
I think humor is a great way to celebrate our differences.
4
13000
3000
我認為幽默是表現我們彼此差異的最佳方法，
00:31
We need to take our responsibilities seriously,
5
16000
2000
我們當然得認真看待自己的責任，
00:33
but not ourselves.
6
18000
2000
但不需要太認真很待自己。
00:35
Don't get me wrong: it's not like we don't have comedy in the Middle East.
7
20000
3000
別誤會，我並不是說在中東沒有喜劇，
00:38
I grew up at a time when iconic actors
8
23000
2000
許多知名演員的喜劇表演陪伴我長大，
00:40
from Kuwait, Syria, Egypt
9
25000
2000
他們來自科威特、敘利亞和埃及，
00:42
used laughter to unite the region,
10
27000
3000
用笑聲征服了整個中東世界，
00:45
just as football can.
11
30000
2000
就像大家瘋足球一樣。
00:47
(Laughter)
12
32000
3000
(笑聲)
00:50
Now is the time for us to laugh at ourselves,
13
35000
2000
現在，在別人能和我們一同歡樂之前，
00:52
before others can laugh with us.
14
37000
3000
我們得先學會嘲弄自己。
00:55
This is the story of the rise and rise of stand-up comedy in the Middle East --
15
40000
3000
我要講的是脫口秀喜劇在中東崛起的故事，
00:58
a stand-up uprising, if you will.
16
43000
3000
如果大家捧場的話，脫口秀就有崛起的一天。
01:02
Working in London as TV maker and writer,
17
47000
3000
我之前是在倫敦擔任電視節目製作人和編劇，
01:05
I quickly realized
18
50000
2000
我很快就發現，
01:07
that comedy connects audiences.
19
52000
3000
喜劇很容易引發觀眾共鳴。
01:10
Now, the best breeding ground for good comic writing
20
55000
3000
現在，培育好的喜劇編劇的最佳溫床
01:13
is the stand-up comedy circuit,
21
58000
2000
就是脫口秀喜劇巡演，
01:15
where they just happen to say that you kill when you do well
22
60000
2000
那一行的行話是：說得好他們就愛死你，
01:17
and you bomb when you do badly.
23
62000
2000
說得不好他們就炸死你。
01:19
An unfortunate connection for us maybe,
24
64000
2000
這聽起來或許有點恐怖，
01:21
but it reminds me
25
66000
2000
但這讓我想到，
01:23
that we'd like to thank one man for, over the past decade,
26
68000
3000
我們得感謝一個人，那個人在過去十年裡，
01:26
working tirelessly
27
71000
1000
不屈不撓，
01:27
to support comedians all around the world,
28
72000
3000
全力協助全球的喜劇演員，
01:30
specifically comedians
29
75000
2000
更特別關愛
01:32
with a Middle Eastern background.
30
77000
2000
有中東血統的喜劇演員。
01:34
(Applause)
31
79000
3000
(掌聲)
01:37
Like my good friends, Dean and Maysoon, at the bottom of the screen,
32
82000
3000
像我的好朋友，狄恩和梅遜，就是螢幕下方那二個，
01:40
who, two years after 9/11,
33
85000
2000
他們在911事件發生二年後，
01:42
started a festival to change the way
34
87000
2000
開始在他們的節目上，
01:44
Middle Easterners are perceived in the world.
35
89000
3000
改變世人對中東人的印象。
01:47
It's still going strong, with positive press to die for.
36
92000
3000
他們還持續這樣做，想為中東人創造正面形象。
01:51
Also, three guys working for years in Los Angeles,
37
96000
3000
同時，有三個在洛杉磯工作多年的喜劇演員，
01:54
an Iranian, a Palestinian and an Egyptian,
38
99000
3000
他們分別是伊朗裔、巴勒斯坦裔和埃及裔美國人，
01:57
created the aptly named Axis of Evil comedy act.
39
102000
3000
創造了邪惡軸心國喜劇聯盟，
02:01
And wherever they went,
40
106000
2000
他們所到之處，
02:03
they killed.
41
108000
2000
都造成風靡。
02:05
Now, I didn't start this fire, but I did pour petrol on it.
42
110000
3000
雖然火不是我點的，但我也有幫忙火上澆油。
02:08
I moved to Dubai as the head of original content
43
113000
3000
我後來搬到杜拜，擔任一家西方電視台的
02:11
for a Western TV network.
44
116000
2000
自製節目總監，
02:13
My job was to connect the brand with a Middle Eastern audience.
45
118000
3000
我的目標是爭取廣大的中東地區觀眾。
02:18
Now, the American head of programming
46
123000
3000
那時，美國來的節目總監
02:21
wanted new local Arabic comedy.
47
126000
3000
要我們製作新的、當地的阿拉伯喜劇，
02:24
In a thick Arabic accent, my brain went,
48
129000
3000
我腦袋裡立刻出現濃重的阿拉伯口音：
02:27
"Berfect."
49
132000
2000
「太胖(棒)了！」
02:29
(Laughter)
50
134000
2000
(笑聲)
02:31
Now, I had friends in the U.S.
51
136000
2000
而我在美國的朋友，
02:33
who had started a successful new tribe.
52
138000
3000
剛好組成了一個相當成功的團體，
02:37
And I had every intention of taking this tribe
53
142000
2000
我非常希望能將他們
02:39
from being outliers in the Middle East
54
144000
2000
帶進中東市場，
02:41
and pushing them over the tipping point
55
146000
2000
把他們推向
02:43
towards success.
56
148000
2000
成功的頂峰。
02:45
Now, as with any new idea, it wasn't easy.
57
150000
2000
但要推銷一個好點子，可沒有那麼容易。
02:47
I had four phases to this plan.
58
152000
2000
我那時規劃了四個步驟：
02:49
First, we'd need to buy content from the West and air it.
59
154000
3000
首先，我們先向西方國家買節目來播放，
02:52
Then I'd bring my friends, and we'd show local amateurs how it's done.
60
157000
3000
然後我會邀請我的朋友來表演，讓當地的業餘演員觀摩，
02:55
We would film that and air it,
61
160000
2000
我們會把整個過程錄成節目播放，
02:57
and then I could work with the local amateurs and write new comedy.
62
162000
3000
最後我們就能和那些業餘演員合作，撰寫新的喜劇腳本。
03:00
I excitedly presented this to the big boss,
63
165000
2000
我很興奮地把這個計畫拿給大老闆看，
03:02
and his reaction was, "Um, I don't get it."
64
167000
3000
但他的反應是：「嗯，真搞不懂你們在想什麼！」
03:07
So I retreated back to my cave
65
172000
2000
所以我只好撤退回我的山洞，
03:09
and continued to support and produce comedy
66
174000
2000
繼續製作我的喜劇節目，
03:11
and let my friends use my couch
67
176000
2000
還把我的沙發貢獻出來，
03:13
as a regional operations hub.
68
178000
3000
讓我的朋友把我的沙發當成中東區營運總部。
03:16
Now, fast forward two years, to early 2007.
69
181000
3000
好，先快轉二年到2007年年初，
03:19
The earth rotated, as did our management,
70
184000
3000
整個世界改變了，我的大老闆也換人了。
03:22
(Laughter)
71
187000
2000
(笑聲)
03:24
and as if by divine intervention,
72
189000
2000
這一切有如神助，
03:26
things came together
73
191000
2000
所有的事都到位了，
03:28
to help this revolution take shape.
74
193000
3000
讓我們的革命能夠成形，
03:31
Here's how the dots connected.
75
196000
2000
讓我們能成就這番事業。
03:33
First, the Axis guys recorded a Comedy Central special
76
198000
3000
一開始，邪惡軸心國的成員錄製了一個喜劇特輯
03:36
that aired in the States,
77
201000
2000
在美國播放，
03:38
and it was getting great hits on YouTube.
78
203000
2000
在YouTube上造成極大轟動。
03:40
Our new French CEO
79
205000
2000
我們新任的法國總裁
03:42
believed in the power of positive PR ...
80
207000
2000
相信正向的宣傳有其無比的威力...
03:44
(Laughter)
81
209000
2000
(笑聲)
03:46
and ideas du bon marche.
82
211000
3000
好的點子就會有du bon marche(法文)，
03:49
Let's just say "value for money."
83
214000
2000
就是財源會滾滾而來。
03:51
I produced in Dubai a show for Ahmed Ahmed
84
216000
3000
我在杜拜為阿馬德製作了一個節目，
03:54
to showcase his new Axis special to a packed room.
85
219000
2000
為他們的軸心國喜劇製作了一個櫥窗展示，
03:56
I invited our new CEO,
86
221000
2000
然後邀請新任總裁來看，
03:58
and as soon as he realized we had a room packed full of laughing infidels,
87
223000
3000
當他一發現我們有這麼多讓人發笑的好點子後，
04:01
his reaction was very simple:
88
226000
2000
他的反應出奇地簡單：
04:03
"Let's make this happen.
89
228000
3000
「就去做吧！
04:06
And one more thing: No, don't F it up."
90
231000
3000
還有，別搞砸了。」
04:09
So I quickly went to work
91
234000
2000
所以，我馬上回去
04:11
with a great team around me.
92
236000
2000
和那些優秀的團員一起工作，
04:13
I happened to find
93
238000
2000
很巧的是，
04:15
a funny guy to present it in Arabic,
94
240000
2000
我又看到一個在阿拉伯表演的傢伙，
04:17
who is originally Korean,
95
242000
3000
他竟然是韓國人，
04:20
a perfect fit for the Axis of Evil.
96
245000
2000
簡直太適合我們邪惡軸心國了！
04:22
This is all true.
97
247000
2000
這都是真的！
04:24
Now, while preparing for the tour,
98
249000
2000
當我們在準備巡迴演出的時候，
04:26
I had to remind the guys to be culturally sensitive.
99
251000
2000
我提醒團員們要有文化敏感度，
04:28
I used the three Bs of stand-up don'ts
100
253000
2000
也就是在中東地區表演時，
04:30
as I call them in the Middle East:
101
255000
2000
要注意不要提到三個敏感話題：
04:33
blue content, keep it clean; beliefs, not religion;
102
258000
3000
色情的話題不好，要純淨；不要談宗教；
04:36
and the third B, bolitics.
103
261000
3000
不要談論政治，
04:39
Stay away from bolitics in the Middle East.
104
264000
3000
在中東永遠不要談論政治。
04:42
Oh course, you might think, what's left
105
267000
2000
你當然會說，
04:44
without bolitics, sex and religion, how can you make people laugh?
106
269000
2000
除了政治、性和宗教話題外，還有什麼可以讓人發笑？
04:46
I'd say, watch any successful well-written,
107
271000
3000
看看那些在西方國家大受歡迎、
04:49
family-friendly sitcom in the West
108
274000
2000
講述友誼與親情的情境喜劇，
04:51
for your answers.
109
276000
2000
不就是了嗎？
04:53
Now, were the Axis successful?
110
278000
3000
那麼，軸心國成功了嗎？
04:57
In five countries, in just under a month,
111
282000
2000
在不到一個月的時間內，有五個國家、
04:59
we had thousands of fanatical fans come and see them live.
112
284000
3000
數以千計狂熱的粉絲跑來看他們的現場表演，
05:02
We had millions see them on TV and on TV news.
113
287000
3000
有百萬以上的觀眾看過他們的電視節目和新聞報導，
05:05
In Jordan, we had His Majesty the King come and see them.
114
290000
3000
約旦國王還親自來看他們表演。
05:08
In fact, they were so successful
115
293000
2000
他們的表演大獲成功，
05:10
that you could buy a pirated copy of their DVD,
116
295000
2000
他們的節目在中東地區正式播放之前，
05:12
even before it was released in the Middle East.
117
297000
2000
你就可以在市場上買到盜版的DVD了，
05:14
Anywhere you go.
118
299000
2000
不管你在中東哪個國家都一樣。
05:16
So everywhere we went,
119
301000
2000
我們每到一個地方，
05:18
we auditioned amateurs.
120
303000
2000
就為當地的業餘表演者舉辦試演會，
05:20
We filmed that process and aired a documentary.
121
305000
3000
並把整個過程拍下來，剪輯成紀錄片播放，
05:23
I called it "Three Guys and Wonho."
122
308000
3000
片名叫：「三寶與王虎」(Three Guys and Wonho)，
05:26
It really is his name.
123
311000
2000
那真的是他的名字啊...
05:30
And all this TV and Internet exposure
124
315000
3000
這些電視節目和網路上的大量放送，
05:33
has led to a great many
125
318000
2000
為我們帶來
05:35
recruits to our cause.
126
320000
2000
大量的生力軍。
05:37
In Dubai this year, we've just had
127
322000
2000
今年，我們在杜拜，
05:39
the first all-women's, homegrown stand-up show.
128
324000
2000
剛剛成立了第一個本土的女性脫口秀節目，
05:41
And notice two of them are wearing headscarves,
129
326000
2000
其中有二位女性還帶了頭巾，
05:43
and yes, even they can laugh.
130
328000
3000
對，帶了頭巾還是能搞笑。
05:46
Dubai, to me, is like a hand
131
331000
2000
杜拜對我而言，就像一雙助手，
05:48
that supports anyone who wants to make things happen.
132
333000
3000
她能幫助任何人達成願望。
05:51
20 years ago,
133
336000
2000
二十年前，
05:53
no one had heard of it.
134
338000
2000
沒人聽過這個地方，
05:55
Look at it now.
135
340000
2000
看看現在，
05:57
With an inspirational leader, I think this year,
136
342000
2000
在偉大領導的帶領之下，我相信今年
05:59
the opening of the tallest tower in the world
137
344000
2000
世界最高大樓的開幕典禮，
06:01
is like adding a finger to that hand,
138
346000
2000
將為杜拜錦上添花，
06:03
that points at all those
139
348000
2000
並粉碎那些
06:05
who spread fallacious stories about us.
140
350000
3000
有關杜拜的不實報導與傳言。
06:08
(Laughter)
141
353000
3000
(笑聲)
06:11
(Applause)
142
356000
2000
(掌聲)
06:13
Now, in three short years, we've come a long way
143
358000
3000
經過了三年之後，我們努力發揚脫口秀
06:16
with stand-up comedy shows happening even in Saudi Arabia.
144
361000
3000
終於有了回報，我們現在也在沙烏地阿拉伯演出了，
06:19
These comics are now going to the New York festival.
145
364000
3000
我們還要進軍紐約佳年華。
06:22
And the Lebanese, brilliant Lebanese,
146
367000
2000
團員裡有個聰明的黎巴嫩人，
06:24
Nemr Abou Nassar, we featured in our first tour,
147
369000
2000
他叫南阿布．納沙，是我們在第一次巡演時招募到的團員，
06:26
has just been performing in L.A.'s legendary comedy clubs.
148
371000
3000
他最近才到洛杉磯的喜劇名人堂裡表演過。
06:29
So clearly, from the inside, we are doing our best to change our image,
149
374000
3000
很明顯地，在我們內部，我們致力於改變中東人的形象，
06:32
and it's exploding.
150
377000
2000
造成了爆炸性的改變。
06:34
(Laughter)
151
379000
2000
(笑聲)
06:36
So, as for the outsiders looking in,
152
381000
3000
而從外部的角度來看，
06:39
watch the CNN report on the second Amman Comedy Festival.
153
384000
3000
看看CNN對第二屆安曼喜劇佳年華的報導就知道了，
06:42
The reporter did a great job, and I thank her,
154
387000
3000
那位記者的報導很出色，我很感謝她，
06:45
but somebody forgot to send the positive PR email
155
390000
3000
但有人忘了提醒 撰寫出現在螢幕下方
06:48
to the person operating the automatic news ticker that appears at the bottom.
156
393000
3000
跑馬新聞字幕的人，也要用一些正面報導互相配合。
06:51
For example, when Dean talks,
157
396000
3000
舉例來說，當狄恩在表演的時候，
06:54
the ticker says, "U.S.: Suspect gave 'actionable intel."
158
399000
3000
跑馬字幕突然出現：「美國消息：嫌犯提供可靠情報」
06:57
Well, if you're used to listening to comedians,
159
402000
3000
嗯，如果你習慣「聽」喜劇表演的話，
07:00
then I'm not surprised.
160
405000
2000
就沒什麼問題，
07:02
Sadly, this leads me to another three Bs
161
407000
2000
但是這二個配在一起，就讓我想到
07:04
that represents how the media in the West
162
409000
3000
西方媒體慣常將中東人聯想成：
07:07
talks about us as bombers, billionaires
163
412000
2000
炸彈、百萬富翁、
07:09
and belly dancers.
164
414000
2000
肚皮舞孃。
07:12
Enough.
165
417000
2000
真是夠了！
07:14
We're not all angry fanatics
166
419000
2000
不是所有的中東人都是憤怒的狂熱份子，
07:16
who want to kill the infidel.
167
421000
2000
想要殺光所有的異教徒，
07:18
We have a positive story to tell
168
423000
2000
我們也想講一些正面的故事、
07:20
and image to sell.
169
425000
2000
也想推廣我們正面的形象啊...
07:22
In fact, one thing's for sure, in my experience,
170
427000
3000
而且，以我過去的經驗，我很確定一點，
07:25
we love to laugh like hell.
171
430000
3000
我們都愛笑到要死。
07:29
(Laughter)
172
434000
2000
(笑聲)
07:31
Here are three questions that I like to use
173
436000
2000
我習慣用一些問題，
07:33
to test the truthiness of our representation
174
438000
3000
來測試媒體上所出現的中東人形象
07:36
in any media story.
175
441000
2000
是否真實：
07:38
One: Is the Middle East
176
443000
2000
第一：這個中東人
07:40
being shown in a current time
177
445000
2000
是否出現在現代？
07:42
and correct context?
178
447000
3000
並穿著正確的服裝？
07:45
(Laughter)
179
450000
5000
(笑聲)
07:50
Two: Do the Middle Eastern characters
180
455000
3000
第二：這些中東人
07:53
laugh or smile
181
458000
3000
在笑的時候，
07:56
without showing the whites of their eyes?
182
461000
2000
是不是都能不露出眼白？
07:58
(Laughter)
183
463000
2000
(笑聲)
08:00
Three: Is the Middle Eastern character
184
465000
3000
第三：這個中東人角色
08:03
being played by one?
185
468000
3000
是否從頭到尾由同一個人扮演？
08:08
Clearly, there are wrongs that need to be righted.
186
473000
3000
很顯然的，這裡面有許多錯誤必須導正，
08:11
We've started in our region.
187
476000
2000
我們從自己開始做起，
08:13
My challenge to the rest of the world
188
478000
2000
至於其他國家的人，
08:15
is please, start using
189
480000
2000
我只希望他們能以
08:17
positive Middle Eastern images in your stories.
190
482000
2000
正面形象來描述出現在他們故事裡的中東人。
08:19
For inspiration, go to one of our festivals,
191
484000
2000
多給我們一些鼓勵，去看看我們的慶典，
08:21
go online, drop us a line.
192
486000
2000
上網看看，這樣就能幫助我們。
08:23
Let's change the narrative together
193
488000
3000
讓我們一起改變現況，
08:26
and let's start righting writing wrongs.
194
491000
3000
一起來糾正故事裡的錯誤。
08:29
I'd like to end, before going back to the Middle East,
195
494000
2000
在我回去中東之前，
08:31
with a quote from one of the greatest Sheikhs
196
496000
2000
我想用一位偉大長老用鵝毛筆
08:33
to put quill to parchment.
197
498000
2000
寫在羊皮紙上的話來做總結，
08:35
As my father likes to call him, "Asheikh Azubare;"
198
500000
3000
我父親稱這位長老為「阿祖巴長老」，
08:38
as my mother would say, "Shakespeare."
199
503000
2000
我母親則稱他為「莎士比亞」。
08:40
(Laughter)
200
505000
2000
(笑聲)
08:42
"And now we go in content
201
507000
2000
「我們所追求的，
08:44
to liberty and not to banishment."
202
509000
2000
是自由，而非放逐。」
08:46
Thank you.
203
511000
2000
謝謝各位。
08:48
(Applause)
204
513000
5000
(掌聲)
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Jamil Abu-Wardeh - ProducerJamil Abu-Wardeh believes in the community-building power of a shared laugh -- especially in Arabic. He jumpstarted the Dubai standup comedy scene and produced the Axis of Evil Middle East Comedy Tour.
Why you should listen
After fifteen years working in UK television, Jamil Abu-Wardeh moved to Dubai with a big idea: to bring modern standup comedy to the Middle East. His grassroots efforts to build a standup scene in Dubai, and then across the region, led to the first standup comedy time slot in the programming of Showtime Arabia. And this led to a ground- and record-breaking tour of five Arab countries: The Axis of Evil Middle East Comedy Tour. Lines around the block, performances for royalty -- the tour tapped into a shared desire to laugh.
Standup comedians on the tour avoid the three B's (blue material, beliefs and "bolitics") but are free to poke fun everywhere else. One of Abu-Wardeh's stars, protegé Wonho Chung, is a Korean kid who speaks perfect Arabic and is wildly popular on YouTube in Saudi Arabia -- proving to Abu-Wardeh that lines between national groups can be broken down if you're just funny enough. The impresario is constantly creating content and chances for aspiring comics, and his work has helped touch off a new flowering of standup comedy in the region.
Jamil Abu-Wardeh | Speaker | TED.com