Mudon opens up with a tracking shot of its personable host, Omar Alothman, embarking on the beginning of his journey. A camera follows him through Kuwait International Airport, as we see him perform the ritual tasks before hopping on a plane to his destination of choice. The only difference between his travels and traditional travel is that Omar’s are documented through a very honest lens for all to see, unbiasedly.
But let’s backtrack a little – how does the managing partner of Prismic Media, a content creation house, merge his daily life running a business and traveling the world at the same time? Simple, the love of sharing information, a skill that Omar excels in. In fact, Omar is so experienced in the informative field professionally, that throughout his working life, it’s been a common theme.
“I was a host of a TV show by Al Watan called What’s On six years ago,” he begins thoughtfully. “It was a show that highlighted the new trends of Kuwait to look out for – mostly places to hang out. It started off as a 5 minute segment within another show (Taw Il Leil), but the network liked us so much, that they signed us on for a 30 minute program!”
That was only the beginning of Omar’s experience in television. As time passed, under the umbrella of his co-founded content house Prismic Media (along with partner Fahad Alibrahim), he had thought to himself that it would be great to give viewers exposure to a local, non-biased program that was still tasteful, incredibly real, engaging and raw all at once. And so, because Omar and his wife already had such a passion for adventurous traveling, the idea for Mudon was born. Mudon was created as an outlet for people to embrace the true art of traveling.
“It’s only natural that when people travel, they end up going to parts of countries and different cities that are more renowned, rather than those that are a little more obscure. With Mudon, we show the public what it’s like to really experience what a country has to offer” and how do they do that? By embarking in adventure.
Mudon’s Omar Alothman. Courtesy of Prismic Media
In a regular episode of Mudon, you’ll find Omar, equipped with his patch-bedazzled backpack sporting different flags of the world, roaming through different parts of each respective country the episode highlights him visiting. You see him walking the streets of the capital, enjoying local fare, and heading out to internalized villages that no tourist ever thinks to visit.
It’s all great fun to him, though – “it shows the real experience of traveling. I want to know what the people are like – what the food is like, what the culture is like. Traveling itself is fulfilling curiosity and being open to learning new things that you aren’t necessarily accustomed to.”
What’s so special about the Mudon experience is its reality, as well. Throughout the duration of the show, you encounter mishaps and perils that are akin to being on the road. Moments that cannot be staged, such as inconveniences of lost phones and luggage are included.
“Also, we don’t necessarily travel in comfort,” Omar insists. “We’ve stayed in accommodations where we’ve paid KD 3 a night for a room, and we’ve been invited to stay in luxury hotels that charge on average KD 700 a night. We give you a taste of everything, but the important thing to note is that the experience itself is non-censored. Like any traveler would, you can expect to run into all sorts of ups and downs – at the end of the day, it’s real life, not just a TV show.”
And its production has certainly kept Omar on the go! With a contract for 13 different episodes, Omar and the Mudon gang have documented 6 different countries they’d visited across half of the world’s continents. Each two episodes, directed in colloquial Kuwaiti dialogue, center around a specific country on their list of travels. Azerbaijan kicks off the program’s repertoire in its early 2018 release, and we see our host navigating the capital’s streets, reporting historical facts and interacting with the locals of the nation’s capital, Baku.
Mudon’s Omar Alothman. Courtesy of Prismic Media
Despite his enthusiasm towards exploring areas untapped by tourists, Omar firmly believes in the theory that kicking off an adventure in a country you’ve never been to before must begin with visiting its capital.
“Especially if you have no idea about what to expect in that country, or from that culture. The capital always says it all, and it gives you an idea of how the people are, what they eat, what their customs are like, etc. But keep in mind, that regions of countries are different, and cities and villages are never the same.”
Which is why documenting their time spent in the sticks also shows value to the show. In Mudon, you’ll witness Omar, accompanied by his trusty team of crew members (“I couldn’t have done anything without those guys!”) riding snowmobiles in the mountains, washing elephants in the jungle, and even exploring 60 meters underground in caves (a mandatory feat, according to Omar). But, these are the adventures you can only encounter by facing the realities of traveling.
“I’ve also had a lot of practice!” Omar laughs, when asked if his Mudon filming ventures triggered any fears he might have had or inexperience with such levels of adventure – “my wife and I have been traveling this way for a long time!”
Mudon’s Omar Alothman. Courtesy of Prismic Media
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL QUESTIONNAIRE
What do you most value in your friends?
I value the things they have to say – at least those who I am closest to. Their comments have had a profound impact on my life, whether they’ve been negative or positive, they’ve pushed me further and contributed to the man I am today.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Happiness is doing what you love, to the point where waking up to go to work doesn’t even need an alarm. But, full happiness is a family that believes in you, loves you and appreciates your existence under any circumstances
What is your greatest fear?
The loss of those whom I love, or them getting hurt. We live for the satisfaction of ourselves, and the satisfaction of myself is to see the ones I love happy and healthy.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
When I am engaged with work or on top of a project, I am always extremely tense to the point where I allow my nerves to reach their limit.
Mudon’s Omar Alothman. Courtesy of Prismic Media
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
I hate complaining and nagging, and especially hate it when people find a reason in every corner for doing so.
Which living person do you most admire?
My mother and father are one entity to me, and have made me who I am today.
What is your greatest extravagance?
I can’t think of anything specific. I’ve experienced so many things in life, that I’d say being out of the realm of monotony (or making sure I am, rather) is my greatest extravagance.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“Are you wonderful?” I’ve been saying this since childhood, and I still find it appropriate.
What is it that you most dislike?
Monotony. It’s the silliest thing in life.
Which talent would you most like to have?
Remembering people’s names and important dates. I find that a talent, not just a mental ability.
Mudon’s Omar Alothman. Courtesy of Prismic Media
If you could have any job, what would it be?
I never thought of such a question, and I could not find myself hoping for a job I did not have the opportunity to work on.
What would you consider your greatest achievement?
Establishing PRISMIC Media, which is specialized in creative content and marketing. This is the result of many years as an employee in various companies, working in television, and my close personal friendship with my partner, ongoing for over 12 years.
What is your most treasured possession?
Faith. You have to believe in things around you. You will not find in this life a motive and a deeper value than believing that you can do something or changing something.
What is your most marked characteristic?
I am persistent, even when unprepared.
Where would you most like to live?
Kuwait: living safely without worrying about what can happen to you or your family is an advantage in any destination you choose to live in.
Catch a new episode of Mudon every Tuesday at 9:30 pm on Al Rai TV, or on Prismic Media’s Youtube Channel: Prismic Media. For more information, visit Prismic Media’s website www.prismicmedia.com and follow Mudon on Instagram and Twitter @mudonshow for the latest updates.
