Filmmaking It's a lifestyle

16 June 2006

Award-winning Palestinian filmmaker Mai Masri speaks to Rania Al Hussaini

Mai Masri studied at the University of California at Berkeley and San Francisco State University in the US. She has directed, photographed and edited a number of films that have been broadcast by more than 90 television stations around the world. They include the BBC, PBS, France 2, MBC and Abu Dhabi TV.

Founder of Nour Productions along with her husband Jean Chamoun, Masri's films have won her more than 60 international awards including most recently the Luchino Visconti Award in Italy.

She was in Dubai recently to lead a series of presentations on filmmaking at Dubai Women's College.

I chose to get into this field because personally I love arts. Being a Palestinian raised in Lebanon I have witnessed war abuse and violence; I decided not to stay quiet, and instead express myself in a very strong yet artistic and effective way.

It has taught me a lot, it has empowered me and made me a stronger person, yet an emotional one. I discovered myself through the characters, their stories and through the films. It taught me not to be passive, instead to express my thoughts, even the voice of anger. It helped me bring out all the best that there was in me.

Because I love this job and it is my passion I tend to overlook the disadvantages. However, they are there; it is challenging, risky, and at times dangerous. But the nice part is that you are in direct contact with the people and with their issues and you live with them. Thus you find yourself becoming more humane, understanding and more experienced.

In the UAE, the filmmaking sector is weak; there is no filmmaking industry. However, it is improving and it is planning to build up the career in the hope of stopping the import of Western ideas. These can be problems; and students might not find jobs directly, hence forcing them to leave the country or to use their skills in other fields like the media.

Well, this career is a lifestyle, so you have to adapt to the fact that you would be living with the characters and bonding with them that you would find it hard to get detached from the characters.

Basically you have to be honest, consistent, fully committed, and ready to face pressure, patient, open to various opinions and passionate. Not forgetting that you have to keep on updating your information and keep on learning.

Of course, we need more students and volunteers so they can form an effective group and network to enhance this field.

I am optimistic, in the sense that countries in this region have the full economical support that would help in improving this field.

That is why I think if we really gave this career and field the required support our talents and students will have a prosperous future.