Tempo contributor and award-winning poet, Dorian “Paul D” Rogers sat down for tea with animation producer, Nassma Al Bahrani, to talk about filmmaking and cartoon art in the UAE.
Paul D: Nassma, where are you from originally and how did you make it to the UAE?
Nassma: When I was at school, they used to call me the UN (United Nations) kid. I was born in the UAE with Iraqi, Egyptian, Turkish, Bahraini roots and I developed a strong Canadian accent. I’ve always thought of the UAE as my home. Abu Dhabi holds some of my greatest memories, friends, and, most importantly, family, so it only feels natural to fly across the world and give back to the UAE through the only way I know how, filmmaking.
Paul D: What’s your connection to film making?
Nassma: I’m currently part of the production/development team at Cartoon Network Studios Arabia. It’s a lot of fun and we get to be crazy creatives for a living. There’s no better way to put it. A lot of what I do involves serious work though. Along with my team, I’m responsible for developing and producing original kids content that stems from the region and has a unique, fun, Middle Eastern flavor that appeals to international audiences. I also manage production schedules, work on budgets, and whenever I can I get involved in the development writing process.
Paul D: What made you decide to pursue this career? Did you receive a degree in animation?
Nassma: The story of how I got into animation is pure luck. I went into university in Canada as a passionate writer at heart but, soon after, got involved in filmmaking, 3D animation, and game development as part of my degree. Along the way I was told by some very influential and inspiring individuals that I had the true makings of a producer at heart, and that’s how my journey began. And you Paul, did you originally pursue an education degree?
Paul D: I initially studied creative writing and then switched over to education in the middle of my second year when I realized that creative writing wouldn’t pay the bills. Now back to you, what are some of the projects that you have worked on?
Nassma: I worked on a number of interactive projects when I was in Canada, one of which was created for one of the government sectors. I also worked on a game called Hideout! with a group of friends that was later released on Xbox Live Marketplace. I also pitched a show idea that I created specifically for Cartoon Network Arabia that was later developed as our first ever pilot.
Paul D: Congratulations on that! So what were your favorite cartoons as a child?
Nassma: Tom and Jerry, Road Runner, Animaniacs, Batman, Superman, some anime shows, Dexter’s Lab, and the list goes on! How about you, Paul, do you like cartoons?
Paul D: Goof Troop, Tailspin, Dark Wing Duck, and Heathcliff. So what do you look for when searching for voice over artists for specific characters?
Nassma: Voiceover artists should be great actors and impressionists. It’s not easy expressing crazy cartoon characters behind closed doors with nothing but a few lines and maybe some early concept art. You should be very flexible in trying to portray the right personality the director is looking for but most importantly the artist should always have a demo reel which would help during the casting process, so no one’s time is wasted if the director decides he or she is the right fit for the part.
Paul D: What do you think the future of animation will be like in the UAE?
Nassma: I think it’s a very bright future for animation and film in the region. It always takes time and effort to build a thriving media industry, or any industry in general, anywhere in the world but with the amount of talent I’ve personally witnessed so far and the great support from places like Cartoon Network Arabia and TwoFour54 I can only see it going up from here.
Paul D: What is your ultimate career goal in cartoon production?
Nassma: I have faith in the quality and creativity that can originate from within this region. What better and more satisfying career goal could there be than becoming one of the front runners in helping to shape the industry here – working along with a group of equally passionate and experienced individuals. The big leagues is what most of us aim for, so executive producing and creating world class content wouldn’t be so bad either! I’d have to say I’m off to a good start.
Paul D: I think so too. Before we end, let me ask you this, if you were a cartoon character, what would you be?
Nassma: A superhero for sure! Maybe secretly I’ve always wanted to be a villain just for fun, but telekinetic abilities and invisibility would be pretty cool. How about you?
Paul D: I would be a hip-hop poetry super-hero, destroying evil characters with a microphone and positive words! One last question, who’s covering the check?
Connect with Nassma – Instagram: Breeze2Seas Twitter: @NazBahrani
Connect with Dorian – Facebook: /pauldtheripy Twitter: Pauldtheripy
