Recently, Tempo Contributor and award-winning poet, Dorian “Paul D” Rogers, met for coffee and conversation with Michelle Nickelson, founder of Women in Film and Television (WIFT)-UAE, to discuss all of the exciting developments with film and cinema in the region.
Paul D: What is Women in Film and Television and how did you get involved with the organization in Los Angeles?
Michelle: WIFT is a non profit organization that supports women in the media industry. They have been in existence for 40 years, and the UAE WIFT Chapter is currently the only chapter in the Middle East. The backbone of the organization is for women in the industry to support each other’s projects and mentor young, women filmmakers. We try and introduce filmmakers here to experienced industry professionals internationally and have networking sessions where people can meet each other and visiting professionals from Los Angeles. Last year, we hosted Lesley Chilcott, the producer of the Academy Award winning documentary, An Inconvenient Truth. It was an opportunity for WIFT members to meet and talk to her in an informal setting.
Paul D: I was honored to perform at the meet and greet for her. I really appreciated the invite. When did you start WIFT-UAE? What are your long term goals with bringing the organization here?
Michelle: A year and a half ago. My long term goal is to help women filmmakers achieve their goals and bring their projects to the screen. I would also like to see more people here, especially women, learn more about business end of the entertainment industry. That and writing are still slow getting started here and we are working to help close that gap.
Paul D: How long have you been in the filmmaking industry?
Michelle: Since 1993, then a few years off and back in 1997. I have always been involved in the business end and was working in the financial industry between 1993 and 1997.
Paul D: Have you ever acted before or have you always been behind the camera?
Michelle: When I was a kid I was into acting and modeling, and that lasted into my 20’s. I have been more in “the office” than behind the camera. That is something I am starting now… being a producer.
Paul D: Cool! I acted in community theatre in Cleveland as a child and haven’t since. Would really like to get back in to it soon. As a performance poet, I feel like I have really developed some of the prerequisite skills to be decent. You have made quite the buzz with your recent progress with getting MENA Cinefinance going. Can you tell is more about the company?
Michelle: It is an entertainment investment fund. We either acquire or develop projects for an international audience, finance them, then get them produced. I have been very lucky in that I have an amazing group that is behind the company who have international experience in both film and finance. Also our company president is one of the young Al Nahyan sheikhs so it’s a very eclectic, creative group.
Paul D: You are full steam ahead with 51, the first movie production with your company. Tell us a little bit about the movie without giving any spoilers away.
Michelle: It’s a short film starring Navid Negahban from the Emmy-winning Homeland. I wrote the film and am executive producer which means I get to deal with funds. It could best be described as a cross between The X Files and The Fugitive. My long term goal for the project is to develop the story line for a US TV series. If possible, it would be great to shoot this here in the UAE. The film is the first Emirati/Hollywood project where the local film community is working with talent and a producer from Hollywood.
Paul D: You have created ways for people to donate to the production of the film and possibly make it in the film as well. How can readers find out more about this?
Michelle: Check out our page at http://www.aflamnah.com/en/51/ Sponsors can also contact us privately from the website if they wish to do something in kind or want to pay by check.
