Maram Ashour is steadily gaining a reputation as an emerging talent through her work on the films “Ten Hours” and “Embodiment”. The 22 yr old Egyptian media graduate of American University of Sharjah is a writer, editor, producer and director. She chatted with Tempo about her view through the lens of a camera.
Who is Maram Ashour?
I am originally Egyptian, my parents lived in Kuwait and my mother had to travel to Egypt to give birth to me because that was during the gulf war. I then lived in Kuwait from 91 to 99. I was in Canada for a while and then travelled to Dubai and I’ve been here since. I’ve always been surrounded by multicultural people, I’ve learned from every culture and I’ve accepted people for who they are. I work as a freelancing graphic designer, but of course film making is always central to my life.
Why film making?
I have always been an admirer of film. Movies like Citizen Cane and Goodfellas were my first glance into the world of film. I first went into studying history of film and saw how directors thought of every aspect of a movie. It wasn’t simply a story anymore, but part of the director’s vision; something with the potential to influence millions of people. I made my first short film during my third year of university and as cliche as it sounds I fell in love with the art. I realized that it was making films and giving the audience a piece of you was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. From then I continued making more and more short films.
What inspires you?
What inspires me…well I think every person’s life experiences makes them the director they are today. My life, the things that shape me, my family and everything that has led me to this point in my life inspires me to make movies.
The most important thing to me right now as a female director is to immerse my audiences so they can become part of it. I believe I’ve made a successful movie if people related to a role. If people finish watching my film feeling the same way they did before they saw it, then I wouldn’t call that a success.
What are the projects you’ve worked on?
The projects I have worked on reflect heavily on who I am and the environment I was raised in. I have made six short films, one of which participated at the 5th edition of the Gulf Film Festival called “Embodiment”. Two of my short films competed at the Emirates Film Competition at Abu Dhabi Film Festival; one is called “Ten hours” which I co- directed with Sarah Alagroobi, Omnia ElAfifi, Mahya Soltani and Mohammed Mamdouh. Ashar Sa’at (Ten Hours) is about a woman waiting for her man to come home. She waits in anticipation, but through the course of the story learns the truth.
The most recent film I directed and acted in is called “The Settler”. This is a film that many can relate to: it’s about those who too are scared to settle for a life that is less than what they had hoped for. In The Settler a female protagonist speaks about her ambitions and where she sees herself in a few years. Her ambition flows around her filling the atmosphere with life and possibilities, but reality quickly hits as she realises that her father isn’t interested in any of her dreams. Her life dwindles to a series of choices that she makes to reflect the ordinary expectations made of a woman.
Are there similar challenges you yourself faced?
I too have face a lot of challenges, but these are where I didn’t have enough time, where cast cancelled last minute, or cameras broke. I often let the pressure get to me when I direct my films and fall sick…this makes me lose focus for a while as I forget why I am putting so much effort. But then you hopefully have a friend that reminds you why you’re doing what you’re doing, and you pick yourself up and get back on track. When you see all that hard work on that big screen and the audience watching attentively, everything just pays off!
Where do you see yourself in five years?
That’s a tough question and I don’t even know if I have a specific answer. All I know is that I want to be making films and I want to keep remembering that it is the one thing that gives me complete and utter fulfillment.
Any advice to new film makers?
The film industry isn’t an easy one to get into; there are lots of obstacles and barriers. But what not everyone gets is that the best directors make films that focus on the audience: they want to tell a story and touch people in a certain way and that’s the reason they tough it out. So I’d say, don’t go into it for the fame and the glory, but do it to share with people who will appreciate your vision and your dedication. Remember that when you start to lose focus and begin to forget why you’re doing it. Also, if you love it then keep going and keep learning. Take criticism well, and just make a better film the next time.
By Ajir Shujahi
