By Shaheer Akbar
Filmmaking is the visual art of creating immortalizing moments and captivating scenes. Whether it’s a dying scene of one of your favourite characters, or a You Shall Not Pass cliffhanger – audience can be kept on the edge of their seats wondering what’s going to happen next. The power of filmmaking isn’t just about pressing the record button, it is about utilizing the ability to make people see things in new ways. From travelling across the world to document a powerful story, to creating simple yet engaging vlogs of a day in your life, filmmaking is a tool for creativity and magic.
The UAE Filmmaking industry is still in its nascent stages – the country hasn’t fully grasped the full production of blockbuster films. However, leading Emirati filmmakers like Nayla Al Khaja and Ali F. Mostafa are making their mark by producing some of the most popular feature films in region. Entities such as twofour54 are a hub of creativity and are bringing exciting foreign movies to be filmed here.
Unfortunately it is a difficult industry for young talent to break into. You need more than passion and ambition to make it happen. UAE media student and filmmaker Khalifa Sultan Almatrooshi is an aspiring young talent in the UAE. He is a huge film fan and is working on making a movie. He offers the Emirati perspective of those in the filmmaking trenches, struggling trying to make it…
“The movie I want to create is different than the rest of the films around here, and if I will be able to make one hopefully it will be successful and the people will understand what I’m trying to do and the idea I’m trying to deliver,” he says with confidence. “For example, I have always watched movies since I was a child, but back then I didn’t care or realize what was going on or what the story was about, but later when I grew older I realized what movies were about.
“In modern days, movies and televisions have a great influence on people’s behavior. The movies play an essential role; watching movies is enjoyable and entertaining. It touches people’s souls and offers an escape into fantasy world. Film is not only a piece of art but also a tool of social reform as it expresses the feelings of humans and their idea of contemporary society. Film is the mirror that reflects society.”
“I’m a big fan of films, all kinds of them. I started watching films when I was just a child and not just as a fan. I would like to make one or more in the future and change the original idea of making films in the world of Arab media. Hollywood took a big leap in making movies using the latest technology. The world of Arab media should produce movies with more innovation and creativity by using newer technology which would only available by investing more money into the film industry”.
We look forward to seeing Khalifa’s hopes and dreams brought to the big screen.
