PROINTERVIEW
Born and raised in the emirate of Fujairah, Al Kaabi moved to Dubai when he was 16. Having made five to six films so far, Al Kaabi has screened The Philosopher and Hotel Masquerade, both of which won critical acclaim. The Philosopher is a 16-minute film and Hotel Masquerade is about seven minutes. The films are in English and were shot in Paris on 35mm. “We shot The Philosopher in Paris for five days, with more than 100 people. There were two main actors and six supporting actors,” he explains. Abdulla Al Kaabi – the Filmmaker Behind his unassuming demeanor lies a passionate filmmaker, who loves to watch a range of cinema. His choice ranges from European cinema and Hollywood to Indian and old Arabic films, both mainstream and art films. He loves the medium for its immense potential to mirror life. “As a director, I enjoy the power I have by means of films, to give shape to my thoughts. Every film starts in my head with an idea and then I gradually move on to sculpt it.” According to Al Kaabi, films are by far the most effective medium to reach out to different strata of society. “The vast scope of films fascinates me; films have the potential to touch hearts in a way no other medium does,” he adds. At present, Al Kaabi’s films are based on topics that focus on human relationships. “The type of films that I make will have to keep changing. Right now, my focus is
on the family. I want to explore human relationships and the intricacies of human ties. In ten years’ time, I might make a biography or a period film.” His recent film Hear My Voice was dedicated to the deaf community. “This was a very personal cause for me because two of my nieces are deaf. So it was important for me to support the community through my film.” Besides feature-lenght and short films, Al Kaabi has worked on several commercials and fashion films. His first love, however, continues to be narratives. “I am working on an Arabic film. I can’t disclose the details until it is fully done but it is an exciting project and I am looking forward to its completion and screening. The idea for this film came to me from a person sitting next to me on a flight. I immediately set out to work on a script and began the project.” Confessing to being a control-freak, Al Kaabi likes to follow a structure when filming. But he gives freedom to the actors to interpret their roles in their own way. “I improvise a lot and the creative process never stops for me but I like to work within a framework. I make on-thespot changes — something that works better in a situation than what you would imagine when putting it down at the scriptwriting stage. I give the actors enough room to interpret their part and express themselves. It’s this give and take of ideas that adds value to a film.” Al Kaabi, however, says he is not inspired
Abdulla Al Kaabi is presently working on an Arabic film, which he hopes to release next year. Abdulla Al Kaabi’s debut film The Philosopher won critical acclaim at the 2010 Dubai International Film Festival.
“It is not just about getting international recognition; it is about being acknowledged at home, we need encouragement from all quarters. The movement has to continue and progress, which will only happen if the local community engages itself more in cinema”
Abdulla Al Kaabi, Filmmaker
August 2013 | www.broadcastprome.com |
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