Film and Life with

Director

Mariam

Abou Ouf

By Francesca Sullivan

Mariam Abou Ouf is a young Egyptian director who has already earned a serious reputation in her short career, with movies Hekayet we Benensaha starring Leyla Elwi, Bebo w’Basheer, and several episodes of the TV drama Lahazat Hariga, as well as contributing to the internationally acclaimed Eighteen Days, about the 2011 revolution. Her new TV series Embratoreyet Meen? will hit our screens this Ramadan, and looks to be her most ambitious project to date. Cairo West Magazine caught up with Abou Ouf on set.

CWM: Who has been the greatest creative influence in your life?

MA: I come from a family of artistic people: actors, singers and movie lovers, so films have been a part of my life ever since I can remember. But if I had to name one influence and inspiration it would be director Mohamed Khan. I love his movies, and he is actually playing a character in this series, which is great!

What is the best advice you ever received?

It was from director Sherif Arafa who told me, “When you’re directing a movie take as many opportunities to sit down as you can, and conserve your energy!”

Which film or series has been the most challenging to date?

This one, for three reasons. Firstly, it has a very large cast that includes small children, and we are shooting scenes with lots of family members in the same room. Including five-year-olds in a scene is always going to be a challenge. Secondly all the locations are real, not studio sets, which is unusual for a TV drama series. But despite the logistical difficulties it was important to shoot in actual places because Cairo itself is an important ‘character’ and part of the drama. The third reason is because I have a lot of personal feelings regarding issues that come up in this story, and I’m having to put them on one side and be totally objective as the director.

How do you see the current state of movie-making in Egypt?

Leaving commercial cinema aside, I actually think there has been a shift in a positive direction when it comes to independent films. There is currently an emergence of young film directors whose concern is to create films about issues important to them, not just pandering to whatever the public seems to want. My next project will be an independent production which I am currently working on with a co-writer.

How do you expect Embratoreyet Meen to be received?

I’m actually a little nervous about how the audience is going to accept it, because it contains experiences that everyone has lived through and will have an opinion about. There are things that some people might object to. But I believe in being confrontational when it comes to my professional life. I really hate it when Egyptians try to gloss over uncomfortable truths or hide our flaws.

Is there an actor you would love to have a chance to work with?

Hend Sabry was on my list but now I have been fortunate enough to have work with her. Another would be Gamil Ratib, a promising actor from the new generation. And from the past it would have been Faten Hamama.

Which is your favorite movie of all time?

From Egyptian cinema it would have to be Esha’at Hob. From international cinema anything by American director Paul Thomas Anderson, or Spanish director Alexandro Innaritu.

Quick Fire-Round

Favorite holiday location?

The South of France

Favorite cuisine?

My own! Cooking is my hobby.

Most recent book read?

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. I’m thinking it would be perfect for a movie re-make transposed to Egypt.

Tune on your mind these days?

Anything by French group Manu Chaw.

Favorite item of clothing?

Jeans and trainers.

Worst habit?

Pet peeve?

People who chew gum noisily.

Perfume?

Aqua de Parma

Biggest extravagance?

Travelling in style!

Guilty pleasure?

Food – something like a chocolate fondant.

Success is…..?

Achieving the goals you set yourself.

Happiness is…..?

A combination of success and being surrounded by the people you love.

Optimist or pessimist?

I’m a realist.

Brains or beauty?

Definitely brains.  

Coffee & Conversation with

Hesham Selim

By Lydia Schoonderbeek

Once a sex symbol for entire generations, Hesham Selim has entered his Robert Redford years: mature, subtle, and confident in his own skin. We met at a local coffee shop, he walked in, sat directly facing me and said, “You have my full attention, you can ask me anything you like,” his voice affably tinged with Egyptianess.

Selim’s good looks catapulted him into fame with his portrayal of suave and dashing types such as Adel El Badry, the overpoweringly good-looking Casanova of Layali El Helmia! But it’s also a look that seems to speak of an old-fashioned film star rather than an actor. Which is he? Hesham Selim chuckles lightly.

CEM: You started your career as an actor when you were still a child. Did you ever consider a change of course?

H.S: When I was 13 years old, I did consider a change of career but the producer Ramses Naguib wanted me to take part in a series. My father came to ask me what I would like to do. I thought about it and suggested that I make a few series but also continue with my education, which I did. Later they then approached my parents to ask if I would like to shoot a movie Tazwir Fi Awrak Rasmeya. At the time my parents were in London and I had been at home for a year not really up to much. So I said I might as well do this, I have nothing else to do. And that’s how it all began.

My dream was to pass the school year. I was always the youngest in my class year therefore it was a constant struggle.

What has been your most challenging role to date?

I don’t have a particular role that I can apply that to. I am always up for a challenge, as I love what I do. I enjoy the role, I do a role that is convincing, I don’t challenge it.

You had a bit of a hiatus from film, but stayed on screen with the weekly program Hiwar Al Qahira, how was that experience?

This is as difficult as film because you’re given a script to read from and everything is very controlled. I am a free spirit; I need to be given more room for expression.

Tell us about your role in Ahl Eskendereya; did you relate to it on a personal level?

Ahl Eskandereya is a serious series about existing issues in Alexandria, and more or less in Cairo. The series covers everyday problems and issues like harassment, religious manipulation, and autism.  There are a lot of things in Ahl Eskandereya that reflect my life. I am a media personality, divorced, and I face similar issues like everyone else in Cairo.

What genre do you feel most drawn to at the moment?

There is no particular role that I could say would get my attention more than the other. For example I’ve only started working after taking 3 years off, if I like the script and role then I will go ahead and do it.

I went to The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute in London to understand the feeling of frustrations that an actor should have. They taught me to enhance the feeling that your face lights up, to express your life. They taught me how to amplify certain movements, for example when you’re under a cold shower and you feel the shivers creeping up your back, that feeling, to create it, to enhance every moment. I later learnt to enhance my expression of feelings on my own, but I learnt the foundations from them. I stayed there for a few months, and I couldn’t handle it, their emotions are bottled up and they express it in such a way that is alien to me.

 Who has been the most supportive throughout your career?

My father was always there and always supporting me. He would always tell me, “If this makes you happy do it, do whatever you want but do it well.”

What rules do you live by?

To be in control of your life, and I offer this advice to my daughters.

 When you finish shooting, how do you relax?

I might travel abroad for a couple of weeks, but then I return to Egypt and go by the sea to relax with friends. It’s the ideal holiday for me.

Quick fire round:

Recurring dream?

When I was around 5 or 6 years old, I used to dream that I could hear someone knocking on the kitchen door. I would be curious, and get up and wander down our long corridor, and I would open the door and there would be a bear. I would then run back to my bedroom, hide under my bed covers.  I was terrified as I could hear the bear coming down the corridor and going into each bedroom looking for me. He would eventually come into my bedroom and lift the covers and I would wake up. I don’t have this dream anymore, but I still remember it clearly.

Guilty pleasure?

I don’t really have one, and I have never been a food person so there is nothing in particular that really excites me. I used to love fishing, but my health doesn’t allow me to enjoy it as much these days.

What makes you laugh?

What’s happening in my country. On a serious note, I have to be optimistic there is a lot of work and a lot to follow up on. We’re better off, we have hope!

Dream lunch date?

If I can it would be with my father if he were still alive. I love having lunch with my friends such as Karim Garrana, people who make me happy. He’s young at heart and lots of fun. He would flirt with you if he were sitting here with us right now!

Favourite destination?

The Bahamas, which I am yet to visit. The USA, California to be more specific, you feel so free when you’re in the States.

Brains or beauty?

Witt

Optimist or pessimist?

I am usually a pessimist, its either I do it or don’t do it at all. I don’t like taking a step, without having a foot on the ground.

Who would give you the best piece of advice?

My parents, obviously it’s always the most genuine advice as it’s in your best interest. I was taught from a very young age to respect yourself and others, sometimes it’s difficult but it has to be done.

Last movie you’ve watched?

Finally, The Godfather.

Building you would like to live in?

I am fine where I am. Once I have peace of mind I don’t mind where I live.

Last book you’ve read?

I don’t read a lot. I have read the Koran many times as it clarifies a lot of things in life and cheers me up.

Finish these sentences

Success is…

Work and commitment, also luck.

Love is…..?

Understanding

Chatting with Multi-talented Hend Sabry

By Francesca Sullivan

Tunisian born actress Hend Sabry has become one of the Egypt’s biggest film stars, a serious dramatic actress who can also do comedy, a glamorous box-office draw with a long list of successful movies under her belt, but also a committed humanitarian and an Ambassador Against Hunger for the World Food Programme. As if this weren’t enough, she is a wife and mother with two small daughters. How does she juggle such a full life? Cairo West Magazine went to meet her on the set of her new TV series, Embratoreyet Meen?, which looks to offer a real treat for viewers this Ramadan.

CWM: What gave you the idea for Embratoreyet Meen?

H.S: I get sent a lot of scripts, but over the past two years so many of them have ignored the turmoil Egypt has been going through; I was looking for something I could relate to, something that would allow us to explore the changes that have taken place in the country. I came up with the idea for the series myself, gave it to script-writer Ghada Abdel-Al and she took it from there. I then collaborated with her and director Mariam Abou-Ouf in developing the characters. We all contributed so it was really a team effort. Taking a family who have been living the good life abroad (in this case, England) and bringing it back to Egypt because of home-sickness was a way for us to explore events we’ve all been going through. The characters think they will have a better chance of settling back home because of changes brought about by the revolution, but it turns out to be a culture shock.

Can you give us a few juicy snippets about the series?

Well it’s a satirical social comedy – you could almost call it a black comedy – not over-doing reality but talking about things that have happened to all of us, a timeline of real events that took place between January 2011 and June 2013, which is where it ends. The day of the first referendum, the Port Said football match disaster, sexual harassment in Tahrir Square, Morsi and Bassem Youssef, power cuts – these are just a few of the subjects that come into it; shared experiences that are all still fresh in everyone’s memory.

Turning tragic events into comedy is a skill. Ghada Abdel-Al has a really satirical way of looking at things, but for the director it’s walking a narrow line. Some things you have to stay away from, and we don’t feature too much death for obvious reasons. But there were some important subjects we did not shy away from, such as religious conflicts, and sexual harassment – in fact a whole episode was devoted to the sexual harassment issue. People always receive things better with a smile. They will consider things they wouldn’t otherwise have thought about as long as you don’t moralize.

By showing these things we hope it will give people a sense of unity through shared experiences. At the moment the country is so divided, and we won’t get far that way. We aim to unite our audience with humor, and remind them we are all in the same boat.

Are there moments in the series that you personally relate to?

All of them! The fear I felt for my kids during the uprising, the Maspero event, the Port Said killings – we were all scared and confused by what was going on. But that’s the nice thing about the series – everyone can personally relate.

Which genre are you more comfortable with, comedy or drama?

This is only the second time I’ve done comedy. The first time was in Aiza Atgawaz (I Want to Marry) and it was a hit. I’m the kind of actress who likes the challenge of juggling between drama and comedy and not being restricted – so fingers crossed this time around! I think comedy is more difficult than drama, and it needs to be daring enough to make people question different issues. For example in Aiza Atgawaz we looked at the way that being a single woman in our society is equated to not being worthy – and hopefully got people to think about and question that attitude. Only comedy can get a message across that quickly.

You are working with director Mariam Abou Ouf on two series for this Ramadan, it seems that you have a good rapport?

We are great friends, first and foremost, and have been ever since she worked as assistant director to Sherif Arafa on El Gezira (The Island), which I was starring in. She is super-talented, a workaholic, and we have the same creative vision; I believe in her. Also she has no ego-problems, which is a great plus for a director.

How do you still manage to find time for your work as World Food Programme Ambassador againstHunger?

I first began working with the WFP in 2008, when they approached me for a project in Gaza. At that time I didn’t yet have children, so I had a lot more free time in between film shooting. I did a year and a half without official ambassador status, and they saw how serious I was about the programme, so from then on they took my offer to use me for their promotional purposes; to raise awareness through my celebrity status. Nowadays they have to arrange my trips around my filming schedule, for example right after shooting this series I will be going to Syria. But it is important. Instead of using our celebrity to model dresses and sell ‘shiny’ things, we can use it to raise awareness of much darker issues, so why not?

Is it a challenge to manage family life and motherhood with your career? What tips would you give to working moms?

Now that I realize how hard it is, I would like to have some tips myself! But I would say avoid feeling guilty. When guilt sets in it can damage the time that you do have with your children. Make it quality when it can’t be quantity, otherwise your children will feel your guilt and it can damage both your relationship with them and your work.

The past three years have been particularly intense for me because of being a mother – I have two girls aged three and one. Fortunately I have a great support system with my mother and husband, but when I’m shooting a TV series in particular it’s hard. I basically shoot all day, go home, sleep, and do a shift with the children when I can.

What is the best advice you have ever received?

My mother has always been an inspiration to me, and she gave me this advice: that I can only ever rely on what I can do for myself, not what others can do for me. She taught me to be extremely independent, both emotionally and financially, and to take full responsibility for my own actions.

Quick Fire-round:

Favorite holiday location?

Any beach – but Tunisia is best!

Favorite cuisine?

Italian

Most recent book read?

Nineteen Eighty-four. It was previously missing from my ‘literary DNA’.

Tune on your mind these days?

It was ‘Happy’ for a while, but now I’m into the latest Coldplay album, which I love.

Favorite item of clothing?

Worst habit?

Being too harsh on myself.

Pet peeve?

Stupidity. I have a low tolerance threshold for stupid people!

Perfume?

It’s been the same since I was fourteen years old: White Musk from Bodyshop.

The most extravagant item you’ve ever bought?

A diamond solitaire ring from Mon Bousin. I got engaged to myself!

Guilty pleasure?

Eating pasta.

Success is….?

Being true to yourself in a way that transmits to others and makes them love you for who you are.

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

Definitely a pessimist.

Beauty or brains?

I’d like to say beauty, but I have a soft spot for brains