Hammam Shafie
Hammam Shafie: Actor, Dancer, Singer, Director, Choreographer and Producer of Stage, Film, TV, Industrials and Commercials for the past fifty years and counting.
Your project takes a part in our festival. What is your project about?
The Secret is a movie about a man who is in a race against his own time on planet Earth to save his beloved wife from a soaring pervasive disease that is now a global crisis.
Globally, the cost of dementia was estimated to be $1.3 trillion USD in 2018 (World Alzheimer Report 2018). This cost will again rise exponentially as the number of people living with dementia is projected to triple by 2050. Our objective is to show the physical, emotional, and financial devastation that this pandemic can wreak on society. Thus far there is no cure, but through projects like 'The Secret' we can educate people to be aware of it, and like the actor in our project who believes that you can cure it if you learn "The Secret", if not curing it, maybe the secret can slow it down.
This movie is made for all spectators, dementia does not discriminate between gender, race or financial status. The subject of this film will benefit mankind
What were your requirements for actors to take a part of your film?
Skills: each actor had to audition for the specific role, and each role had a technical aspect that the actor must pass through to get the part; the dancers must know Jazz/Modern/Ballet and Ballroom, the singer must know how to sing retro well and how to play the guitar and all actors must deliver a short soliloquy and do cold reading.
One other important factor is the chemistry and action they develop interacting together in a scene to make it look organic.
How did you communicate with the cameraman?
Over the years I developed an intimate relationship with key technical crew; cameraman, lighting, sound, costuming, scene and set designer, composers and location scout. We did many projects together; they know exactly what to do and when to do it and they are the director's third and fourth eye. We communicate well and respect each and everyone's opinion no matter how trivial.
What locations did you choose for your project? And why?
We choose the location according to the scenario and the scene, where does the action take place? Embellishment is considered somtimes for high entertainment value.
Why should distributors buy your film?
The writing-story-dialogue is superb, the characters are well defined, the cinematography is beautiful, the actor's performance is great, the music is top notch, the choreography and dancing is Broadway style, and that makes this movie a box-office-attraction, money maker. They should distribute this film not just for making money, but also for the entertainment and educational values "The Secret" brings to the worldwide audience.
What expression elements did you use in your project? How would you characterize your work?
Observations. The language of the characters
Thoughts. Conclusions, inferences, judgments, and evaluations of the facts and thoughts,
The story you tell about the facts, feelings and needs.
My work is not only about filmmaking, it is about working with people on a common goal and achieving it. My work is technical, having Pre-Production, Production and Post-Production planned. Make sure you have a road map for your destination. Storyboard every scene and rehearse it well, if you are shooting in an old school film you can't make too many mistakes it can be costly. If you are shooting digitally, it is ok, however, time is precious. Make sure the baker bakes the bread even if he eats half of it... An old expression...Let the experts do the job...lol
At what festivals have you had success? Has the film already premiered? If so, where?
The Secret has been well received and selected as a semifinalist in: New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Santa Fe, Dallas. Oakland, Vince Italy, Dublin, Paris, Prague, Tokyo, Budapest, and Istanbul
The Secret won Best Feature Film in Seattle Filmmakers Awards, Best Feature Screenplay in International Cosmopolitan Film Festival of Tokyo and Best Characterization Film in the Newsfest Film and Writers Festival. And Award winner in Dallas film Awards.
No, we did not premiere it yet.
What motivated you to become a filmmaker?
Filmmaking has been a childhood love passion. I have been working in film. TV, and musical theater; writing, directing, producing, choreography, music and editing for the past fifty years.
Which movies are your favorites? And why?
I do not have a favorite movie because I like them all, especially the ones that deal with real issues that are both entertaining and educational. What is disappointing in some of these films is the spreading of hate and violence and betting one group or race against another. Some of the current films are fantastic and outstanding in the quality of filming, performance and the humane value. Some films leave a lot to be desired and better off left in the trash bin of history.
What topics do you like to deal with in your work?
I get my inspiration for my films from the human stories that unfold live before my eyes on daily bases. I like to tackle topics that are daring, have not been touched upon, creative and will benefit the humane race, and at the same time can be entertaining.
What genre do you like to shoot and why?
Musicals in movies as well in theaters are more engaging and have a more entertaining way of acting, singing and dancing, they express a deeper explanation of the character's journey.
What project would you like to shoot one day, what would it be about?
I'm working on it now, a movie for Film/TV 13 episodes, each episode will be one hour long, the first one is "Mandy Out of The Wilderness". This project is based on a true story of the beauty pageant show "Miss Hollywood" I directed thirty years ago.
How has COVID affected your film life?
We lost the moment of motivation, creativity, and surprise mode, and we switched to survival mode. That was the year of the apocalypse, we were supposed to complete and release the film in the summer of 2020, and another project universlacasting.com the entertainment social media when disaster struck, and we had to halt all productions.
What do you do if you're not thinking about a movie? What are your hobbies?
During the Covid I learned to cook the hard way, now I'm taking that seriously.
Dancing has always been a passionate hobby of mine; I go dancing ballroom and Argentine Tango three nights a week.
Taking care of my cat Sissy and my dog Abigail, they are my muse.
What projects do you plan to shoot in the future?
Currently I'm working on a black comedy Film/TV series "Hollywood Untouchables". Life during the Covid 19 pundemic was no laughing matter.
Your project takes a part in our festival. What is your project about?
The Secret is a movie about a man who is in a race against his own time on planet Earth to save his beloved wife from a soaring pervasive disease that is now a global crisis.
Globally, the cost of dementia was estimated to be $1.3 trillion USD in 2018 (World Alzheimer Report 2018). This cost will again rise exponentially as the number of people living with dementia is projected to triple by 2050. Our objective is to show the physical, emotional, and financial devastation that this pandemic can wreak on society. Thus far there is no cure, but through projects like 'The Secret' we can educate people to be aware of it, and like the actor in our project who believes that you can cure it if you learn "The Secret", if not curing it, maybe the secret can slow it down.
This movie is made for all spectators, dementia does not discriminate between gender, race or financial status. The subject of this film will benefit mankind
What were your requirements for actors to take a part of your film?
Skills: each actor had to audition for the specific role, and each role had a technical aspect that the actor must pass through to get the part; the dancers must know Jazz/Modern/Ballet and Ballroom, the singer must know how to sing retro well and how to play the guitar and all actors must deliver a short soliloquy and do cold reading.
One other important factor is the chemistry and action they develop interacting together in a scene to make it look organic.
How did you communicate with the cameraman?
Over the years I developed an intimate relationship with key technical crew; cameraman, lighting, sound, costuming, scene and set designer, composers and location scout. We did many projects together; they know exactly what to do and when to do it and they are the director's third and fourth eye. We communicate well and respect each and everyone's opinion no matter how trivial.
What locations did you choose for your project? And why?
We choose the location according to the scenario and the scene, where does the action take place? Embellishment is considered somtimes for high entertainment value.
Why should distributors buy your film?
The writing-story-dialogue is superb, the characters are well defined, the cinematography is beautiful, the actor's performance is great, the music is top notch, the choreography and dancing is Broadway style, and that makes this movie a box-office-attraction, money maker. They should distribute this film not just for making money, but also for the entertainment and educational values "The Secret" brings to the worldwide audience.
What expression elements did you use in your project? How would you characterize your work?
Observations. The language of the characters
Thoughts. Conclusions, inferences, judgments, and evaluations of the facts and thoughts,
The story you tell about the facts, feelings and needs.
My work is not only about filmmaking, it is about working with people on a common goal and achieving it. My work is technical, having Pre-Production, Production and Post-Production planned. Make sure you have a road map for your destination. Storyboard every scene and rehearse it well, if you are shooting in an old school film you can't make too many mistakes it can be costly. If you are shooting digitally, it is ok, however, time is precious. Make sure the baker bakes the bread even if he eats half of it... An old expression...Let the experts do the job...lol
At what festivals have you had success? Has the film already premiered? If so, where?
The Secret has been well received and selected as a semifinalist in: New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Santa Fe, Dallas. Oakland, Vince Italy, Dublin, Paris, Prague, Tokyo, Budapest, and Istanbul
The Secret won Best Feature Film in Seattle Filmmakers Awards, Best Feature Screenplay in International Cosmopolitan Film Festival of Tokyo and Best Characterization Film in the Newsfest Film and Writers Festival. And Award winner in Dallas film Awards.
No, we did not premiere it yet.
What motivated you to become a filmmaker?
Filmmaking has been a childhood love passion. I have been working in film. TV, and musical theater; writing, directing, producing, choreography, music and editing for the past fifty years.
Which movies are your favorites? And why?
I do not have a favorite movie because I like them all, especially the ones that deal with real issues that are both entertaining and educational. What is disappointing in some of these films is the spreading of hate and violence and betting one group or race against another. Some of the current films are fantastic and outstanding in the quality of filming, performance and the humane value. Some films leave a lot to be desired and better off left in the trash bin of history.
What topics do you like to deal with in your work?
I get my inspiration for my films from the human stories that unfold live before my eyes on daily bases. I like to tackle topics that are daring, have not been touched upon, creative and will benefit the humane race, and at the same time can be entertaining.
What genre do you like to shoot and why?
Musicals in movies as well in theaters are more engaging and have a more entertaining way of acting, singing and dancing, they express a deeper explanation of the character's journey.
What project would you like to shoot one day, what would it be about?
I'm working on it now, a movie for Film/TV 13 episodes, each episode will be one hour long, the first one is "Mandy Out of The Wilderness". This project is based on a true story of the beauty pageant show "Miss Hollywood" I directed thirty years ago.
How has COVID affected your film life?
We lost the moment of motivation, creativity, and surprise mode, and we switched to survival mode. That was the year of the apocalypse, we were supposed to complete and release the film in the summer of 2020, and another project universlacasting.com the entertainment social media when disaster struck, and we had to halt all productions.
What do you do if you're not thinking about a movie? What are your hobbies?
During the Covid I learned to cook the hard way, now I'm taking that seriously.
Dancing has always been a passionate hobby of mine; I go dancing ballroom and Argentine Tango three nights a week.
Taking care of my cat Sissy and my dog Abigail, they are my muse.
What projects do you plan to shoot in the future?
Currently I'm working on a black comedy Film/TV series "Hollywood Untouchables". Life during the Covid 19 pundemic was no laughing matter.
