Working hard!

In the last few months I have been studying for two courses and doing some teaching at the same time. It was difficult, but I have to admit all the hard work has paid off. I’m proud to say, firstly, I’ve achieved a women’s business course, secondly, nearly completed a documentary and at the final stages of completing my second course. Sometimes, I wonder how I manage to keep it all together but somehow I do!!
The business course was important for me to do as I hope to set up my own production company soon. Creativity runs freely through my veins but maths and numbers I struggle with. These days you need a business head to achieve good success! Watch this space...
As we come close to completing the documentary, I can’t help but feel honoured and privileged to be part of such a experience. I have learnt a lot and still learning as we continue filming. For anyone who is in the industry will know how much patience, planning is needed and thinking on your feet is necessary to make a vision come to life.
I may have started out as a director but it’s not the only role I have played on this project. As we are self funding this documentary, it’s only natural for me to take up other roles. In the last few days I have overseen costume fitting and makeup consultation. It is hairy to say the least!! Mistakes are bound to happen,yes, costly too! For anyone in the business will know taking responsibility is important, you have to be strong willed- no escaping from it.I’m getting there slowly but surely and not afraid of the pitfalls that may come my way.For me, crying tears of joy, frustration and happiness is part and parcel of learning from the experience. Being behind the lens is where I am most comfortable.

As I watch my vision come to life, it is a bit like Dorothy from 'Wizard of OZ'! It's magical when things are going right!!
Phew! If that was not enough, I have one final good news to share. I attended the Annual Leicester Writer’s club dinner a few weeks ago. To my surprise, I received the Trudie Dub award for non-fiction! It recognises writing achievements other than a published novel. In my case it has been blogging, newspaper articles and e- published interviews. I was grateful and happy to receive it:-)

Directing for the first time!

Taking on the role of director for the first time is indescribable. Watching your ideas develop on film is an amazing feeling! A couple of months ago I wouldn’t have believed it was possible. Thanks to Clair Hayes (my co- producer) and Ruth’s Torjussen (whose film seminar I attended) I have nearly completed my first documentary project. Hooray!!!Sometimes we dream of things we wish to do. There will always be reasons and excuses to put us off. It is in these moments we need to take the `bull by the horn’ and show the sturdy stuff we’re made of! This was how it was for me…act now or regret later! My former inner voice won of course!Having Clair our co-producer and artistic director working side by side with me was a source of great comfort. Her expertise with the help of Doreen Fonju our lovely camerawoman, and Farid on sound were the making of a great crew. Being with my experienced crew was a great learning curve. It would have been silly of me to have thought my only job was to be a director.Being on set and behind the scenes is where I learnt most. Helping to change lens, setting up a tripod or fixing the lights are all the things you could normally miss. Being a small film crew they needed my help. In any working relationship it is important to make sure your staff don't feel intimidated. I didn’t want them to be put off by me but instead that I learn from them. Having good communication with my crew helped develop a better understanding of what we all wanted out of this project. Before I started, I was afraid of costs, hiring crew, equipment, being taken seriously, and most importantly completing the project. All things that normally makes people run a mile! Now as we near the end….I am content, proud, and confident that this is the beginning of something important in my life. Directing and co-producing as a woman and Muslim woman is a WOW factor! Watch this space…keep you posted

Ramadan, and the famine of East Africa

The blessed month of Ramadan is upon us again. It’s amazing how the months can whizz by so fast and return to this special time again. Ramadan is a time to reflect on past actions and contemplate in how to change for the better in the future. Fasting is not something physical, but is rather the total commitment of the person's body and soul to the spirit of the fast. I have to admit eighteen or nineteen hours of fasting is difficult but it is nothing compared to the 10 million people facing starvation in East Africa and Somalia. Having experienced the recent mini heat wave in Leicester, it’s just a taster of what the people of Africa must be suffering.
To complain my mouth is dry and my throat a little itchy sounds silly. I may face difficulty speaking and trying to keep to small talk whenever necessary as I try to reserve energy. At least I am healthy and in good spirits. I wonder how they are coping in Africa. My hunger pangs can be quite frustrating but I let is pass. As I know at the end of the day I will break my fast but others won’t. I remember watching the news about one woman tying a rope around her stomach to stop the hunger pangs. What is there to say?
I cannot comprehend the unimaginable horror facing these brave people as they walk hundreds of miles to reach clean water or a charitable organisation. Watching them on TV really brings it home how lucky I am. A lot of these children making this trip with their parents will not survive. There is a lot for me to be grateful for. As I speak there are many great aid agencies working against the clock to get food and medicine to these suffering regions. My prayers and thoughts are with all those involved. Wishing everyone a happy and peaceful Ramadan!

Family weddings, directing and good reviews!

The last few months have been extremely busy for me. I spent half term attending a family wedding from Birmingham to London as the celebrations lasted a whole week. In my experience, family weddings can turn out to be more like Friends Reunited gatherings, where some people you really want to see and others you are desperate to avoid!!!

I was glad to go back to Leicester and attend a one day film directing4 women’s seminar run by Ruth Torjusssen. She is a brilliant tutor with a lot of technical knowledge on filming. Taking her course has inspired to think of making a short documentary. Will keep you keep posted on filming developments.

Yet, the best news I received was a few weeks ago about a short story I published over a year ago. To my surprise, it received a brilliant review from a publisher who is now keen to see the first three chapters of my children’s fantasy. I’m over the moon!

Looking after a young adult

If you were asked to look after a child that was not yours would you do it? Yes I’m talking about possible fostering, helping out with extended family or taking on a friend’s child now and then because they needed your help. Given the current climate, many people would be frightened to come forward to such causes. Don’t get me wrong, I have met good Samaritans who would at a drop of a hat do anything for anyone. Yet, for the majority of us there are plenty of reasons not to do so. Recession, unemployment, family commitments of our own are good reasons to think twice. But, if we all kept making excuses what would happen to the children that really needed our help?
Recently, I was put in a situation where I couldn’t refuse. Going against advice given, I decided to take care of a young adult I knew. Why? If I hadn’t come forward, this young person’s situation was about to get worse. Was I worried, scared, nervous? Yes, but nothing compared to what this young person was going through.
My only other concern was how my own children would react to the situation. It had been a while since a young person had come to stay with us again. The usual emotions of jealousy, anger, and frustration were apparent in my kids to begin with, but, to my relief, they didn’t need much reassurance to change their attitude. I am proud to say they came round to the newest member of our family pretty quick.
I’m not going to lie and say looking after someone’s child is easy. A lot of it does come down to strong communication, listening to what young people are actually saying and respecting their wishes. Most importantly, learning to have patience can help you when confronted with serious problems. Being responsible for a young person is not everyone's thing. Yet in my case it was beneficial. When I watch the news, natural disaster taking place all around the world, the tsunami in Japan, drought in Africa, I have no regrets in what I’m doing.

One day Film Makers Course

I must really enjoy pushing myself to the limits! If it wasn’t enough for me to do the cycling course, I participated in a one day’s film makers course on Saturday. Yes, totally exhausted but somehow managed to get to the Phoenix Arts with my bruised legs!
The great thing about this course it was totally hands on. The instructors Steve and George were totally brilliant, helpful, and hands on. The course went over some of the basics about filming. Close ups, medium shots and long shots. Loved using the Mac book for editing purposes and picked up so many helpful tips along the way. The best part was learning to film professionally. Yes, it has made me think of all the bloopers, mistakes I’ve made on my own film project so far. It’s all part of the learning process. Will have to reshoot outdoors again as spring appears. Sigh…

Learning to ride a bike again!

Seeing an advert for a woman’s cycling course during half term was a great opportunity not to pass up. Having not been on a bike since the age of ten it was going to be interesting to see what happens. My brothers were always putting me off riding because of their dangerous BMX's wheelie stunts. Could I cycle again? Was the big question. There was no harm in trying.
Explaining my half-term plans didn’t go down too well with family and friends. Some outright disapproved, while others emphasised caution, concerned for my safety on the course. Interestingly enough, many people see cycling on the road as dangerous. According to some statistics, cyclists have the highest death rate in London. Was that going to put me off? My worst fear was learning to ride again after all these years. There was only one way to find out.
The cycling course ran for five days at a local school. The first day was spent in a school gym,which was a relief to myself and the other women who weren’t ready to venture the outdoors. After a few false starts, near hits and just missing the wall, I was riding a bike within twenty minutes of starting the course. Not bad! I was a pretty good rider.
Exhilaration, excitement, freedom and independence are the best words to describe how I felt. I was liberated in a way that a car would never allow me. It gave me control, time to think, de-stress from all worries. Burning calories was another added bonus for being on a bike. The other things that I discovered, it was therapeutic, fun and I was more tuned in with nature than behind a wheel.I felt it was the beginning of something important in my life.
What made this project so worth while was the hard work and effort of the female instructors who were running the course. They were the catalyst in helping to bring women from all different backgrounds together. No language necessary, no backgrounds explained, a bond was made. A voice understood. Equal yet learners. Something special was happening. Hope for the next generation. Before I get carried away in this poetic nature, (I have been writing a lot of poems lately- explain later) I will be buying a bike soon. Not to replace my car any time soon, but to ride with my children to the park and other safe cycling places.
This course has given me the confidence to ride a bike again. I’m sure I speak the same for the other women who attended this course. Danger will always be on the road. Pedestrians face it everyday. Taking courage in trying something new is always going to be difficult. Cycling allows you the freedom to use other means of transport than a car everyday. It is cheap, friendly to the environment, great form of exercise and a brilliant networking system for women. It was surprising to see so many mothers on the course during half term. Many brought their children along and it was no problem. Everyone had fun and felt part of the group.
I had my doubts at the beginning, but I'm glad to have done this course. For me the pros outweighed all the cons. I took up the challenge and didn't regret it. It's how you learn. Watch out! You may see me in a charity ride soon!

2011 and Leicester Film Doc festival

A new year begins and I am looking forward to what it brings.Did I achieve everything I set out to do in 2010? No of course not. Everything that has happened to me over the last year, good and bad, has been a learning curve. That’s my take on life. I feel stronger, focused and ready to take on a challenge. I’m ready for 2011 whatever it brings for me!
Recently I attended Leicester First Doc Film. I spent the afternoon watching the following documentaries: Leicester Market by Nick Hamer, A Life in Modeling by Gareth Morgan, Treasure Box, Young Athletes Programme, Islam by Largescale Films, Shut Your Mouth by Keith Allot & Disabled Children’s Service, Photographer. It was a real eye opener. Lots of interesting and exciting stuff going on in Leicester! Inspired to complete my own film project!