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
