Where do you live?
SAAD: I have been
living in Islamabad for like 22 years, and I am 23 now.So I was of an year when
we shifted from Quetta, spent few months in Rawalpindi and then Capital.
Occupation:
SAAD:I am an actor,a film maker, student of media
studies in Bahria University and i can dance too :p
Filmography:
SAAD:Well we made “Junoon Sey”,”Roonuma”,”Radio Kahani”
and recently i made “The Greeting” that got 25K+ views on social media within
first two days. Our upcoming film is “Karb” and along with concept and scriptwriting
i am starring in it as well.
Website: www.facebook.com/karmaflicks
Describe what your job involves:SAAD:It involves Insanity. Literally it do. I can not sit free ,sitting idle disturbs me a lot. My job ,if it’s film making or acting ,needs a lot of brain storming. I am a workaholic person. I want to work all my life with minimum days break. I actually wish my 80th birthday to be celebrated on film set. Such is my love for films.
What are the 5 most important things regarding your
job?
SAAD:5 things important regarding my job .. hmmm ..they are patience , perseverance , hard work , Creativity , and Love. Yes, strong love for films.
SAAD:5 things important regarding my job .. hmmm ..they are patience , perseverance , hard work , Creativity , and Love. Yes, strong love for films.
How did you start in the industry and how did you
progress from then?
SAAD:We don’t have a strong platform for talent here in Islamabad. I wanted to be an actor but i didn’t know what side to go for that. I knew none who could guide me. TV channels seemed to be a good platform . I sent my CV to a channel, they auditioned me and i was selected. But there is a huge difference between selecting a talent and then nurturing the talent. I was only selected. Though I got a television show to host and it ran for a long time on TV. Then I got a chance to work in production team of a project by Azeem Sajjad Sahab. And that was the time when I learnt about production. His persona as a director and way of execution inspired me a lot.I was lucky enough to work with him as an actor after three years in a project “Za Pukhtoon Yum”,(which will shortly be on aired).In the meanwhile i tried my luck in theatre, did few plays in PNCA as an actor, specially with Faheem Azam in the play “Bohat Nazuk Surat-e-Haal Hai” meanwhile I got few wonderful people like Adnan Aziz,Nauman Lasharie, Taimur and Ali Khan. These media people actually helped and treated me like a younger brother. I left TV and decided to work as a free lancer to work for myself only , not under any banner. Plus i wanted to groom more of as an actor. Though i was told by people that it’s hard to get a chance in films and acting should be a plan B.Even few of my friends told me that. What i reply them always is that “Even in the worst circumstances if i could not get any chance anywhere, i would be acting in streets,entertain people even if i earn 50 Rupees a day. I would be happy because i won’t be working then. I would be loving what i will do”. This is how much i love acting.
I am a Pathan, we mostly have conservative thinking patterns. People from my family even told me that acting or showbiz is not a reputable job to do, but i always believe that what would i do with a million rupees, a huge bungalow,5 cars and all if i become something else where I won’t be happy. You should always do what you love.Life is too short to give you chances. Once spent, never returns. But my parents always supported me. Baba always used to tell me that if anyone on earth can do something,i can do that too.
These words gives me such a boost.
What does it mean for you to be a filmmaker?SAAD:We don’t have a strong platform for talent here in Islamabad. I wanted to be an actor but i didn’t know what side to go for that. I knew none who could guide me. TV channels seemed to be a good platform . I sent my CV to a channel, they auditioned me and i was selected. But there is a huge difference between selecting a talent and then nurturing the talent. I was only selected. Though I got a television show to host and it ran for a long time on TV. Then I got a chance to work in production team of a project by Azeem Sajjad Sahab. And that was the time when I learnt about production. His persona as a director and way of execution inspired me a lot.I was lucky enough to work with him as an actor after three years in a project “Za Pukhtoon Yum”,(which will shortly be on aired).In the meanwhile i tried my luck in theatre, did few plays in PNCA as an actor, specially with Faheem Azam in the play “Bohat Nazuk Surat-e-Haal Hai” meanwhile I got few wonderful people like Adnan Aziz,Nauman Lasharie, Taimur and Ali Khan. These media people actually helped and treated me like a younger brother. I left TV and decided to work as a free lancer to work for myself only , not under any banner. Plus i wanted to groom more of as an actor. Though i was told by people that it’s hard to get a chance in films and acting should be a plan B.Even few of my friends told me that. What i reply them always is that “Even in the worst circumstances if i could not get any chance anywhere, i would be acting in streets,entertain people even if i earn 50 Rupees a day. I would be happy because i won’t be working then. I would be loving what i will do”. This is how much i love acting.
I am a Pathan, we mostly have conservative thinking patterns. People from my family even told me that acting or showbiz is not a reputable job to do, but i always believe that what would i do with a million rupees, a huge bungalow,5 cars and all if i become something else where I won’t be happy. You should always do what you love.Life is too short to give you chances. Once spent, never returns. But my parents always supported me. Baba always used to tell me that if anyone on earth can do something,i can do that too.
These words gives me such a boost.
SAAD:Film making is great fun. Sir Robert Altman once said “Film making is a chance of living many lives”. I guess it’s a wonderful journey from roads of thoughts to destiny of execution.
You imagine something, comes up with an idea, takes out pen, write it down, think over it again, make characters, choose actors, fill that character in them, make them act and finally create what you imagined. It’s a wonderful experience. A film maker is actually a story teller , he tells the story by shaping with the help of reel.
SAAD:No, Actually I am an Actor. I want to be recognized as an “Intelligent Actor”. And for that ‘intelligence’ i had to know the science behind the camera. Film making has actually helped me a lot as an actor. I now know how things are done when you are off the camera, how exactly the director is imagining your character and what exactly movements your lighting director demands from you for a perfect shot,as well as how to carry your self in film for the overall strength and harmony in story.
What distribution plan would you recommend (either short or feature film)?
SAAD:There are actually 3 phases. Pre production, production and then Post production. None of them can be ignored or taken lightly no matter what ever the genre of your film is.
What was the inspiration for your film?
SAAD:It’s bit hard to explain my inspirations for my films. I don’t know. They just hit me mind. I actually think a lot. I am always thinking about situations and what would happen if this could happen. I day dream a lot. May be that helps me in getting ideas for short-films. And most of the times i am thinking about the impposibles. I prefer to think differently. Plus I read a lot. I love books. I read novels, while reading a novel I am imagining the characters in it, after reading a page or two I close the book for a while and imagine how would i do that scene, what would i respond to this situation if it ever had happened to me. Let me tell you that the factor “If” greatly helps an actor. It broadens the horizons of thinking patterns and helps an actor a lot to idealize himself in place of character in novel. This i started when i was in class 6th. It would be a part of my daily routine that after coming back home from school i would go to terrace, climb the water tank with UMR-O-AYYAR novels and would read them . Then I would close my eyes and imagine myself in that era.
How long did it take you to write the script? (if
applies)
SAAD:It usually takes me 5,6 days to write script for short films. For feature (as I
am working on it right now) would take few months. It’s a huge project. Needs a
lot of research and homework JHow would you define the actual role of producer in the film(short film or featured film)?
SAAD:Producer is like oxygen to film..hahaha..well , let me be very honest here. The total budget of “The Greeting”, a short film i made against drone attacks and that spread widely within few days, was 25 Rupees only. (Just the stationary items, pencil, paper etc.).
Total budget of “Radio Kahani” was Rs.1000 (we rented two lights for it).None of my film so far as crossed 1000 Rs yet. I believe in the strength of Idea. The idea and the effort behind it should always be bigger than the bucks invested.
How did you get the money for your film (short or
feature)?
SAAD:The amount of money invested in my films so far, is always in my wallet .. :p
hahaha..as i mentioned earlier none of my short film so far exceeded 1000 Rs.
But yes for the feature film i will hit the corporate sector, investors and i
would be needing some good producer to be involved. That would be a mega
project Inshaallah.What are your views about the Pakistani Film Industry?
SAAD:Pakistani film industry is growing. Film makers are emerging. That’s a really good sign. But film makers are needed in bulk. I think we have enough of doctors and engineers, we do need people here in this industry as well. A film maker can play a great part in presenting soft image of his country globally. In present circumstances we do need such stuff to let the world know that ok you have seen that side of us but we are peace loving people actually. The power of cinema can never be ignored or taken lightly. A 3 hour film can actually tell you about the thousand years old culture of a country.
Did you have some promotion/distribution plan or things just happened for you? (if applies)
SAAD:For short films , social media is a wonderful medium to showcase our work but yeah I would definitely need heavy promotions of that feature film I am planning to make. Me and my team will try it’s best to promote it on every medium. I guess I would be the youngest film maker from this country who is going to make a feature film Insha
allah. I am very excited about it. I will try my best to show producers who spends crores on films that a really good film can come up with few lacs if the story is strong and the homework done behind that is solid.
SAAD:Once the script is finished , it then takes me a week to begin shooting (in case of short films).
You’ve recently made a short film “The Greeting”, what’s it all about?
SAAD:It is about the issue of drone attacks. Everyone here is condemning them but i tried to talk about it in my way, through filming. It received great response from people including few officials of few political parties.
How was the response after that short film?
SAAD:People actually liked it, it got hundreds of likes and shares on facebook. First video was “Junoon Sey” and people loved it.
SAAD:People actually liked it, it got hundreds of likes and shares on facebook. First video was “Junoon Sey” and people loved it.
SAAD:There are a lot of projects in the pipeline. People will get to see some good stuff in near future inshallah and I am very much thankful to all of them who appreciated my work.I got great love and appreciation in return and that really means a lot for a student of cinema J
Where can we see your work?
SAAD:My work so far can be seen at www.facebook.com/KarmaFlics
What are you working on at the moment?
SAAD:“Karb”.It’s a short film about suicide bombing. I am starring in it myself. I am doing research and homework needed as an actor, director and script writer for it. I am very much excited about it . It will be released in December 2013 inshallah.I hope people will love it.
What advice would you give to young people starting
in the industry?
SAAD:I don’t think i have reached that stage so far to give advices :p but one thing
i would like to tell everyone coming in industry. Whatever you want to do , do
it “Dil Se”.Stick to your plans. They are never going to be easily achieved,
you have to fight for them. Never take short cuts. The industry you are going
to join is not fully stable. By this i don’t want to discourage you but what i
actually mean is that whatever you do.Do it “dil se”.With passion. Whatever you
do with passion will one day be achieved, for sure !You are the future.
Good luck.
How
can people get in touch with you?
a) your Facebook page? www.facebook.com/karmaflicks
b) your Twitter
details? www.twitter.com/saadfarukkhan
c)
YouTube/Vimeo/bulletfilm.com channel
www.vimeo.com/karmaflicks
what are your views about Islo Times?
SAAD:Young talent
from Capital badly needed a platform where they could come and showcase their
talent. I am very much thankful to Islo times for providing that platform.Islo time is doing a wonderful job.
Plus, I am very much thankful to team islo times for interviewing me . Wishing you best of luck ahead.
Lots of love and respect to the whole team.
God bless you!
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME SAAD IT WAS
REALLY NICE TALKING TO YOU.. J