Interview
Steve More is the force behind the success of a recent movie Tamanna
With the revival of Pakistani cinema back in place a lot of independent films have emerged bringing forward some of the best cinematic works in Pakistan. Independent filmmakers, both from Pakistan and abroad, see Lollywood as an industry that needs growth. Steve Moore, a veteran director, recently directed Tamanna with Pakistan’s best actors and a compelling script. Doing an art movie in Pakistan was unprecedented and Steve Moore took the bold step of venturing into this field. With the ongoing progress of Pakistan’s film industry, feature films like Tamanna bring a new genre to the market. It is heartening to see that feature films are now being made in Pakistan experimenting with different genres from art films to sci-fi flicks. We talk to Steve Moore, the mastermind behind the movie, who shares with us exclusively his struggles with the movie, the idea behind it and his decision to make it in Pakistan.
Q. How did “Tamanna” come into being? What made you come up with a script like that?
SM: To me it was a process of elimination. Doesn’t sound very glamorous but everything from the concept to the story elements revolve around problem solving. This movie has been an independent project. In fact every movie cast here is an independent project with no proper studios or distributors for that matter. You see we were the ones paying, starting from the scratch five years back we were the investors. Given the limited budget we planned on keeping the location simple with a story that had a very different style, content and involved a twist. Although the original story had males as the main lead only but the twist was added once I introduced the women in it as well.
Q. When it comes to films, Pakistan as an industry is still growing and has a long way to go. Do you think the lack of investors or funds in Pakistan put a setback to the production of your movie?
SM: Lack of proper investment has been a major setback for most of the filmmakers here. I take it as a challenge, provided you have an amazing team to work with and a great storyline, then such setbacks as you put up don’t come in your way. It’s an independent art movie and with a movie like that genre to be introduced in the filmmaking and doing good is going to serve as a source of inspiration for a number of other directors and gradually you’ll see them on the commercial side as well.
Q. As you started your project five years back, even movies like Waar that had a really successful rate in the cinemas weren’t there. What expectations did you have at that point in time?
SM: Even then, I could believe that the wheels of success were turning. I was anticipating the change that came now, five years later. It’s a slow process everywhere and the development especially in this industry takes time. It’s more like playing water polo in the sea than golf. You can’t be sure of what is yet to come; it’s constantly shaping, so on the broader side it didn’t really bother me.
Q. How was the cast of the film decided?
SM: The characters that I wrote needed strong leads. Before I went to casting I consulted Munnu bhai as to gain insight about anything that needed changing in the storyline. He liked the whole idea behind the movie and introduced me to Salman Shahid and Faryal Gauhar.
Q. How has the experience been like working with the Pakistani actors?
SM: I believe it’s a learning process for everyone and it definitely has been that way for me too, working with an amazing team on board. Everybody had a lot to contribute owing to their experience in the filmmaking industry already and with an amazing team like that on board, coordinating together every step of the way has been my greatest achievement so far.
Q. How well versed are you in Urdu and considering you are the writer, how did you manage understanding what the scene was about?
SM: My Urdu is good enough to understand what the actors are trying to communicate. Also, we rehearsed a lot and you kind of get used to the actors and that’s when you start comprehending the dialogues and the emotional sensitivity of the issue helps a lot. But to be honest dealing with it is slightly harder, but again what isn’t hard? One has to work their way up through and it’s not like I just landed and said ‘hey, let’s make a movie (laughs)’. I have been here for quite a while now and I think 10 years is enough time to get to know how things work here.
Q. Did you have any reservations regarding how Tamanna will be perceived after its release in Pakistan?
SM: Filmmakers always have reservations. I for one cannot stop thinking that way until its completion. In fact, even after that I did wonder as to whether people are going to put in their thoughts and understand how big it is and honestly it’s a great feeling to see individuals coming to me and telling me ‘great job, sir’.
Q. Based on the social middle class of our society this movie has touched a very different genre which remains untouched by many filmmakers here. Setting some very common yet very interesting genres aside, how do you find yourself working with a genre like this in Pakistan’s films industry?
SM: I believe it’s not an untouched genre in Pakistan, it’s an unconventional one [though]. The subject matter is not just about adultery. It’s much more complex than that considering how women are considered to property of men, and how prevalent patriarchy is in this society.
Q. Did you work on any other projects previously in Pakistan?
SM: Yes, I have been making a number of documentaries for various organisations. I served as a cameraman — that’s where my expertise lies considering my degree in filmmaking.
Q. Do you wish to pursue any similar projects in Pakistan?
SM: I loved working here in Pakistan but It’s a real shame how people here don’t appreciate their own movies. People here promote international movies more. How do you expect the filmmaking industry to progress to make movies at international levels if the people here don’t see it that way? But there’s more than one way to skin the cat. So, yes, I’m going to come up with another project soon with my team and produce something different like Tamanna.
Q. What were the most common problems you had to come across during shooting?
SM: Load shedding. I even went as far as to adding load shedding in the movie, something that people could relate to. People actually liked it.
Q. Where do you see Pakistan’s film industry in the next five years?
SM: Well, like I said it’s a slow process everywhere, especially in an industry like this. I think there has been quite some development in this industry where you can actually see pretty good movies coming out every year. So yes in five years time I see improvement, I see people coming up with new ideas, promoting new ideas.
Q. Your advice to the newcomers in the industry?
SM: I have seen people rushing it, wanting immediate results. A little effort and they are done. What they don’t realise is that it’s a slow process. One cannot get things right there and then. You need to see, you need to appreciate the facts and every detail that makes your film worth watching. It took five years for me to put up with an excellent team a very different storyline and something that sets it apart from other movies. Who knows a different idea now might not be different then. An independent art move now might as well be a mainstream commercial movie then.
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