New York's Manhattan Film Academy (MFA) will conduct a four-day “Filmmaking Seminar” at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), starting Tuesday. MFA president, writer-director Robert Tutak, who is an associate professor of Film at the Brooklyn College of City University, New York, will conduct the seminar, the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia where there are no commercial cinema theaters. The seminar will be followed by a 12-day Intensive Filmmaking Workshop in which elements of screenwriting, acting, and directing will be taught to promote filmmaking in Saudi Arabia. ‘'Anyone interested in learning about the American and European schools of filmmaking, whether they have a film background or not, young or old, male or female, all are welcome,” said Abdulhakeem Hakeem, managing director of Hakeem Productions Est., organizer of the seminar. Seminar participants will receive an MFA Filmmaking Certificate and have the chance to be selected to work on actual film projects. ‘'Participants will be able to meet with actual filmmakers, producers, broadcasting networks, such as, MBC TV, Rotana TV, and City 7 TV, as well as graduates from US universities and professional Hollywood personalities to share ideas and to learn,” said Hakeem. There will be many interactive sessions such as screen writing by Hollywood paradigm, directing in visual language, scene coverage, overlapping action, and still photography, as well as, working with and directing actors, the American school of method acting, and improvisation exercises. ‘'After working with aspiring talents across the Arab world, I decided to establish my company to bring together all our dreams, and create a solid industry in film and music making,” said Hakeem. “I saw that young Saudis were interested in film, but they lacked knowledge and experience. So, I decided to organize this seminar,” said Hakeem who plans to make his own short films soon. __
