Hello everyone, welcome back to the Bilna Sandeep show. I am Bilna Sandeep, your host for today and you know I’m the founder of Homepreneurs Club which is a women entrepreneurs networking platform and I’m also the founder of two marketing agencies, Built Market Lab and Growwie Media. So today on the platform we have an amazing guest and you know when I’m introducing I feel like goosebumps because I am sitting with the UAE’s first Emirati film director, a female film director.
Welcome on the show Nayla. Thank you so much, that’s a very warm welcome. I appreciate it, thank you.
Thank you so much, I feel so much privileged to have you on the show. This is the first time we are having a movie director and that too somebody who’s been the pioneer in your industry here in this country. So and now your first movie is coming out in the theatres soon, right?
Watch the Podcast
Part 1
Part 2
Listen to the Podcast
Introduction and Discussion about Nayla’s Movie Journey
Bilna:
Yeah. How do you feel about it?
Nayla:
Do you want to say a bit about it? Yeah, fun fact. So a lot of filmmakers and that’s why it’s called film, they strive all their life to make films and then it only becomes a movie when it hits the theatre.
So this is the first time in my life it’s taken 25 years to actually see you know my posters on the street and billboards and whatnot and having it released literally like you know now is a really big feat for me. You know in nine countries as well that is in the MENA region.
Bilna:
Nine countries at the same time it’s going along.
Nayla:
Yes.
Bilna:
Oh very nice and I think you also mentioned it’s coming up in different languages.
Nayla:
Yes, so basically we’re trying to utilize of course artificial intelligence in film and what it does, it is record time in delivery, expense, and also quality. So we also use the voices of our artists themselves to speak in Mandarin, Spanish, Hindi. So it will be like my voice, but in a different language.
Bilna:
It didn’t work that it didn’t work that much. So that is how it happens, like it comes in your own voice but it’s a different language. That’s like you are amazing.
I think you already also speak five languages.
Nayla:
No, it’s someone’s doing very nice.
Bilna:
So and the name of the movie is Three, right?
Nayla:
Like the number and in Arabic it’s three but it’s three. So when they when people go to the website they’ll you know scroll down they’ll see English, Arabic because it’s a bilingual film. It’s a cross-cultural psychological horror film.
It’s not your hardcore horror, so women don’t have to be that scared, but it’s more psychological than anything. And this is a genre that I’m very much attracted to.
Bilna:
I know I think your movies, two of your movies are also on Netflix, Shadow and The Animal, right? Yes, they’re also in the same genre, like horror.
Nayla:
Yes, they’re also horror but again, same thing. They’re more psychological than like your typical horror, I would say, because horror has so many different genres and sub genres. Yes.
Bilna:
Now I just want to learn more about how you came into this industry. And like, for example, if I’m when I’m growing up, and I would be seeing like probably doctors and my family or engineers or somebody. So then I get inspired.
Okay, I want to be like them. But you are the pioneer here, right? Anyway, you are the first female movie director.
So how did you come into that idea? Like how did you how was that thought process? And how did you come into that field?
Nayla:
I think from a very young age, like the passion for storytelling was there, which is probably the same to a lot of filmmakers. But I know I have been able to rip enough curtains in my house trying to make a show for my parents at a very young age. And then I got my first eight millimeter camera at around 11 and a half 12.
And then there was no stopping me after that. No, I didn’t understand at that young age that obviously, this is going to be a career choice, but it was just probably the easiest choice.
Childhood and Early Influences
Bilna:
Which was more like a hobby in the beginning.
Nayla:
Yes. And I kind of, I see how it was also very compatible with my my number one passion, which is painting. So oil on canvas.
And I noticed that a lot of my paintings look like actual film scenes, you know, like if you pause a film set, how would a scene look like? So a lot of these paintings were like storyboards.
Bilna:
Oh, very nice. So it all started from your childhood. And how was your childhood?
Like, did you grow up here? Or did you grow up abroad? How was that?
Nayla:
It was really I mean, we traveled a lot. We we traveled between Dubai, India and Singapore. And I remember like, as a very, you know, this is a family in the early 70s and 80s.
We had this amazing tolerance for other religion and culture. So my dad would take us to all these different celebrations. So at a very young age, I couldn’t really differentiate things that much.
Everything was blurry. Okay, so it broke down what the concept of me and you it was more like us. Oh, very nice.
So in this world, we need a lot of healing. That’s for sure.
Bilna:
For sure. And I think those travels and living in different places right from your childhood would have given you exposure to different cultures and outlook. Right.
And how do you bring that about in your movies?
Nayla:
So a little thing I want to say is that there was this magic cupboard and I would be getting a stool and standing on top of it because I was you know, I’m still that short. I still use tools, by the way. So nothing has changed.
And I would open that cupboard and access my dad’s like incredible, incredible film collection. And whether it was meant or not, obviously, that had such an impact on me as a child. Because I was feeding my mind all these amazing movies.
And one day I would watch four to five back to back. Maybe not at that point of when I was seven, eight, maybe four to five would be when I was my teenage years. But you could see the obsession was starting to grow.
Bilna:
Okay, so your dad was the first person who planted that seed of movies into you.
Nayla:
He would be so upset to hear this because he’s like, don’t do anything but film, you know?
Bilna:
Oh, really?
Nayla:
Yes, of course. And back then there were no role models to draw examples from. So it was very daunting for him to say, Oh, God, my child, who’s also like a bit of a maverick, would get into this field.
It’s a little bit scary. You know, with the whole film business and the reputation as we all know it. Yes.
So at that time, you know, as his only as his only girl, it was very scary for him.
Bilna:
So how did you overcome that? Because I can really imagine, like, there’s a lot of cultural challenges to overcome. When you go into an industry like movies, you might have your relatives and friends.
And you know, Nayla, is it really safe for you out there? So how was that like, how did you overcome that? I became the danger.
Overcoming Challenges and Pursuing Dreams
Nayla:
Simple, you know, like, you know, I became the danger as an instant expression. And I mean, probably doesn’t translate very well. It just means that there was no fear in me in the sense I wanted it so much that I wouldn’t let anyone bully me in this field.
And I empowered myself starting my own production company after school after university. And once that was done, and my confidence grew, every time a new client comes on board, my confidence started growing. But I also have to keep reminding myself that there’s so much I don’t know.
And the learning never continues or stops. But one thing is that no matter what happens, you never let people basically scare you into it. Because it is a very it’s a really scary, big kind of ocean, right?
filmmaking. And how do you how do you go from wanting something to now having a film releasing in all these countries like that’s a big leap.
Bilna:
Yes.
Nayla:
And I always tell people like if you have the incredible willingness to be and it’s not being patient. A lot of people are being paid can be patient.
Bilna:
Yes.
Nayla:
But the willingness to be patient over a very, very long period of time, it will crack, it will happen.
Evolution of Career and Netflix Journey
Bilna:
Yes, yes. And how was it first start like, like, maybe you might have made up in your mind, okay, I want to be a movie director. And what was the first step you took to become a movie director?
Nayla:
It just happened. Like it wasn’t like I pre planned it. You know, I did a film.
My first film in 1996 was called Sweet 16. Nice. I feel so bad saying this.
I’m so sorry, if you’re listening to me, my neighbors, I took their cow. And yes, like a real life cow. This is the way in the early 90s.
Right.
Bilna:
Okay.
Nayla:
And, and I was the film was about a girl who wanted a cow and a belly dancer in the desert to make a music video. The music video was called Sweet 16. And we had to paint this poor cow.
I don’t want to go into more details. But yeah, I shot it on eight millimeter film. And you know, it did some rounds here and there.
So that’s the first movie that you officially did from? Yes.
Bilna:
Very nice. And after that, how I think you also went into studies like you you went abroad to study.
Nayla:
Yes. So I honed my skills. So I went to the Women’s College first and then went to Ryerson University in Toronto, came back out of the production house, ended up doing tons of short films.
So it’s a very good way to, you know, enhance your skill and who knew that one day, two of my shorts will end up on Netflix worldwide. Yes, crazy, right?
Bilna:
And how was that? Like, how did that journey of getting into Netflix happen? Like, did you pitch to them?
Or how is that? Like for somebody new who wants to be on Netflix? What do they have to do?
Nayla:
Yeah, so credit where it’s due. There was a person at the Dubai cultural entity, where they were connecting filmmakers to Netflix. And then Netflix had the choice to look at the films option them, you know, by the rights for a few years.
And then I send them one of my two films, and they really liked it. I said, well, I have another one. So they’re like, okay, fine.
So I sent both and they liked both. And they went quiet. So I thought, okay, they’re not buying these films.
It’s just not gonna happen water under the bridge. So I’m like, okay, fine. I was a little bit sad.
A month later, I get another call saying, oh, we want them. We also want them for world release.
Bilna:
Oh, okay.
Nayla:
Which is amazing, because it’s not just my territory, but there are different territories worldwide, which means you get more value for your film. It’s more exposure and just a much better positioning, I would say. And from that exercise, and also from having gone through my feature film, I got signed up by you know, one of the world’s, I would say most very well put together company called zero management gravity.
Bilna:
Yes, yes.
Career Development and Movie Production Backend
Nayla:
Zero gravity management and big shout out to my manager, Sarah or not, was looking out for me. So what they do is they manage directors and writers, artists, and find them project that match their aesthetic sense.
Bilna:
Oh, great, great. So that’s how the next step into a movie, movie making happen.
Nayla:
Yes.
Bilna:
And just before we entered, we were talking about the back end of producing the movie that is going to come out, right? How did that happen? Like, getting the producers or getting the money?
That’s the first part of it, right? Like, how did you go about it? Like, how is that?
Nayla:
I actually have a workshop, a three hour workshop about how to raise money for your first film at the Sharjah entrepreneurial festival.
Bilna:
I’m attending this.
Nayla:
Okay, so I’m actually doing a very in depth, like three hours, which we’re not gonna do right now.
Bilna:
Okay.
Nayla:
But just to summarize it, I would say, each person would have their own methodology of raising money. I would say, like, don’t cook on gas, meaning don’t raise all of it through cash. Yes.
Through equity. So try to find different aspects. So for instance, my film, let’s say, just a round figure, let’s say it costs 4.5 million US as an example, not saying it costs that much. But, you know, since my since 90% of my script takes place in inside interior, right inside people’s homes, and hospitals and whatnot. By taking the film physically to another country, like for example, Thailand, where we shot Bangkok, we were able to cut the budget literally in half.
Bilna:
Okay, so that’s about the cost cutting and bringing the optimum cost pricing and everything.
Nayla:
Correct. And then of course, there are other ways like applying for film grants, you know, cashback, there are a lot of rebates now in the world, Abu Dhabi is giving 30%, Saudi is giving 40%, Malta is giving 40%. So there are a lot of countries that give cash back, depending on if you use their local talent and crew and whatnot.
So financial plans, as we call them in film, need to be divided into different categories. So you’re not putting all your eggs in one basket. One basket.
Bilna:
And I think it’s great that you’re doing a workshop on this as well. Because when you have the workshop, there might be a lot of other women who wants to be like you who wants to be in your place. So it’s amazing that you’re going to be sharing your knowledge as well.
So if they register for the Shahjahan Upanishad Festival, they can come and attend your workshop as well. That’s amazing. And when you were doing, did you have a guide who were actually helping you in this process?
Nayla:
If this was 18 plus, I’ll speak some very beautiful Hindi Gali, you know. Because no, I had to figure it out all yourself. Painful, painful.
I mean, I remember a time where I shot on super 35 millimeter and we had to fly in like basic stuff, like, you know, gels and filters and, and just, you know, specific lenses, like there was just nothing. I mean, we’re talking, you know, very early times here, where digital media didn’t even exist. I mean, you know, it was 16 millimeter films.
I have a 16 millimeter film on YouTube actually called Once. It’s quite interesting. It’s about how women date in secret.
Oh, back in the old days, you know, because it was just almost impossible. So I chased a girl who went on a rendezvous journey. She gets busted in the end.
But we shot on super 60. And it was very like rogue and very guerrilla style filmmaking.
Resourcefulness and Brand Equity
Bilna:
So I mean, like, if you have an idea, you just go about it. It’s more like push, push, push till you find a solution.
Nayla:
Yeah, I think one of the best I stumbled into this as a very young child, I was 16. And I raised, I’ve been raising money since 16. And it was for an art gallery and a very well known brand.
I’m not going to mention them also related to milk. They decided to sponsor this gallery and I was able to speak to them. And I think I raised something like 5000 dirhams.
It was a small step. Yes, it was a big deal for a 16 year old.
Bilna:
That’s the first step that you did in terms of raising the money.
Nayla:
And what I noticed is that because they were associated to the to the art gallery. And at that time, they were like very posh brand. It just changed the perspective of people how they looked at that gallery.
And I thought this is interesting. Basically, as I grew older, I mean, at that time, let’s be honest, I didn’t look back and say, Oh, this is interesting, because that’s going to be BS. But as a person now I see back that Oh, what I kept doing over time is brand equity.
So the brands that you bring, don’t get don’t take money from them sometimes, like if you get a massive brand, okay, sometimes you don’t need their money, you just need their name brand it to use their PR firepower. Exactly. And once you attach that to your project, then you go raise money.
Because now it’s me plus this.
Bilna:
Yes.
Nayla:
And if they trusted me with their name, you can also trust me with your game. I didn’t mean that to rhyme. I’m so sorry.
That was really cheesy.
Bilna:
But I think that is a huge point that you’re putting it out there for anybody starting out not just in your movie industry, even in a lot of other industries, right? Like when you have the name, brand name associated, the trust level that goes is absolutely high.
Nayla:
Yeah, I’m sure it’s applicable to a lot of things like events, you know, and whatnot.
Bilna:
It’s applicable to every entrepreneur starting out whatever service sector they are in.
Nayla:
My last advice, marry well.
Bilna:
Marry the right brands. Marry good humans. Now, since you brought the topic of marriage also, right?
How is how important is to have the support of your partner, your spouse in an industry like yours?
Nayla:
Oh, my God, like, boundless, you know, endless, limitless. I can’t I can go on with my synonyms. Because without my husband, this is absolutely impossible.
I know. He is extremely hands on with the kids. And he’s a really smart, stable, grounded human being.
We kind of balance each other because I’m a bit more like, I guess chaotic is the right word with the way I do things because I like to take risks. Okay, he has now with his investments, but like more calculated risk than I would. But his sense of logic and also his background in finance is so incredible for what I do.
So we do compliment each other.
Gender Dynamics in the Film Industry and Women Empowerment
Bilna:
Yes, your weakness is a strength and his weakness is your strength.
Nayla:
Or both of our strength is just an extra strength.
Bilna:
Very nice. Very good. Very good.
So you are filling each of those gaps, right? Basically. And now, even in in your industry, it’s more of a male dominated industry.
Nayla:
Oh, my God. Yes.
Bilna:
So what is that feeling like?
Nayla:
I shot a film and I mean, you’re from South India, shot a film in Kerala in Munnar. And I remember there, I went there with an intern. So she’s not like official crew, it’s an intern, which is still fine.
And I had my producer who is a female producer. And we just looked around. And we’re in the middle of the forest.
Okay, it was a Tata plantation. Yes. And maybe not the actual plantation.
Yeah, in the forest area. Sorry, I forgot the actual name. And I remember there was like a river and lots of crew members.
And I looked at her and I said, you know, maybe she said that I can’t remember, but that really struck really crazy. She’s like, if all of these men decide to get rid of us, no one will ever know. We’re in the middle of nowhere.
There are 98 guys or 97. I don’t know. And we’re the only two females on set.
Oh, my God. And we’re annoying them because I’m the director and you’re the producer. And of course not.
I mean, this is an exaggeration. They were amazing human beings. They were just like really lovely and, you know, helpful.
We had a fantastic experience in South India. But just to let you know the huge, how male dominated it is, right? Yeah.
So you could say it was like 99.9%. Yeah, now things have changed a little still slow.
Bilna:
But still it’s getting better. More women are coming in.
Nayla:
3% of all females are cinematographers worldwide, such a small number, which is kind of heartbreaking. And then directors wave like move between 9% to 11%. It’s not great.
Producers, we have more 30 plus 30% plus our female producers. But with directors, we’re still, let’s say what for every like 10 big films, maybe we’re lucky we get one, not even I would say maybe for every 15. Yeah, so but I think it’s changing every day now, right?
The yeah, this landscape has changed, like with all the big films like Barbie coming out and Wonder Woman. And I mean, there’s always a big gap between one big film, like a lot of people don’t know that American Psycho was actually directed by a female. Yeah, nice.
Even I didn’t know that.
Bilna:
So I think it’s more of more women like now you are in the industry. And now you are actually promoting it a lot in different ways. Like you, you stand for women empowerment, and you do a lot of sessions for that, right?
So how important is it for women to support other women and bring more people into your industry?
Nayla:
Oh, again, so important. For example, the first person who believed or gave me a break in my feature film is a woman when I’ll get Oh, very nice. Yes, hats off to her.
She’s intrinsically and forever focused on empowering women. She has a new initiative called meme. Okay, where she’s the founder where they empower women in the MENA region, very nice, through different initiatives.
So it’s a very wonderful kind of human being the kind of work she does. Of course, she’s very far from film, and it’s her first movie. But because she saw the short on Netflix, okay, she’s like, this needs to turn into a feature film.
Nayla:
The topic was very relevant to the Arab world.
Bilna:
OK.
Securing Investors and Managing Film Production
Nayla:
And then Sultan Darmaki came on board. He sponsored my short. So there was an affiliation there prior to Umina as well.
And then, you know, for a while it was just her. And then he’s like, I’m in. So then Sultan came in and then, you know, then I had my third investor, who’s an Indian guy who has nothing to do with film.
He’s into perfumery. Oh, and he took a chance on me. And then my fourth investor came on board for my second film.
OK, so it just, you know, it just happened.
Bilna:
Like one after the other, it started happening. Yes. And now when it comes to like investors, right.
Now, if I was going to start a movie, get into the movie industry from an investor point of view, what do you think I have to be prepared for? Like, you know, what do I tell them? Like, what do they get in return for sponsoring me?
You know, how is that sort of conversations like?
Nayla:
So as remember when I spoke about the financial plans. So always try to keep the investors money as low as possible so that you have more freedom. No, no, you can.
No, actually, even if they give you 100 percent, you can still have freedom by having something called white enjoyment.
Bilna:
Yes. OK.
Nayla:
Yes. But from the artistic point of view.
Bilna:
Yes.
Nayla:
But they need to know that the people managing their money have experience. So, for instance, I haven’t done 20 plus films. Right.
Bilna:
OK.
Nayla:
Then I had to remember brand equity. So I had to find humans. Yes.
Who have done many films before that to me are my brand equity for those investors.
Bilna:
So they’re like you brought them on board. Yeah. Along with you.
Nayla:
They’re like your insurance, basically. You know, you’re buying an insurance. You can hire producers who have done it before.
Bilna:
OK.
Nayla:
With a successful record, because they will know how to guide you through the process and how to manage the whole fund. Correct. Correct.
Bilna:
Yes, that’s right. It’s more important to have those experienced hands on your project.
Nayla:
And you have a professional media lawyers. I mean, it’s crazy if it’s a family tree. It’s it’s a very wicked family tree.
Bilna:
Yeah.
Nayla:
One bad apple can cause a big problem.
Bilna:
Yes. Right. And how do you as a director, your eyes need to reach everywhere.
Nayla:
Right.
Bilna:
So how do you manage that part of it? Like, you know, like have you had any bad experiences while shooting the movies?
Nayla:
Yeah, of course.
Bilna:
All the time.
Nayla:
I shot my film in the middle of covid. I mean, you can’t get worse than that. It was the horror.
I always say like the horror of making it was worse than the actual horror.
Bilna:
OK.
Nayla:
It was it was deep anxiety. Every day we take the covid test over 200 people.
Bilna:
It was like when you shot in Kerala that.
Nayla:
No, this is the Bangkok, the one that’s coming out.
Bilna:
The one that’s going to sacrifice for making this film.
Nayla:
So because every day we took the PCR test, if anyone was positive, especially SAG actors, it would be to cancel that day shoot. No, maybe the whole film, the whole film, because it moves by 10 days, which means I’ll lose some of my actors and you can’t replace actors because you have continuity issues. Yes, it’s a nightmare.
But we were so blessed. I’m the only one who caught covid. Can you believe it?
And one of the drivers. But I was lucky because I caught it like two weeks prior to filming.
Bilna:
OK, so like by the time you were out of isolation.
Nayla:
Yes, we had also zoning people like we had zone, you know, the red zone and green zone. So we had to follow the zone system.
Bilna:
So you shot the movie during covid time and it’s coming out now. So that’s that. Is that the usual process?
Nayla:
It was almost right at the end.
Bilna:
OK.
Nayla:
But then we also shot more scenes.
Bilna:
OK, after yes, yes, six, seven months after that. OK, so how long does a movie actually take to come into the theatres right from your writing on your first page to.
Nayla:
I’ve heard people say five years. I’ve heard two years. I’ve heard one year.
Honestly, it really depends on if your script is ready or it’s, you know, it takes time to write. Are you going to buy so you can actually buy? OK, thank you.
Yes, you can buy the ready perfect script. You just save one year.
Bilna:
OK.
Nayla:
You’re a genius. Raise money in one month.
Bilna:
You just save one year and a half.
Nayla:
That’s two months. Then let’s say another 13, 14 months for the whole process. So I would say a year and a half.
Bilna:
Yeah, you’re very lucky. But that’s also being optimistic. That’s a very minimal you will need for a movie to come on.
Nayla:
Yes. And once you build your name. Yes, it gets faster because now people know you.
They know they can invest with you. More people send you scripts that you could read, that you could identify something quickly.
Bilna:
Yes. OK. Yes.
And now coming to this, choosing the scripts. How do you choose the scripts? How do you know which is the right script to go with?
What’s your take on that?
Collaborations and Cultural Representation
Nayla:
No, that’s a very good question, because as I said, I’m now with zero gravity. They send me scripts.
Bilna:
Oh, very nice.
Nayla:
Yes. And they don’t accept solicited like they accept only scripts. Yeah.
Because you don’t want people saying they have an initial screening.
Bilna:
Yes.
Nayla:
Yes. Yes. They do that.
They screen it first. They filter it. They think, oh, this is great for this person.
This is great for that person. And then they send it over to the directors. And the director can say, no, I don’t want to do this.
Or, wow, I would love to pitch for this script.
Bilna:
OK.
Nayla:
And have you also done any scripts yourself for the movies previously? Yes. So all my shorts I’ve written myself.
And for three, I’ve written it with Ben Williams. Big shout out to Ben Williams and Masoud Damrallah and John Colley, who did Master and Commander, some other big films. They helped script doctor and they have additional material in the film itself.
And I would like to say that for my next film, it’s just myself and Masoud Damrallah, who is to a lot of Arabs, the godfather of Arab cinema. And we have two time Oscar winner, Aya Rahman, composing the main song.
Bilna:
Yes. And the score for the film. That’s amazing.
Now, coming to working with celebrities like Aya Rahman, how was that process like? How did they come into the picture?
Nayla:
It was a it’s beautiful. I mean, you know, I sent him a message and his team got in touch. And then I went to see him.
It was it clicked so fast, really, because, you know, I started talking about like my favorite film in India, like Budhpolish from 1973 and some of the video clips there. And I think he was like, what is this confusing? And then when I narrated Bob to him, he’s like, oh, this this is really interesting because for him, it’s a very.
Although on a surface level, it’s a psychological thriller, but on a deeper level, it’s a film that really talks about grievance and getting over someone that just passed. So the five stages of death.
Bilna:
OK, so the grief stages one person goes through after someone close dies.
Nayla:
Yeah. So it’s the manifestation of grief.
Bilna:
OK. Yeah. And he is the main music composer for the movie.
Nayla:
Yeah. And I’m so proud to say that he is going to employ or have his Firdos orchestra, hopefully, hopefully, you know, play for it because they’re made out of 70, 80 plus women musicians, if I’m not mistaken.
Bilna:
Oh, that’s amazing. And I think in a lot of your movies, there’s a lot of reflection on Arab culture. Right.
How is that also like, you know, is it is it because you relate more to it or do you want to bring the culture of the country to the world?
Nayla:
What’s yeah, that’s a good way of putting it. Yes, I want to I’d love to bring the culture of my people to the world. Although three is very much a cross-cultural film.
And this is Dubai, you know, it’s very cross-cultural.
Bilna:
It’s where a lot of people come.
Nayla:
But my next film, Bob, is very Bedouin, very Arabic, because it takes place in the north of Ras Al Khaimah, where we’re going to be filming an Arab family who don’t want to move on or the the mother, like the grandmother, doesn’t want to move on into the modern world.
Bilna:
OK.
Nayla:
And they’re they’re almost like when we’re filming them, you’re almost like looking at it as if it’s like the 50s or 40s. But the minute the camera is out, it’s like modern day Ras Al Khaimah, you know, but the way they live and conduct their life is a little bizarre.
Bilna:
Oh, OK. And was it based on any real life stories?
Nayla:
No, it’s a story that has pure, pure fiction. Of course, it has creatures.
Personal Life, Social Media, and Industry Challenges
Bilna:
Nice, nice. And now coming to your life, your personal life. Right now, as a celebrity or as as somebody who comes a lot on media, a lot of interviews, everything.
How do you draw the line between what to share, what not to share? You know, right?
Nayla:
Yes.
Bilna:
The media comes after you.
Nayla:
I don’t consider myself a celebrity. I have to make that very clear, not even by a stretch. I know that a lot of filmmakers, they look up to me, which is nice.
I find so much love in that a lot of young adults, they’re 13 to 17, that age group, which is really endearing because they’re very authentic in their approach. But I don’t really have, let’s say, a social media manager or someone like that. Like my account, everything I post, I post when I feel like posting.
I don’t have such a thing as a calendar. We have to post this then.
Bilna:
Like a PR or nothing that goes on. Yes, that’s it.
Nayla:
Of course, there’s a PR for the film itself. There’s marketing for the film itself. There’s a social calendar for the actual film itself.
But me as an individual, I’m never. I think I don’t think about these things. I live more in the outside world.
Bilna:
Sometimes I disappear for two months.
Nayla:
Like you haven’t posted in two months. I’m like, whoo-hoo. Because I’ve been living, you know.
But I mean, I really live life to the max because, A, I love the family bubble that I’m in. It gives me so much joy. I enjoy the process of making a film, although some parts of it I really don’t like, but most of it I enjoy very, very much.
And then to see it, you know, like the screen. Yeah. Someone sent me a picture like a few days ago where they took a snap of the poster and under a mall’s garage.
And I thought this is super cool.
Bilna:
Very nice. Very nice. And do people like get into your personal sites like, you know, like because I see a lot of people when they have a public profile on social media, people get to do like unnecessary negative comments.
Did you face any such issues?
Nayla:
Long time ago. Not anymore.
Bilna:
OK.
Nayla:
When they discovered my husband was a non-Emirati, he’s from Switzerland. I had some backlash.
Bilna:
OK.
Nayla:
But I would say that’s like point one percent. Like it was the minority. OK.
Bilna:
And did you have a like emotional impact on it when you had or you’re like, I don’t care.
Nayla:
Remember when I told you I’m the danger itself? Of course, some things would crush me when it comes to my kids, for example, or a pet that I love. That’s a red line.
Bilna:
You don’t cross that line.
Nayla:
But I think I’m able to take a lot of negativity because I’ve built this skin through time. I’ve had a very rough childhood, more unusual than normal kids would go through. Which strangely has not strangely, which probably has helped build that kind of skin now.
And I can mock myself. I can make fun of myself. I’m not worried about these things.
It’s fine. You know, I would say, chill, take it easy.
Bilna:
Now, when it comes to your own kids.
Nayla:
Yeah.
Bilna:
What advice do you give them? Like, you know, like because you have like you said, you have gone through the rough patches, the good phases, everything. So how would you inspire your own kids?
What would they inspire me?
Nayla:
They’re so full of their imaginations out of this world. I mean, they’re for their twins, the boy and girl. And they bring so much life to our house.
Yeah.
Bilna:
And like when you work in a movie industry, probably you have to work late night or you have to travel.
Nayla:
Yes.
Bilna:
Right. And there’s an emotional side of it.
Nayla:
Yeah.
Bilna:
So like when the kids come, here she goes asking the painful questions. Yeah.
Nayla:
So that’s a painful question, because yes, of course, I’ll have to travel. I mean, as I said earlier, my husband is doing an incredible job. But also my in-laws usually come and look at the kids.
It’s a perfect time for them to like, you know, mingle with the children and how to balance family life with film life. So now is an anomaly because obviously my film is launching. But on a regular basis, the weekends are just for family.
You know, like I’ve seen every zoo in the city. I’ve been to every theme park. I’ve been to every like child play place.
So again, it’s because of them. We’re like exposed to our inner.
Bilna:
Do you have moments like because I personally have like my four year old daughter. Same. I also have a four year old daughter.
She sometimes she comes and tell me, mommy, you’re going to office every day. Don’t go. Do you have those moments?
You know, they’re very independent.
Nayla:
They know that. Oh, yes. And they’re together.
Right.
Bilna:
So maybe that helps. Yes. Yes.
Nayla:
So they obviously do everything together. You know, they fight together. They do everything together.
So like, for instance, now they’re they didn’t go to school today. It’s very because one was sick and the other one, of course. Yes.
Why would I go if he’s sick? So they both decided to sit and play Octonaut and their own imagination.
Bilna:
Great. And now as a woman who has gone through a completely new industry, what would be your advice to other women who want to go to industries that are male dominated industries?
Nayla:
Not to think of them as like as a competition, think of them as a compliment and just think how you as a as a professional can differentiate yourself. Correct. Yes.
How can you stand out as a professional? Don’t let that intimidate you. I would say let your work speak for you and you’ll find your allies.
100 percent.
Bilna:
Nice. And have you ever faced safety issues being a male dominated industry?
Nayla:
That’s a good question.
Bilna:
I’m trying to be like, you know, a moment where you had to be extra careful. You had to trust your intuitions, because I know like a lot of industries where you like I come from a construction industry. I used to be working in construction previously.
That’s another male dominated industries. So there are times I take extra care. Like I when I go to a lot of the site visits, I probably message somebody.
I know I’m going to this place, you know, you know, just to keep myself safe. How do you do anything of that sort? Like I don’t think so.
Nayla:
You know why? Because with film, there’s always like at least 10 to 15 people in the room. Yes.
It’s never like you’re alone.
Bilna:
OK, so you know, face anything of that sort.
Nayla:
I face something very strange, actually. I mean, I face something I will never forget. And it really upset me.
I was at the office. It was really late at night. And this young girl who was around 19, 20 came and sat in front of me.
And and I said, yes, can I help you? She’s like, I’d love to be an actress. I, you know, I’ll do whatever it takes.
And I said, I don’t have a role right now, but, you know, you can watch out for any casting calls or you can come and audition. And then she said the most shocking thing. She’s like, I’ll do whatever it takes.
And I’m like, it’s fine. Chill. You know, and then she went on saying some very ludicrous kind of.
Like a very sexual stuff.
Bilna:
Yes.
Nayla:
And I said, we got to stop. You need to leave the office now. And I’m thinking, what if I was a guy and someone who this is literally coming on?
You know, like this is someone who is ready to do whatever it takes. Yes. And ready to expose.
Bilna:
What if somebody had like exploited the situation?
Nayla:
And they would have had that transaction. I’m thinking, wow. You know, some of them are so desperate that they would do that.
But to happen to a woman myself. And why would she think that I would entertain something like that? Like there were so many questions I had that night really disturbed me.
I mean, you asked me if I had how desperate people.
Bilna:
Yes.
Nayla:
And it’s never happened again. Thank God. But I still think like.
Why would what happened to her for her to go to that extreme, you know? Yes.
Bilna:
Why would she be so much desperate to do anything to that extent?
Nayla:
Yes.
Bilna:
I mean, the reason I ask this question was also because in Indian movie movie industries, I’ve heard a lot of such stories like that. Right. Well, people like especially actors.
This is that’s why I was asking. Have you had anything very negative impact related to women? And what would be your advice to women who really want to be on top, especially the actresses and models, right?
The glam industry without compromising. How do they really reach that point? What would be your advice for that?
Nayla:
Find female directors. No, that’s not true. There are a lot of amazing male directors, you know, but I think just be honest with your craft, keep persevering.
And if you’re really, really good at what you do, the universe will find a way to take care of you. Yes, for sure. You don’t have to stoop low for anyone, not in this day and age.
Yes. Especially after the Me Too movement. People are very scared.
They’re more aware. Yes. You know, they know that.
Bilna:
I think it’s more about we knowing our own worth before we actually go into it.
Nayla:
Yes, yes, absolutely. Yes.
Bilna:
And now as an entrepreneur, entrepreneur, right? Like movie is also a business side of it. So now people going into the business side of movies.
What is your advice on that? Like if I were to be an investor in movies or somebody of that sort, what would be your advice for that?
Nayla:
For the investors?
Bilna:
Yes, yes. Like as an entrepreneur, if I want to go into the movie industry, what is my scope and what would be those things?
Entrepreneurial Advice and Movie Synopsis
Nayla:
I would say do your due diligence. Watch a lot of. Let’s say professional get professional consultation.
Bilna:
Yes.
Nayla:
You know, I would say that would be good. Like that’s a good place to start, you know, get get more familiar with the field you want to invest in. Right.
Bilna:
Very true.
Nayla:
Speak to owners of films, whether it’s producers or previous investors, and learn a lot about them and learn what went wrong and what didn’t go wrong and then make a sound decision based on that. Even when I find myself completely clueless, I usually go and resort to lots of consultation. So, for example, when I have a distribution contract, I’ve never seen one in my life that’s real that I have to sign.
OK, so what do I do? So then I went and had to hire a few people to actually to be precise and took a few hours from their life to guide me through the contract because they’ve done this so many times before. So they’ll know.
And one of them came from the distribution side so we can see how they think. OK, it will. It’s costly, but it’s definitely less expensive than signing something you have a zero idea because that’s going to come and haunt you in a very expensive way.
Bilna:
Very good. So coming back to the question of the movie three that’s releasing on February 1st week.
Nayla:
Yeah.
Bilna:
What is the whole movie about? What’s the theme of the movie? Exorcism in Islam.
Wow.
Nayla:
Just in three words to wrap it up, but not really sensationalizing it of such. Like it’s actually about a true story that took place in this city a long time ago. And I’m sure it keeps happening in all cities in Arabia and in South America, you know, in the Arab world.
I hate to say Arabia, sorry, in the Arab world and South America and North Africa, many, many places, actually, even areas in Europe like Italy. It’s still it still happens still today. But obviously in this story, the boy is 100 percent mentally sick.
OK, he probably has a slight schizophrenia and it’s acted by this wonderful child who I just found from Sharjah. Is he also an Arab child? Yes, Saouda Zarouni, who is fluent in both Arabic and English.
So the language of the film is English, Arabic.
Bilna:
It’s a bilingual movie.
Nayla:
Yeah, 65 percent in English. The rest is in Arabic. So it’s for all the audience, it’s not just Arabic.
Actually, the biggest audience when we did the focus group was Asians.
Bilna:
Oh, yeah.
Nayla:
A lot of South Indians and Indians really like the film. And more women than men. But I’ve seen men who really loved it.
Actually, when we had it at the film festival in Saudi, yes. At the Red Sea, I had a guy and his friends who actually watched it twice. They came to the first screening and they came back again to the second screening.
So that’s a very good sign. I hope it happens again.
Bilna:
Very good.
Nayla:
So if I want to watch the movie, where do I go watch it? It’s in all the cinemas in the UAE. So no choices.
It’s in all the cinemas. Please support Ground Roots Cinema and also in all the GCC countries.
Bilna:
And it’s releasing on February 1st.
Nayla:
Yes. And Cairo and Jordan and Iraq. But all of the GCCs and obviously in every cinema in the UAE.
How far a mother would go to save her son against all adversity? So it’s quite tense that way. And I hope they like the ending.
Bilna:
It’s an amazing storyline. I look forward to watch the movie in the theaters as soon as it comes out. So I’m waiting to watch it.
Nayla:
Oh, I think the best way to understand the film is to watch the trailer. And you can find the trailer on Vox Cinema’s website and any other cinema.
Bilna:
So I look forward to watch the movie. And thank you so much for coming. Before we close, any final advice you want to give to women in general?
Women in general?
Nayla:
Yes, of course. Please volunteer. It might be a very strange advice, but that’s how it moved me into places in life.
If you’re in a certain field and you’re not sure about something, volunteer, go a few times, build connections and understand yourself better in that space. Once you know what you want, then you can go for it. But I think volunteering has helped me so much.
Bilna:
This is the first time somebody told this advice on our show, because every time people say, yeah, you have to be after it. But you have been like very practical. So, you know, go into the field, do it as a volunteer thing so that you know if it’s for you or not.
Thank you so much.
Nayla:
Thank you so much for your time.
Bilna:
Thank you. Thank you. Thanks to all our audience.
You can always subscribe to our channel and don’t forget to watch Nayla’s new movie coming out. Thank you. Thank you.
About Post Author
