| Description | An interview with Khaled El Hagar, a married man with one son, who is a Film Director, born in Egypt and now living in Birmingham. Khaled El Hagar’s father was a Teacher of Islam, born in Egypt and his mother a housewife born in Egypt. In the interview, he talks about …
'KHALED EL HAGAR MS2255/2/105 Logged by Lorraine Blakemore
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I was born in Egypt on 21st February, 1963…Born in Suez. Father was an Islamic/ Arabic teacher, mother was a housewife. Youngest of 5 children. 1967 War forced the family to relocate to Cairo.
1.34 Schooling in Egypt.
1.42 Became interested in cinema from the age of 12. Describes the experience.
2.32 Father died in 1978. Life was more difficult.
3.13 Began to write short stories as a teenager. Read widely to gain ideas.
4.00 Studied law at university. Applied to National Film School in Egypt but was rejected 3 times.
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It was necessary to have connections or be the son or daughter of a film-maker to be accepted by the National Film School.
52” Attended university from 1982. Account of meeting the man who helped him to gain experience in the theatrical world and led to being part of the team that worked with Yusef Chahine.
Lists films worked on.
3.40 Began national service after graduating in 1986. Met his English wife in Cairo whilst working on a production together.
4.38 Egypt’s domestic film industry.
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Continued.
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Background to his interest in writing. Themes and context of his stories.
2.33 Here, if you are not doctor or lawyer you are nothing….education is very important and you need to finish young and have a career….
3.18 Account of first day working on a film set with Yusef Chahine.
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Worked alongside other writers and directors.
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Working with a German cameraman and winning first prize for his short script.
1.05 Made short film, “You are my Life” in 1989.
1.39 Social environment in Cairo. Moved out of family home.
3.33 2 years spent in the army.
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Story about meeting his wife.
How the relationship continued.
3.40 Marriage ceremonies.
4.29 Moved back to England when wife became pregnant.
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Never planned to live in England.
42” Comments on how England was very different to how he’d imagined. Egypt’s relations with England.
3.50 The main thing that attracted me about England or living here was the amount of time and space for yourself….The privacy was the greatest thing….
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Arrived in England in 1990 and son was born the same year.
The Gulf War deterred the family from moving back to Egypt.
1.02 Suggested that he should apply for the National Film School.
1.56 German company put up the funding for his next film.
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Experienced difficulties from the British Embassy when getting married. Details the procedure.
1.51 When we came to this country the same happens at the airport….just Janice passes fast past the immigration office. They stop me and ask me all these things again…
2.33 The problem comes again when you apply for an indefinite visa for the passport….
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Continued.
1.15 Even if I’m coming for education, I shouldn’t be treated like that…
2.19 Experience of parenting and how it differs from his own experience as a child.
3.53 It does restrict you, especially if you are an artist, from moving around. You feel like you ought to give time to a child, to be around him. I feel guilty when I’m filming and I’m 6 months away….
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Continued.
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The making of “Little Dreams”.
Won Best Film Award at Birmingham Film Festival in 1993.
3.02 Describes his graduation film, “A Gulf Between Us”. Some criticism from the Egyptian press about the content.
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Worked as a voiceover for American films whilst trying to break into the industry. Continued to work as a freelance director.
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Feature film “Room to Rent”. Synopsis of the film.
52” Sometimes when you want to belong to a country, you think if you reject your own culture or your own country, people will accept you….Actually it’s the other way round….
1.40 Continues synopsis.
4.57 I believe in God. I’m a Muslim, but I believe in other religions as well. I respect all religions and I feel we all worship God in our different ways…
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Continued.
1.05 I feel like there is something beyond death….My feeling about reincarnation….Elaborates.
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I’ve been living here in Birmingham for 10 years, but actually I’ve been in London more…. Contrasts the 2 cities.
1.17 Wife and son are happy remaining in Birmingham.
1.23 My problem with Birmingham is that I’ve never worked here. Nobody offered me any work…I applied…to many different companies….there’s not too many film-makers in Birmingham…Story about a letter to a BBC producer.
2.30 Another thing that makes me angry too about Birmingham is the lack of support for the talent….My experience with the Birmingham Film Festival is so weird…. Gives details.
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Continued.
ENDS. |