Whenever I interview someone, I will publish the full transcript along with the finished interview. I believe this adds journalistic integrity to the process. Here is the full interview with director Shariff Nasr.
General:
What name do you go by?
Shariff Nasr
Where are you from?
The Netherlands
What excites you about filmmaking?
There are so many stories to tell and I believe film is the most intense medium to use to tell your story.
How would you describe the perfect mix of personal, commercial and activist interests in your filmmaking career?
I really enjoy making commercials. You produce a short product with a high production value in a short time, but you always have to think about what is best for the product and the target audience you need to reach. For personal projects you come back to the essence of how you tell your story in the best way. Recently a client wanted me to make choices that I thought were not good for the commercial and not good for the target group. I got really angry, I was getting too attached to my work and then I realised I have been making nothing else than commercials for almost a year. You need to make personal projects in between as well to keep a small distance that is necessary in the commercial business. Of course you try to make the best product as possible, but client is king.
What movies, long or short, inspire you?
I get really inspired by films that are not just to amuse, but also have relevance, like social criticism. I don’t mean films that are just negative. I like it when there is a spark of hope, even if it is bittersweet. I don’t have a specific genre I prefer. I can enjoy realistic drama, but comedy too.
Comedy can be a powerful tool to criticise big issues. People can laugh about the fouls of characters in the movie and suddenly realise that they act in the same way sometimes.
Do you have any upcoming projects you’d like to promote?
I would say: just visit my website http://shariffnasr.com from time to time.
I run a blog about storytelling in any medium (art, music, writing, film, etc…). What stories have impacted you?
Do you have a favourite medium for consuming stories?
Oblivion-specific:
What inspired you to make this video?
In some homes for the elderly and psychiatric hospitals patients are still being fixated to their beds when they are “too much of a bother” for the nursing staff. This method is very contra productive and only worsens the situation for the patient.
In the Netherlands the use of the Swedish strap is not allowed anymore in homes for the elderly since this year (after 7 patients had died because of it), but the so-called ‘Bratex strap’ is still used because of an expending shortage in nursing staff. The government is tightening the budgets in this sector more and more, so I am afraid the problems will only get worse.
How do people react to this message of elder abuse? Do most people know it is happening? Do they seem to care?
Too many people still don’t know. Sometimes I get compliments for the metaphor I have used of a man that is physically stuck to his bed. When I tell them that it is not a metaphor, they are in shock. These are not things you expect in our developed western society.
Winning the people’s choice award at filminute gave this film a lot of attention in Holland and I hope it will help a little bit to change things. Although I am afraid that people don’t care enough if it doesn’t involve themselves or their loved ones. But when it does, I am afraid it will be too late if we don’t change things quickly.
Is elder abuse a global problem, or is it specific to a few countries?
I am no expert but as far as I know it is a global problem that is being kept silent. The homes for the elderly where it happens don’t want this news to spread and I think a lot of people don’t really want to hear it. They don’t know people that need care and if so: what should they do? Take care of their loved ones themselves?
Where should people go to learn about the elder-care industry?
What can we do to prevent abuse in the elder-care industry?
I think it starts with awareness. When people want change, suddenly the government will think it is an important issue too, as if they never knew the problem existed before.
What are your views on artists using their mediums as agents for change?
I think it is a good thing. Television is bringing us more and more programs just for amusement. I am even noticing that the news is less objective, because most people want to know quickly: what happened and who is right and who is wrong? As if there are no two sides of a story. Even a lot of newspapers are trying to catch our attention with witty subjective headlines. I think it is good if artists try to make people think for themselves and not follow the mainstream.
Is there anything else you would like to say?
Don’t believe everything you read.
