Can you first introduce yourself to the reader?
Hello! I’m Naqqash and I’m a writer-director based in Manchester.
What does a typical day look like for you?
My day job gives me a lot of structure. I spend half my time teaching as a Lecturer in Media and Performance at the University of Salford, and the rest of my time working on the projects I’m developing.
What has been the highlight of your career to date?
Working on my latest short film ‘Stock’. It was a real training ground for me.
How would you sum up Stock in three words?
Nightmarish, Northern, Fairy-tale.
Why did you apply for the Jerwood Creative Fellows?
MIF is one of the most exciting arts festivals, the work they commission is always bold and innovative, I wanted to be a part of it. I was curious to see the workings of a commission, behind the scenes, and to see how a show comes together at that scale.
What was your career path to entering the creative industry?
I didn’t go to film or drama school, so I’m always learning on every project. I started off making fringe theatre. It was a good place for me to get to grips with directing actors and learning how to build a show with very little resources and time. You learn very quickly how to use everything you have at your disposal to communicate a story to your audience.
As someone who has worked both on stage and in film, what are the similarities and differences in working with the two different mediums?
What I love about both is how collaborative they are. As a director, on a film, you are a part of the process every step of the way, every decision is so intentional, whereas on stage, you have to let go and detach from the work earlier in the creative process. You experience the final piece at the same time as the audience, it’s temporal and fleeting.
What advice would you give to someone who wanted to follow in your footsteps?
Trust yourself, find the right collaborators, and know that there are no rules.
Who are the artists/creatives that you’re most inspired by, and who should we be looking out for?
I love the work of Claire Denis, Olivier Assayas, Asghar Farhadi, Lynne Ramsay. I think Donald Glover is always doing exciting work, and I thought Ramy Youssef’s show Ramy was a real game-changer this year.
You should be looking out for my fellow Jerwood Fellows. They’re incredible artists: Nasima Begum, Jack Sheen, Caroline Ward, Remi Adefeyisan, Yusra Warsama.
What is one thing that gives you hope for the future?
All the young people striking school for climate action.
Where can people find out more about you?
Stock is streaming on Now TV and Sky On-Demand, and you can find me on twitter: @KhalidOnScreen.
0 Comments