~ Interview with film maker "Faisal Saif" of Mumbai, India
~~~
Faisal Saif
Hello Faisal tell me about yourself?
First of all! It's an honor for me to interview on your site. You guys are doing great work for Independent Film Community out there!
I am an Indian film maker here in Mumbai, India. My first feature filmed is "JIGYAASA" (Indian Hindi Language). The film got worldwide released on March 10th 2006. It was average earner at the box office and still going strong on the DVD circuit worldwide. The film was surrounded by hot controversies here in India. Recently, I have received the best story award from Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival for my yet to be released English feature film "Come December" which is a true story of a gay gigolo surviving on the streets of Mumbai.
What or who was your inspiration to become a film maker?
There are no inspirations for me to become a film maker. I always wanted to tell a story the way I see it.
Some of the great film makers whom I’ve always admired are Tony Scott, Quentin Tarantino, Shekhar Kapur (Elizabeth, Bandit Queen), Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Adriane Lyne. Personally I think that these are some living legends who wanted to show cinema in their own way.
What qualities do you look for in an actor/actress?
According to me an actor should always be hungry to act and must have confidence in themselves to pull off anything that is written on a paper. Actors should see and respect the visions of a film maker.
Actors must be dominating to the co-actor, only then he/she will act or try to act better then others.
How did you come up with the idea for "JIGYAASA" and what is it based on?
I've always wanted to tell a story of a dominating actress who becomes a superstar in her life.
Somewhere deep down in my heart I thought that late actress Jean Seberg was a great inspiration. I did some research about her, then I tried to mix it with the woman that was living in my heart. I always wanted to show that the actress "JIGYAASA" could go to any extent or limit to become a Superstar. A woman who is dominating, calculative and manipulating at the same time. Many people here in India claimed that I was heavily inspired from Angelina Jolie's "GIA".The truth is that I saw "GIA" after my film "JIGYAASA".
Tell me about some of the other films that you have done?
My English film titled "Come December" will be released in the month of May 2007. Presently, I am finishing the film titled "Sofia" with the Internationally acclaimed award winning actress Siboney Lo.
Then I will start my next film titled "Osama" which is a pure love story which is very close to my heart.
Would you happen to have a web site for my readers?
