Women’s empowerment was the topic of this year’s Mobile Film Festival. The subject is serious—often deadly serious. And that makes the approach of Iranian filmmaker Sanaz Ghotb surprising and memorable. Ghotb, who directed and starred in the movie, takes us behind the scenes in an interview (below).
Interview with Sanaz Ghotb
MobileMovieMaking: How did you develop your skills as a filmmaker?
Ghotb: I’ve got MFA degree in Filmmaking from “Red Sea Institute of Cinematic Arts” located in Jordan (2012) However I’ve made some short films before going to film school.
MobileMovieMaking: There are lots of ways to approach the subject of women’s empowerment. How did you come up with the terrific idea for “Shoot”?
Ghotb: Actually the idea is based on true events. Recently I got amazed and touched by watching some factual videos of young women in Iran who could scare away assaulters by using Instagram’s “Live” option so the assaulter knew that she is already recording whatever he or she does at the moment.
MobileMovieMaking: By assault you mean…?
Ghotb: Sexual harassment. This includes many things such as getting verbally or physically attacked by religious citizens who force the wearing Hijab or Vail on others. In this short film I chose to focus on sexual matters as it’s more common and universal.
MobileMovieMaking: How did you plan the movie?
Ghotb: I had the whole idea on paper and I made a brief storyboard for the camera operator.
MobileMovieMaking: What gear did you use?
Ghotb: As you know one of the obligations in the Mobile Film Festival is shooting with a mobile device. I used my own iPhone 6s, mostly handheld.
MobileMovieMaking: What advantages and disadvantages are there in using a phone compared with a traditional camera?
Ghotb: Shooting with a mobile during the Corona epidemic was a blessing! Using phone makes the filmmaker completely independent of equipment and the related crew. But in a normal situation, you may need a specific quality and depth of field which you can’t get from average mobile.
MobileMovieMaking: During the shoot did you encounter any big problems?
Ghotb: Well, my first problem was that I heard about the festival few days before, so coming up with the idea took me few days and I had one day left to do the whole film from preproduction, post and registration. The other was Quarantine time, so I had to play the main character myself besides using some people in the crew and even my husband as actors! So timing was the main obstacle but at the end we managed to register the film at the last hours!
MobileMovieMaking: Could you talk about the post production?
Ghotb: We edited the film in Premier software. As we didn’t have lots of shots and takes, the whole picture was clear. But the only thing needed to discuss was having a bit of comedy spirit as we got in performances.
MobileMovieMaking: How did you develop the sound track?
Ghotb: At first I wasn’t going for a vocal track then I’ve heard this track that I found its rhythm and also the lyric so fit and helpful to the comedy vibe I was looking for. I looked for the track at West One Music Group, onemusic.com which is a free copyright website.
MobileMovieMaking: Looking back is there anything different you might have done?
Ghotb: I wish that I had enough shooting days to polish the performances and work on the lighting.
MobileMovieMaking: Do you have any advice for someone who is just beginning to make movies?
Ghotb: In my experience the best way to improve in filmmaking is to make films. Apart any knowledge you have, you won’t realize what’s your strength or weaknesses if you don’t make films, especially the ones that turn out awful! Lol My suggestion is to pick any idea, grab a phone and make short films or clips and give it to someone else to edit, this helps you to see your idea through another point of view.
MobileMovieMaking: What is the best way for people to learn more about you and your work?
MobileMovieMaking: Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Ghotb: “Detour-MP4” is a documentary on Vimeo. I would love to receive feedback on it.
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The editors at MobileMovieMaking have chosen “Shoot” as the Mobile Movie of the Week.
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Marvelous…successful dark comedy which has good tempo because of reasonable Adherence of edit from the music which is selected so innovative…the film present the complicated situation of iranian women against harassment without less Government support…its a self_reflexive Properties of cinema which may our world more protective against women harassment…of course the world which will be made by their potentials
best short movie,
A normal women’s day in Iran
watch best movie
Best short movie! 👌🏻👌🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Seeing talented new generation in Iranian cinema gives me hope and inspiration !
People will forget what you said
People will forget what you did
BUT
Will never forget how you made them feel
Good luck with best wishes .
vvow very nice movie
Impressive short film
good
The Best Solution👍👍
Is a really fantastic
Very impressive! Novel story, pleasant music and extraordinary acts!.
Fantastic
Smart and brave! I really liked watching it.
It was great 😍
A true story about women world
I really like it
Like
It was a very impressive film . Well Done .
Very good
It was perfect dear. Good Luck 👏🏽🌻
It was best short movie i have seen in my life♥️
The film was so conceptual
that’s great one
Thats a Best short movie
I like it
I hope she can win the prize 🙏💙
That was inspiring but what bothers me is that it triggered very bad memories about those situations I had experienced. However, thank you for showing us how to tackle them.
Great job 👏🏽
It was impressive.Good luck
Amazing short movie in that movie there are lots of meaning that in all countries still doing to woman and i want to say thank you very much and good job to sanaz
I hope you will win because its wonderful full I know in iran actually woman can’t breathe that movie its so helpful for show to government all around the world thanks🙏🏻🥰
Sad but true truth about the state of our society today. Very insightful!!
Awesome👌🙏
Best weapon
Great short. Hope to see more.
It’s impressive and nice shoot. Very good idea and It is very good to prevent rape. Thanks
Die bittere Wahrheit..
The best👌
good. Excellent