Batool AlDaawi has always loved art, ever since she was a little girl she wanted to try out different art mediums and approaches, and she did. Batool AlDaawi ‘s work is a testament to her love for everything creative and new. Starting from her work on series like “Al Meshwar” with director Mohamed Yassin to her work in photography and painting. Batool AlDaawi always has something to say, something as authentic and real as the art she brings to the world.
We sat down with Batool AlDaawi to know the full story behind her journey as a visual artist!
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When did you realize you wanted to be a photographer and a filmmaker?
I’ve always been drawn to art since a very young age. I’ve also carried a camera with me since I was 7. I started drawing and then started oil painting and garment design when I was 11 or 12 years old, and this is how it all started.
Filmmaking and photography were mediums for me to tell stories, combining my love for all kinds of visual arts.
When I was at Uni while studying in Cairo, I decided I wanted to do filmmaking and started working on short films, documentaries and professional photography came after.
What would you say shaped you as a Visual Artist?
What I think shaped me as a filmmaker came through my 12-year experience in directing ads, fashion films, short films, and documentaries. Also, mainly my involvement in every aspect of any photography project that I have managed when it comes from the creative idea to the production design and art direction, location scouting, character looks development, and color palettes, syncing all of that together opened up a new perspective for me.
What would you say are some of the misconceptions about people who work in several different fields in the same industry?
The misconception is that when you’re doing several things at the same time, it means you’re not as good as when you’re focused on one thing. I believe that’s not true at all, and this assumption can limit or delay the process of your work. It happens a lot here. For instance, if someone is known for a certain job, people always assume that they quit what they are known for and that could be harmful to someone’s career.
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Tell us about your latest projects…
I have been focused on my work with Director Mohamed Yassin for 7 months prepping and shooting Ramadan Series “El Meshwar”. It was a great opportunity to work with one of the biggest directors in the middle east. It was a great learning experience for me. This was my second time given the opportunity to work with him, not as a photographer. Working with him shaped me throughout my filmmaking career.
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Alongside that, I’ve shot the OOH Ramadan campaigns for Vodafone, Orange ADS, and posters for several TV series.
Out of your filmmaking projects, what’s the one that you felt connected to the most? and why?
My very first short film “Escape” was screened at UNICEF Film Festival. Another one is a personal project that I shot in late 2018, to be published soon.
What’s your favorite thing about your job?
I love that it takes me places, it allows me to discover different sides of me.
It gives me opportunities to meet amazing people that I learn from.
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The industry also toughens our skin so much. It’s diverse so you also learn how to deal with all kinds of people. One of my favorite things is when I work on a project that I love, and the outcome is satisfying and appreciated.
What led you to found Blow Creative Studio?
Blow Creative Studio was founded in 2012. What inspired us to start the studio was to create a HUB where it was a starting point for many talents in the field of photography, styling, and videography.
It is for those who were very passionate about the industry. While working at the time, we found ourselves involved in many shoots in the creative/art direction and production of many projects. So, it became a creative agency/production house for our own work.
What are some of the challenges you faced during your journey? And how did you overcome them?
I was very young when I started my career, and it was a very male-dominated industry. There were almost no female photographers in Egypt, especially in the commercial & celebrity/portraiture genre.
It took a lot of hard work to get ahead in the field and prove myself in the industry.
We also heard you love to paint, what drives you towards painting?
I started painting at a very young age and it always helped in expressing my emotions and myself. I love all kinds of arts and I’ve always believed that if you are God-gifted with a talent, you should always develop that skill where you can create from it something that you love.
Also, I am currently preparing for an Art Exhibition, so stay tuned.
Do you think women get equal opportunities to men in your field of work? Is there anything you’d like to change when it comes to that aspect?
Today we have female figures who are dominant in the film industry, such as Director Kamla abou zekry, Mariam abu Ouf, Nadine Labaky, Mariam Naoum in screenwriting and so many other names who revolutionized the middle eastern film industry.
In terms of your work, what would you like to explore more in the future?
I’d like to keep exploring and learning in the field of directing and photography.
How, in your opinion, can powerful women support each other in your field of work?
To empower and praise each other more. My support to any women in the field would be to keep going, keep trying, and always believe in themselves.