Yasmine Kamel is an assistant director whose work so far has inspired us. It’s not every day that we come across someone with so much passion for the industry and one who is willing to put in so much effort into their work. Luckily, this year’s work paid off, and her meticulous care about the project she was part of, Grand Hotel, caught everyone’s eye. We sit down and talk to her about the industry, women and Grand Hotel.
You’ve done many different types of projects from music videos to television series, which do you prefer?
I prefer cinema. The shorter the better, because the longer it’s stretched out, the more boring it’ll get. If it’s like Grand Hotel and it comes out with such a great result, then it would be perfect. However, not everything is like that.
“When I watch a scene, there isn’t anything that I didn’t work on. I’m just happy when a scene comes out beautifully.”
What’s it like to work on such a successful project when you’re so young?
Since I was a trainee I’ve been trying to choose what I work on. If I like the project, I’ll do it, but if I don’t I simply can’t. During the first three years of work I didn’t have the option to choose. Three or four years later, I now get lots of offers.
What was your favorite part about working on Grand Hotel?
That the crew was all respectable people that I can work with. Everyone behind the scene and the actors themselves were all people I can work with. And that when I watch a scene, there isn’t anything that I didn’t work on. I’m just happy when a scene comes out beautifully.
Is the industry still sexist or have women come a long way nowadays?
There’s still sexism, but the great thing about Grand Hotel was that I didn’t have to face that because the director isn’t like that. The main problem is with technicians around the set, who will say things like “why is she talking to us that way?” although if a man talks the same way to them, they wouldn’t say a thing. This happens all the time in our line of work.
“The main problem is with technicians around the set, who will say things like “why is she talking to us that way?” although if a man talks the same way to them, they wouldn’t say a thing.”
Grand Hotel and Tareeqy were all era series, what other era would you like to work on?
Tareeqy was set between the 60’s ad up until the 80’s and Grand Hotel took place in the 50’s. I’m not sure other eras would be as interesting.
What are your future plans?
Lots of people think I should be directing now, but I don’t think so. I haven’t had enough from being an assistant director. The thing I want to do is I want to work with many directors out there, but all I can do is wait for a chance to present itself.
