Bassem Breish: I am a screenwriter and then a director

2023-11-25 18:40:00

Beirut: Hana Toby

Bassem Breish is a Lebanese actor, writer, and director. He began his career as a theater actor, then ventured into directing by showing his first film, “At the Threshold,” at the Cannes Film Festival, in conjunction with his professional writing career, where his series “Shankbut” won an Emmy Award, which prompted him to move forward in writing series. Including “Without Chains” and “Gate of Hell.” Recently, he presented his first film, “Blessing the Bride,” which opened at the last Cairo Film Festival and won the Jury Prize and the best performance for its heroine, Carol Abboud. Then he won the Best Narrative Film Award at the Jerusalem Arab Film Festival, and the Jury Prize. At the Tetouan Mediterranean Film Festival.

* We start with the awards won by your film “Blessing the Bride.” What do they mean to you?

Awards make me happy, push me forward, and motivate me to continue my journey and present my work in a way that convinces me, just as I presented “Blessing the Bride.” There is no doubt that awards are very important for every director who presents purposeful, non-profitable films. This type of film is fraught with risks and difficulties, so the joy of its success is double for us and represents profit. Deep and motivating morale.

* In light of the absence of Lebanese support for cinema, perhaps the Lebanese director needs this push and appreciation more than others?

– Certainly, especially recently, as we suffer from a complete absence of films, in addition to the suppression of freedoms and the tightening of the arts more and more.

* How do you see your heroes in “Blessing the Bride”?

– Frankly, I am overwhelmed with happiness in dealing with the giant Carole Abboud, Rabih Al-Zahr, and Umayyah Malaeb, and all those who decorated the film with their sincere and very influential participation, and there is no doubt that our harmony as one team has paid off.

* During the writing stage, did you imagine how each actor would play their role, and were you writing specifically for them?

– I was writing for Umayyah Malaeb, who is not an actress, without knowing that she would play the role, but I was certain that she was the face I was looking for, a face that had confusing expressions and I loved her very much. As for the role of Carol, it was for a woman older than her, but I did not find another actress who had not had plastic surgery. The best choice was the creative Carole, who played one of her most beautiful roles, in my opinion, and Rabih Al-Zahr was written for him because he matches “Salma,” which Carole played. Here, it must be emphasized that the most important step in filmmaking is “casting,” and choosing the right actor is an absolute necessity for success. .

* After “Ataba” and “Shankbut” in 2014, your period of presenting films was prolonged, so where were you absent?

– From the beginning of my career until today, I have never stopped working artistically. I was busy writing many series. During the years that passed, I devoted myself to writing scenarios. Usually, screenwriters do not take their right to the “shine” of their names and their circulation as they should. However, I do not deny the accumulation of… My experience, benefiting from time and experiences, and keeping up with everything new, and now I presented my film and continue writing as well.

*Are you satisfied with the way the series you wrote came out?

– Not all of them, because in television work, the final decision is not the director and writer as much as it is the producer, and the production also varies between good and not good, which affects the work. From here comes the importance of the integrated combination of the work, as is the case with the series “Gate of Hell,” which I wrote and loved very much. It was directed by the creative Amin Durra and produced by Cedars Art Production, with the participation of elite actors and actresses.

*In cinema, the decision is also made by the producer, as he invests his money and seeks profitability?

– In cinema, there is a producer of commercial films and another who produces films that are purposeful or different from the norm, and the director can make his decision to deal with a producer who is similar to him and thinks like him. I, for example, worked in “Blessing the Bride” with producer Jana Wehbe, and my film was her first production experience in feature films, as well as It is my first feature film, and we combined deep determination, enthusiasm, and abundant positive energy to present this work in the way we want and love, and not according to what the market wants. We came out of the dictates beyond our control and presented a work that achieves success, makes us happy, and also revolves around the world thanks to dealing with the “MC Distribution” company, which Publish the work in the best way.

* Being an actor, writer and director, where do you find yourself most?

– It is true that I graduated from the Institute of Fine Arts as an actor, but I did not work in acting except in plays that I presented at the beginning of my career. Then I turned to writing and found it the most suitable place for me. I even found myself through it. I want to tell stories and tales that affect me and leave their impact on the recipient. I consider myself a screenwriter first, then a director, and writing is my profession from which I have made a living since 2008. I love it, am passionate regarding it, and engage in all its details.

* What topics excite you to write regarding?

– I care a lot regarding talking regarding the family, and in “Blessing the Bride” I talked regarding the relationship between a mother and her daughter and did not tell the story between them directly. Rather, I deliberately used the knot and key method so that the lines gradually unfold before the recipient and the message reaches him through the story and the escalation of events. Likewise, my previous works revolve around humanity.

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