Tandees Tanavoli lives for films. Being an Iranian, a country with an extremely advanced film industry, the craft is in her blood and her Western education has helped her hone her skills. Feby Imthias speaks to this feisty dream.
With her gorgeous looks, albeit the out-of-control hair, Tandees Tanavoli could have easily been an A-list actress; instead, this feisty lady wanted to be behind the camera.
Born in Tehran to Manijeh and Parviz Tanavoli, Tandees is the CEO of Tandees Enterprises, a film management conglomerate. This Iranian producer and director set her mind to be a filmmaker when she was as young as 10. At 15, Tanavoli attended a private film school in Tehran along with her regular matriculation.
Here, she wrote, produced and directed a film named The Dream which was about a doctor who dreams about his own death and tries to escape it in various ways, yet ends up passing away exactly as he had dreamt.
Tanavoli went off to study film, television production, radio production and photography at the prestigious Vancouver Film School for its intensive Foundation Film Programme and topped her class. One of her films, The Sacred Cypress, did a short round of festivals and special screenings in Chicago, New York and Sweden. Another project, a one-hour comedy special shot in 24 hours with 25 actors entitled Impromptu: the Audition, garnered three Leo Award nominations in 2003, including a nomination for Tanavoli for best programme.
Friday sat down for a tête a tête with the filmmaker.
How did the idea to form Tandees Enterprises evolve?
I have been in the film industry for over 12 years. The idea of becoming a filmmaker came to me when I was around 11 years old. It has been the only thing I have ever wanted to be. At first I wanted to direct, but then I realised through the years that I am a much better writer and producer. I have always been a very observant person, so I see stories everywhere. I mean everywhere! So I guess I am constantly inspired.
Dubai and UAE in general is the natural place to be for establishing a company in the Middle East. It's safe and respected both in the region and abroad. I have been looking back at my roots in the Middle East for fresh projects and ideas. I partnered with Dr Farhad Farjam, the reputed head of the business house Farbro Group, to create Tandees Enterprises, a conglomerate which will be housing various entertainment related entities phase by phase.
Bonyan Films was founded this year, to help develop both an indigenous industry here in the Middle East as well as build our reputation as serious industry players in the global market. We are aiming at the development and production of our own projects here in the UAE to co-productions with famous film companies in Hollywood and Bollywood.
By the way, the name Tandees Enterprises is not my brainchild. It was Dr Farjam's.
Bonyan Films was launched at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). It had several Hollywood heavyweights at its launch party.
This was the first time ever a film company had done such a thing. It was also the first time a major talent agency like the CAA (Creative Artists Agency) in Hollywood had partnered with a relatively unknown company. The Bonyan Films event was the hottest party at TIFF, our 'list' became a famous topic of conversation (and the most difficult to get on).
Anyone who was an 'anyone' made an appearance. We had celebrities like Keira Knightley, Susan Sarandon, Kate Hudson, Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood, Rachel Weisz, Jennifer Aniston, Gerard Butler (300), Harvey Weinstein (producer, creator of Miramax and Weinstein Company), Sophia Bush (One Tree Hill), Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls), Tim Robbins, Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, Amanda Peet, Ethan Hawke, Donnie Wahlberg, Kate Beckinsale, Matt Dillon, Emmanuelle Chriqui (Entourage), and Angela Bassett.
Many A-listers even left their own parties to join us."
Tell us about the travel from TIFF TO DIFF?
We would like to work with DIFF in perhaps recreating the Bonyan magic that existed at TIFF. Dubai International Film Festival [December 11-18] is a private party with a VIP guest list where both industries – East and West – can connect. DIFF throws such amazing events. It will be tough to match them! But we can try, eh?
What do you think is the biggest obstacle the Middle East industry faces?
I think that the most imperative issue is of the spread of the Arab film industry. Once that is organised, then we should look into scouting and screening good scripts. Meanwhile, we should be co-producing with foreign markets such as Hollywood, if only to create a reputation and a library in the industry. Once you have a few good films – albeit Hollywood – under your belt, people will be interested in seeing the Middle East projects as well. Working closely with stalwart industries like Hollywood will teach us how to market and where to distribute.
The UAE has the advantage of being a very young industry and the possibility of doing things right from the word go. Bonyan Films in particular will help the indigenous industry grow through its affiliations with Hollywood. We can take a good script written by an Emirati, develop and co-produce with Hollywood.
It's about time that Middle Eastern people told their own stories. Once we co-produce good Hollywood flicks, the industry will sit up and take notice. It would then be easier to project and promote our Middle Eastern scripts and actors.
Growing up in both Canada and Iran, which are poles apart, how do you gauge the experience?
I am a very positive person, so I tend to take the best of everything. I think Iran gave me the outlook I need to stand out in the crowd, especially in film. We have such amazing stories of survival, history and humanity in the region. Canada taught me structure, that some rules should be observed for success. So when you combine both, it's like combining emotion and action together. It goes well. You just have to learn how much of what and when.
Tell us about your Iranian roots?
I am very proud of my roots. The more I live in North America, the more I appreciate the spirituality and sense of self that Iran and the Middle East in general instils in you. It helps us to be more grounded. Living in Canada has taught me how to handle the pressures of a highly demanding industry and colleagues.
Which is your pet dream?
My biggest, dearest project is the one that I have been cooking up in my head since I was 15. It is called 'We Be One'. It is a series of writings and images by children of all ages from around the world that remind us that we all are one. 'We Be One' has been trademarked in Canada and is in the process of being trademarked internationally as well.
I think it's a strong message, one that is the need of the hour.
Careerwise, I would like to be able to say some day that I had a role in bringing these amazing Mideastern stories and talents to the forefront of the entertainment arena. The whole world has its eyes on us; it just doesn't seem right to stand back and allow others to tell our stories. We should be the storytellers, shouldn't we?
How would you characterise your work?
I am a commercial filmmaker. I didn't start out as such. Like all filmmakers, I wanted to make 'art'. Later I realised that the messages got across to a wider audience in a commercial film. Art films are great in terms of new methods and techniques, but the commercial is where you actually reach the bigger audience.
Let's not forget, film is the most powerful medium. You can teach a person more with one film than with a library of books. This is another reason I believe the Middle East should seriously get involved in the global market, to illustrate to the world who we really are.
How does it feel to be a celebrity?
Well, I still don't think of myself as a celebrity. I still have a long way to go to be able to say that I have made it. When we open in a few international festivals with a UAE film, then I would say we are a success!
What moments have made you sit down and think hard?
This industry is famous for rejecting. You have to get cast-off over and over and it never stops. Even the biggest stars get rejected regularly. So the trick is to be flexible, to learn to let go of a project or idea and to find ways to get back in. I had to give up on a lot of good ideas. I had to make a choice.
I had to either work on networking and getting into Hollywood and then work, or work on small projects for a long time and hope someone would notice them. I chose to sacrifice the artistic efforts. Now I would like to go back and bring some of those stories to life. It was a difficult decision.
What setbacks did you face?
The setbacks are not really in your face, because that is not 'politically correct'. But you do feel them once in a while.
In terms of success of Mideastern filmmakers, I think that no industry can succeed on its own. We have to unite and work together. We have to invest in our industry, we have to create production companies with strong ties to Hollywood and Bollywood that can support and introduce our talent to the world.
You see, this was one of my problems. I didn't have this support.
I started from scratch, and eventually I was spending more time networking with financiers, distributors and exhibitors. One day I looked back and realised that I have not had the time to write a single line of a script, have not shot a single frame of anything in over three years! If every filmmaker has to work this hard just to get their foot in the door, at the end of the decade we may have little more than one or two films completed.
Artists and filmmakers with talent should be supported by companies and investors who will do all this legwork for them. This is what Bonyan will be doing for the region: I already went through all that. Now that we have the connections and the people, we can support the industry. If you look at the history of Hollywood or Bollywood or even smaller industries like the Japanese, Chinese and Latin ones, this is how they succeeded. We are not reinventing the wheel or anything.
Hollywood is very difficult to break into, money is not enough. You have to have a relationship with them, and Bonyan already has that. There is no reason for every good filmmaker in the region to sacrifice their time, money and art, when we already have a foothold in Hollywood.
Do you think life is like a movie?
I have found out by experience that if you walk into a meeting with a big smile on your face, chances are that everyone in the room will smile back.
I also have the experience of living through a situation (eight years of war) where we didn't know if we would see the next hour. So it puts a lot of things in perspective. At the beginning of a venture or a major decision I always sit down and think 'what is the worst that can happen?' If I feel I can live with those situations, I go ahead with that venture, regardless of how risky it is.
I think life brings you a lot of opportunities at you. It opens many doors; we just have to be aware of them and explore what lies beyond. I believe that every situation that you face in life has a reason. Most of the time, we are so flustered that we don't stop to figure why it happens. But if we do, we will see that we might be standing in front of this door that just slammed on our face, but another one is opening. Most people are so busy banging their heads on the slammed door thinking it is the end of the line, that they don't look around. I think this is the biggest mistake one can make, waste their lives in regrets and 'what ifs'.
TANDEES' TAKE ON....
Pangea Day
Pangea Day was an international multimedia event conducted on May 10, 2008. Cairo, Kigali, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai and Rio de Janeiro were linked to produce a programme of films, music and speakers. It was designed to inspire understanding across cultures and nations. The programme was broadcast live across the globe, culminating in a global drum circle, symbolising the common heartbeat of the world. According to the festival organisers, "Pangea Day plans to use the power of film to bring the world a little closer together."
The Pangea Day originated in 2006 when documentary filmmaker Jehane Noujaim won the TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) Prize. Jehane wished to use film to bring the world together. Pangea refers to the super continent from which all current continents eventually separated. It serves as a reminder of the "connectedness" of all people on Planet Earth.
By the way, Pangea Day was a four-hour long documentary that moved me to tears. Made by Jehane herself, who is best known for her films Control Room, Startup.com and Pangea Day, of course.
Family rules the roost.
My heroes were always closer to home. One of that was my maternal grandfather who lost everything, several times. He got back stronger and more successful than the time before. My father, Parviz Tanavoli, built an entire sculpting industry in Iran out of nothing. My mom, Manijeh, is the strongest person I know. I think it is very important to have heroes you can live with and learn from, on a daily basis. Farther from home, I admire Nelson Mandela, for standing by his beliefs and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for taking care of his people, first and foremost.
Pain of migration
Emigrating to Canada was one of the most painful experiences of my life. But pain leads to the noblest experiences. I missed Iran and its open, warm culture. But I soon realised that 'Change is the changeless law of the universe'. In this cosmopolitan world, people need to move globally to explore the immense possibilities each region has to offer. To survive, one needs to bridge the cultural differences and vibe into an atmosphere of multiculturalism and fluidity.
Feby Imthias is an Abu Dhabi-based freelance writer.
