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Creative Documentaries Based On Archives
By Béatrice De Pastre

Béatrice De Pastre, head of the  Archive Department and Cinematic Heritage in the National Cinematographic and animated image Centre (CNC) has run a number of workshops hosted by Dahshur Workshops:

  • Creating with Archives , 1st-6th November 2017
  • Creative Documentaries Based On Archives, 18th-23rd April 2016

Both of the these  workshops explored how participants could select and merge archival material, video, audio or visual, in order to enrich the narrative elements of their feature documentary or fiction project, while also maintaining a structured and coherent rendering. Concerns regarding copyrights were also addressed. The workshop focused on the utilisation of old footage (film archives, amateur films or photography) and how participants can find ways to recycle this footage and use it in new works.

Re-using Images from the Past: Adding Sound to Silent Films, 7th-9th October 2017

This three-day workshop took place at Dahshur Workshops’ office headquarters in downtown Cairo. The workshop gave participants the opportunity to explore and examine images, composition, and the relationship between sound and image. Participants explored a variety of subjects and exercises including listening exercises, analysing silent short films, montage, recording sound, adding sound to image and preparing soundtracks.

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    3D Screenwriting Workshop
    Writing With The Actor In Mind

    By Maggie Soboil
    Creative Documentaries Based On Archives

    Maggie Soboil’s 3D Screenwriting workshop was an intensive program that focused on developing rich, believable characters. Through a series of exercises and techniques, participants discovered keys to creating three-dimensional characters for more authentic and compelling screenplays. The workshops were limited in number to give each participant time to work on their material.

    Workshop Date:
    Sep 20-28, 2023

    Maggie Soboil’s 3D Screenwriting workshop was an intensive program that focused on developing rich, believable characters. Through a series of exercises and techniques, participants discovered keys to creating three-dimensional characters for more authentic and compelling screenplays. The workshops were limited in number to give each participant time to work on their material.

    Soboil, a seasoned screenwriter and teacher, developed her unique approach to screenwriting after working with hundreds of screenwriters from around the world. She noticed that while many writers had a good grasp of form and structure, they struggled to create characters with depth and motivation. To address this challenge, Soboil designed her workshop to help writers experience their scripts from an actor’s perspective, breaking down the text to explore the motivations and behaviors of their characters. According to Soboil, this approach allows writers to start asking themselves questions they may not have considered before, leading to a deeper understanding of their characters’ internal truths. This process helps writers create roles that are not only well-defined but also feel real and breathing, making them appealing to actors.

    Soboil believed that this technique could be applied to any genre of writing, whether it’s character-driven stories, fantasy, film noir, horror, or otherwise. By focusing on the internal logic and truth of their characters, writers can develop a distinct voice and style that sets their work apart. Overall, Soboil’s 3D Screenwriting workshop aimed to equip writers with the skills necessary to craft rich, nuanced characters that would captivate audiences and bring their stories to life.

    From September 21st to 27th, a group of writers participated in a 3D Screenwriting workshop led by Maggie Soboil. The workshop began with breakfast at 8 am, followed by a group session with Maggie from 9 am to 12 pm, where each writer summarized their project, discussed their intentions, thematic pitch, and characters. This was followed by lunch from 12 pm to 1:30 pm, and then individual meetings with Maggie from 1:30 pm to 2 pm, 2 pm to 4 pm, and 4:15 pm to 5:45 pm. Day 1 concluded with dinner from 6 pm to 7:30 pm.

    The remaining days of the workshop (September 22nd to 27th) followed a similar pattern, with breakfast at 8 am, group sessions with Maggie from 9 am to 12 pm, lunch from 12 pm to 1:30 pm, and individual meetings with Maggie in the afternoons. During these sessions, the writers worked on their respective scenes with fellow writers and actors, received rewriting tasks, and observed each other’s work. The workshop culminated in a presentation of new scenes and a summation on the final day, September 27th, followed by departure at 6 pm.


    Mentors


    • Maggie Soboil

    • Ayman El Amir

    Selected Projects


    • Mavie Maher – Fragile

    • Jennifer Peterson – Beyond the Farthest Tree

    • Helmy Nouh – Garden of Freedom

    • Ahmed EL-Hawarey – A Tale of a Feather and a Fish

    • Reem Ossama – Rayan

    • Hani Sami – Taste of Homes

    • Sally Abobasha – Story of Basma and Mahmoud

    • Ahmed El Ghoneimy – Bad Friend

    • Eman ElNaggar – Lily

    • Ahmed Farghaly – Anywhere But Home
  • Soboil, a seasoned screenwriter and teacher, developed her unique approach to screenwriting after working with hundreds of screenwriters from around the world. She noticed that while many writers had a good grasp of form and structure, they struggled to create characters with depth and motivation. To address this challenge, Soboil designed her workshop to help writers experience their scripts from an actor’s perspective, breaking down the text to explore the motivations and behaviors of their characters. According to Soboil, this approach allows writers to start asking themselves questions they may not have considered before, leading to a deeper understanding of their characters’ internal truths. This process helps writers create roles that are not only well-defined but also feel real and breathing, making them appealing to actors.

    Soboil believed that this technique could be applied to any genre of writing, whether it’s character-driven stories, fantasy, film noir, horror, or otherwise. By focusing on the internal logic and truth of their characters, writers can develop a distinct voice and style that sets their work apart. Overall, Soboil’s 3D Screenwriting workshop aimed to equip writers with the skills necessary to craft rich, nuanced characters that would captivate audiences and bring their stories to life.

    From September 21st to 27th, a group of writers participated in a 3D Screenwriting workshop led by Maggie Soboil. The workshop began with breakfast at 8 am, followed by a group session with Maggie from 9 am to 12 pm, where each writer summarized their project, discussed their intentions, thematic pitch, and characters. This was followed by lunch from 12 pm to 1:30 pm, and then individual meetings with Maggie from 1:30 pm to 2 pm, 2 pm to 4 pm, and 4:15 pm to 5:45 pm. Day 1 concluded with dinner from 6 pm to 7:30 pm.

    The remaining days of the workshop (September 22nd to 27th) followed a similar pattern, with breakfast at 8 am, group sessions with Maggie from 9 am to 12 pm, lunch from 12 pm to 1:30 pm, and individual meetings with Maggie in the afternoons. During these sessions, the writers worked on their respective scenes with fellow writers and actors, received rewriting tasks, and observed each other’s work. The workshop culminated in a presentation of new scenes and a summation on the final day, September 27th, followed by departure at 6 pm.

    Mentors:

    Maggie Soboil 

    Ayman El Amir

    SELECTED PROJECTS

    Mavie Maher -Fragile 

    Jennifer Peterson -Beyond the Farthest Tree

    Helmy Nouh -Garden of Freedom

    Ahmed EL-Hawarey -A Tale of a Feather and a Fish 

    Reem Ossama -Rayan

    -Hani Sami -Taste of Homes 

    Sally Abobasha -Story of Basma and Mahmoud 

    Ahmed El Ghoneimy -Bad Friend

    Eman ElNaggar -Lily 

    Ahmed Farghaly -Anywhere But Home

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    Clear Filters

    From November 3rd to 12th, a group of aspiring filmmakers and producers were given the opportunity to participate in an intensive Producing Feature Film Development Workshop, led by renowned American producer Dina Emam and esteemed Egyptian producer Muhammad Taymour.

    The workshop aimed to empower participants in strengthening the narratives of their documentary projects. Under the guidance of esteemed mentors Marouan Omara and Blair McClendon, filmmakers delved into various aspects of their work. They explored the art of structuring film ideas, striking a balance between different storylines, and utilizing cinematography, sound design, and editing techniques to enhance the storytelling experience.

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