Interview with Lebanese Director & Cinematographer Muriel Aboulrouss

A portrait of Muriel Aboulrouss (Photo by Nathalie Nasr)

I am a human being, a person who is in love with natural light and with portraying human emotions through the lens when that feeling is in chemistry with the space and or the people around me. I believe in authenticity, in art or life and I believe we all are here for a reason. I believe in jamming and creating from my gut in art (G.I.A).

Why did you get into filmmaking and screenwriting?
Honestly, I discovered filmmaking by chance through the audio visual studies in Lebanon and I chose it because filmmakers seemed free and non conventional. Along the way I fell in love with light and decided to become a Cinematographer.

We just finalized the remaining episodes… season two is ready for worldwide distribution 👻👻👻 pic.twitter.com/S7IaUlJ7on

— Zyara – doc web (@zyara_docweb) April 24, 2017

How does an indie filmmaker distribute his/her film?
Zyara, the web series is actually my first creation as a director/cinematographer and we (the creative producer & I) got distribution through ‘Word of Mouth’ by meeting distributors at web festivals. And, I am not in a place to advise on such a matter, since I am yet learning how to find ways to distribute the second season of Zyara.

When does an indie filmmaker start planning for distribution?
I don’t believe in rules and I believe the creative process should not depend on any other parameter but the genuine need to create. If your work is heartfelt, authentic and done with love, it will find its way out.

How can filmmakers finance their project?
I was born in Beirut, Lebanon. I grew up during the civil war and that taught me a lot in terms of survival and adaptability. My advise is: be flexible and create from the essence of what you aim to express, create because you need to and never let technicalities be an obstacle in your way. Shoot with whatever you have at hand. Create because you need not please your ego… and in that case life will support you in making it happen.

Zyara Filmmakers (Photo by Racha Chalhoub)

What films have you written?
None yet

What are the films that you have made?
I have only shot “Zyara” as a director and honestly I would gladly only make Zyara until the last day of my life.

What is your concept on collaboration?
Collaboration is the key to filmmaking. You have to find team members who will become a family and whose faith in the project makes you, the project creator invincible. The Zyara team is incredibly connected through friendship, mutual respect, trust and faith in the purpose of the project. The Zyara team is led by Denise Jabbour who was the trigger that pushed us all in that direction. I don’t believe in rules generally, but whether you choose to be a team player or a solo artist, you must be authentic no matter what and that will attract a great deal of people to want to collaborate with you and support you in your journey.

How do you find the process of filmmaking?
I find it extraordinary. I love the adrenaline of making things happen out of nothing. I love impulsive creativity and unplanned shoots. I love to be guided by emotions and inspiration and that free creative act is for me the reason of my love for storytelling.

Take us through pre-production, production and post-production of your recent work
It’s hard to take you through our journey as it is not common at all and none structured. “Zyara” just happened to us… almost a gift from life. I manage our social media, the creative producer and I are using all the money we have to keep producing until… well, we don’t know yet. We do know one thing – we will not stop!

Muriel Aboulrouss on a production set

What are your future goals
My goal is to use my gift to serve the greater good, while collaborating to create love that ripples through people in today’s world. In order words, “Zyara” is now my future goal.

Briefly write about your career
Muriel Aboulrouss is an award-winning cinematographer from Beirut Lebanon, and the first woman to actually work as a cinematographer in the Arab World. Her numerous cinematography credits include award-winning documentaries such as ‘The Oil Spill’, ‘Lesson in History’, and ‘Marcedes’; all directed by Hady Zaccak and Grandma, a Thousand Times (Teta Alf Marra), biographical documentary by Mahmoud Kaabour featuring his grandmother. Muriel Aboulrouss won “Best Cinematography” at the Arab Screen International Awards for “The Shower”, short film by Michel Kammoun. Muriel also shot his first feature film ‘Falafel’ (Best Film at Namur film festival 2006). In 2009, she shot her 3rd feature film ‘Stray Bullet’, by Lebanese Director Georges Hashem.

Stray Bullet won Best cinematography at Namur film festival and Best Arab film at Dubai Film Festival (2010) while Teta Alf Marra snatched the audience award for best documentary at Doha Tribeca Film Festival, Docs Box Damascus Festival (2010-2011) and in London International Film Festival. Muriel also shot Shankaboot, the first Arab web series produced by the BBC trust fund and Batouta films. Shankaboot won Reflet d’Or for best web series fiction at Geneva Film Festival 2010 and again won the Digital Emmy award in 2011. Muriel has been working for the past 20 years very selectively on documentaries and films following her passion, exercising the art of making films.

In 2012 “Cine-Jam”, a journey of self-discovery through the 7th art, was born, a workshop that seeks what cinema can bring and offer to their makers and viewers. For Muriel teaching is a way of life and the greatest gift of all; Cine-jam was followed in 2013 by “Jamming with the Light” another filmmaking workshop that develops the directors-cinematographer’s bond in their act of cinematic passion while telling a story…Jamming with Beirut is yet to see the light, it is the culmination of the cinematic quest. The three workshops together will be joined as one in a one-year experiment: the Cine-Jam film lab. More will come and the journey is challenging but for Muriel this is the only way to keep Beirut and the world alive.

In 2014, Muriel Aboulrouss and Denise Jabbour (producer) establish the Home of Cine-Jam as a production hub for authenticity in Art as in life. Their first creation is “Zyara” the documentary web series that marks Muriel Aboulrouss‘ directorial debut. Zyara has won 21 awards so far in Web Festivals around the world.

Muriel Aboulrouss
Director/Cinematographer
T 00 9613 87 75 30
[email protected]