Paris-based actor-director, Karim Goury talks about The Man Inside, an experimental documentary. The 50-minute autobiographical film is shot entirely in a hotel room in Kuwait City When did you start making films and why? I started dabbling in filmmaking 20 years ago, with art videos while I was studying in art school in France. […]
Paris-based actor-director, Karim Goury talks about The Man Inside, an experimental documentary. The 50-minute autobiographical film is shot entirely in a hotel room in Kuwait City
When did you start making films and why?
I started dabbling in filmmaking 20 years ago, with art videos while I was studying in art school in France. Later, I decided to take it up more seriously and began to train in the craft.
Where did you train in filmmaking?
I went to script writing workshops in La Fémis, the famous cinema school in Paris.
Whats your favourite genre?
I like documentaries, especially creative ones, I also enjoy fiction. I particularly like independent films because I feel they give you complete freedom to express yourself.
What were the challenges you faced while shooting this film?
I shot this film by myself. I was both behind and before the camera at the same time. Each shot took me at least 20 minutes to set and that was a true challenge. I also wrote and produced the film in collaboration with Kuwaiti Film and TV Producer Talal Al-Muhanna. It was a very fulfilling experience.
Tell us more about the tools you used in production and post.
I used a DLSR Canon 7D camera with prime lenses. It gave the picture the 35mm aspect that I needed. I recorded the sound with a stereo ZOOM H4N recorder. I havent used any additional lights and only filmed with the natural and artificial lights available in the room. My editor Françoise Tourmen, edited the film on Final Cut Pro 7 and the sound design and mix was made on Nuendo Software by Thierry Bousquet.
What were some of the highlights of this project?
Being selected for the Muhr Award Documentary Competition at the Dubai International Film Festival was indeed an honour. Although, The Man Inside is a very personal film, I see the award as an acknowledgment of the fact that the film has touched a large audience.
While working on the film, I was not sure if the viewers would relate to it, but this award put my concerns to rest.
How many people are there in your team?
It was a one-man show this time. For my next film, I wish to work with an entire crew, so that I can focus on directing other actors.
How many films have you made so far?
The Man Inside is my fourth film. I have directed two other documentaries and one short fiction.
What inspired The Man Inside?
The Man Inside was my own little experiment with self-expression. I had visualised the entire film in my mind and thought it over and over again. It was a personal journey and my attempt at giving a tangible form to what was going on in my mind.
I never met my father, which used to make me angry when I was younger but now, I have come to terms with it.
I would also like to add here, that this film was not an attempt to give vent to my anger because I am not angry any more. It was created to tell a story, just like any other story, it just so happens that it is a personal one.
Do you travel a lot?
Yes, I love to travel, especially in the Middle-East. I am half Egyptian, my father was Egyptian and my mother is French. I frequently travel to Egypt, which I regard as my second home, and also go often to Kuwait, Dubai and Beirut.
What next?
Now that The Man Inside is completed, I can return to writing my next script, which will be a narrative feature film. Its something quite different from what I have done so far.
