(1888PressRelease)
June 28, 2009 - NECESSITY is the mother of invention, and it was also the very practical reason for partners Shamim Sarif and Hanan Kattan to combine their formidable producing, writing and directing skills to co-found film production company Enlightenment Productions.
Sarif, who has adapted several of her stories and novels for the big screen, as well as directing the films, had for years optioned a script to Hollywood called The Reader based on a short story she had published. But when she finally got the call to say funding had been raised, there were certain conditions attached – adding two love scenes to a story of unrequited love – and she couldn’t agree.
“Shamim convinced me to try producing her films,” says Kattan. “I feel passionately about her work and it made sense for us as a couple and as a family to work together.”
Joining forces gave the couple the flexibility to be able to move to Cape Town with their sons for 10 months while shooting The World Unseen – an Enlightenment Productions film in association with South Africa’s DO Productions - based on Sarif’s award-winning novel of the same title.
The World Unseen is set against the backdrop of 1950s apartheid and explores unconventional relationships during troubled times. It is inspired by Sarif’s grandmother’s stories and taps into her South African and Indian heritage. The film was shot entirely on location in and around Cape Town, says Kattan.
“Pre-production and the whole shoot were in South Africa as was a big part of post-production. We chose to do that because Shamim and I were keen to retain the authenticity of the story,” she explains.
“We took on the National Film & Video Foundation (NFVF) as a minority equity partner, not because we needed their funding but because we felt it was important for the South African government to be behind such a strongly South African film. About 85% of the budget was spent in South Africa.”
With a head office in London, and a satellite office in Los Angeles, Enlightenment has a policy of employing people who are best suited for the job and who feel passion for the material.
“We look for dedication and people who are pro-active and who understand our ethos and our films,” says Kattan, who comes to film production from a very different background in brand creation, distribution and marketing, although the qualities that drive her to success are universal.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to have always worked for myself in business which allowed me to steer towards things I am passionate about. And in general I am not afraid of trying new things as I usually welcome interesting challenges that push boundaries.” she says.
This comment certainly sums up Kattan’s approach towards Sarif’s work, for which she has the highest admiration. Sarif’s own background was in her family’s financial business for 10 years before becoming a full time novelist and film director. “This experience of Shamim’s helped a lot when doing budgets and business plans to raise funding for each film and to stay on budget,” says Kattan. “Our amazing friends - who invested in our movies - believe strongly in our projects and in the themes of integrity that our films explore, and as a result we had a marvellous team of women supporting us with each project.”
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