Eno's Reflections

Right before dinner one night, my mother showed me a forwarded email. It explained the Tribeca Film Fellows program and recommended it for me. The due date for the application was a week, so I began searching for recommendations, writing a resume and essay and finally, sending in my work. It wasn't until after I got home from a long vacation, that I heard Ananiki's voice on the message machine, telling me to come in for an interview. Calling her personally later on that night, she was delighted to hear from me and we spoke very casually; I liked this. Once I had been accepted into the program, it felt as if the movie had started. A plot and chain of events would lead us to twists as Film Fellows, surprises and a huge ending. I enjoyed learning so much about all aspects of the film world. There isn't one aspect I think we forgot to explore. That being said, my film knowledge enhanced.

I would've liked to eplore a movie set, but overall, the whole program was like a dream sequence and felt like a movie. Talking to Jeremiah Zagar was enchanting. Learning his techniques and exchanging ideas with him was powerful. It was great to see people who had the passions we had, but had developed them in so many different styles and ways. My mentor, Yousri, taught me how to be a thinker as a filmmaker, not only as a technical director. I realized through my studies what kind of film I wanted to pursue. It was similar to what Kassim did in Kassim the Dream. I want to use my ideas and creative dreams that can't be understood by speech, and translate them into film. I want us as humanity and an audience to share and understand the ideas and feelings in film. I want directing to be a therapy for me. I want to understand myself differently when I'm on the big screen one day. But until then, I'll take patience and drive to get to where I desire; one frame at a time.

Ben Talks with Jeremiah Zagar