LOS ANGELES

2014 | Fresh out of college, I moved to Los Angeles to get a taste of what it was like working in the film industry there. Surprise: it was nothing like my wholesome upbringing in Sharjah, UAE. Most networking events dominoed into the after party’s after party, at dodge-town bars swarming with unemployed filmmakers approaching you with the swoon-worthy phrase: “Wanna Netflix and Chill back at mine?” This experience pretty much confirmed all my questions about the city.
But as destiny would have it, I ended up at a company that was pretty wholesome and welcoming. I felt protected within my bubble there and worked as a Production Coordinator, and then as a Location Scout mostly and 1st Assistant Director on set. I liked being a scout, as I got to drive around the city on empty roads while everyone else was tucked away indoors at their jobs. Eventually, I ended up as a Production Assistant in the Art Department on music videos where my spontaneity and problem-solving skills were pushed to an extreme.

BEHIND THE SCENES

2015 | After my film mentor passed away in 2015, I returned to LA to attend his memorial that his college buddies held. It was a lovely experience to meet them, as I felt he continued to live on in their stories.