2 Dubai entertainment Stars

www.Diversechoreography.com

Lisa and Scott Marshall join me for a conversation about finding opportunity in the UAE.

Who They Are.

We are a husband and wife team who have many years of experience both as dancers and choreographers, whose passion and knowledge of the entertainment industry will prove invaluable here in the U.A.E. We choreograph and produce all varieties of entertainment ranging from TV and music videos to theatre, corporate and fashion shows...hence the name Diverse Choreography. We aim to produce for each individual client an imaginative and exciting show second to none in our field. By sharing our extensive knowledge and passion for creating tailor made shows for each client, you will achieve unique performances for your product and event.

Simply stated, Scott Marshall’s career history reads like a celebrity hit list. The first chapter of Scott’s illustrious story began at the Dance School of Scotland then on to the Laine Theatre Arts College, London where he gained a Diploma in Musical Theatre. The next chapter entailed Scott establishing himself as an industry leading dancer then choreographer and director working throughout Europe training dancers in established studios in all genres. Scott has since mirrored the decades gifted pop and film icons passion for music and drama with his own innate passion for alluring choreography. Unphased by the glitterati, Scott has collaborated with music’s elite in pinnacle events such as the world famous American Music Awards alongside the biggest selling artists in musical history such as Cher on her European Tour. Other than this, Scott’s sonic portfolio contains more collaborations of miasmic proportions; working with contemporary pop artists such as Kylie and Dannii Minogue, Pink, UK pop sirens Girls Aloud, the Sugababes and Jamelia, transient legends such as Dame Shirley Bassey, Michael Buble and Cliff Richards through to classical artists such as Vanessa Mae. Scott’s TV and film experience is equally as remarkable and includes projects such as Beyond the Sea, directed by and starring Kevin Spacey, the jocular hit Johnny English with Rowan Atkinson and Natalie Imbruglia as well as apearing in commercials for multinational brands such as Mazda, Nestlé and the American giant Target. Alas, music and dance are only two constituents of a much larger picture. Scott has choreographed a number of fashion shows, corporate events and launches, working with many fashion designers and brands such as Asian Woman magazine, Orange and Vodafone moblie. And the chances are if you have been to a Nike, H&M or Top fashion show, Scott’s artistic flare would have drawn your attention. And as well as choreographing, Scott has also worked in musical theatre and on the prestigious annual Royal Variety Show in London. Scott’s musical theatre experience has seen him working alongside dance industry names such as Arlene Philips on the production Saturday Night Fever. Scott is also the resident choreographer along the entire P&O cruise liner fleet, The Thursford Christmas Spectacular – The largest Christmas show in the UK and worked on the VE Day Celebrations at the Royal Concert Hall in London attended by the Queen. Since moving to the U.A.E Scott has had his choreographic debut in Dubai at the Emirates Golf Club, for the infamous annual Oil Baron’s Ball and providing dancers for the Shakira Concert at the Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi to name but a few. Needless to say, Scott has unparalleled experience and flair that has and will prove invaluable within the industry.

Lisa Marshall has worked in the entertainments industry for over 10 years. Already, this has been a picture postcard involving the biggest names and projects others could only dream of. After gaining her professional training at the Elmhurst Ballet School in Surrey, UK, and graduating from the Laine Theatre Arts Company with an honours diploma in musical theatre, the seeds of success had been sown and would begin to flourish. Lisa’s prodigious career began in the home of dance – London’s West End. Treading the boards as a professional dancer was only the mere beginnings of her successes in the industry. This soon led to a career change from student to scholar – a change that led to the establishment of her very own company, Diverse Choreography. This ever evolving passion for entertainment has seen Lisa starring as an actress, singer and dancer in West End favourites such as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Jus’ like that – a musical comedy about the life of Tommy Cooper. These are but a few entwinements in an impressive tapestry of music and dance. On the big screen, Lisa has worked with many household names and movies that have been enjoyed by millions across the world. Industry legends such as Tim Burton, Stephen Hopkins, Jennifer Love-Hewitt and Charlize Theron jam pack Lisa’s CV, working on sets of movies such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Life and Death of Peter Sellers and If Only. Let’s not forget the small screen, though. Lisa’s experience both as an actor and dancer has seen her grace the screens of millions of UK viewers on major network TV favourites including Bad Girls, Footballers Wives and Top of the Pops as well as presenting roles on cable and the DVD, Dance Party produced for Universal Records. Lisa moved to Dubai in 2008 to become a part of the burgeoning entertainment business in the UAE but still retains a presence in the UK assisting and choreographing productions such as the Thursford Christmas Spectacular, the largest Christmas variety show in Britain. Since her move to Dubai in August Lisa has Choreographed the Middle East’s first annual Alternative Energy Awards; creating a breath taking circus inspired elements show, at The Hilton Hotel, Abu Dhabi, The Diamond and Gold Commodities Conference - Jewelry show, at the prestigious Atlantis Hotel, an event hosted by Mubadala at the Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi for Ferrari and F1, Shakira at the Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, Lamborghini Launch and fashion show, Lamborghini show room, Muscat and lastly, invited some of the UKs finest dancers, singers and musicians to the legendary Oil Baron’s Ball at the Emirates Golf Club here in Dubai. She brings with her a wealth of experience as a former professional dancer combined with a passion for innovative, unique choreography.

March 9----Moath Bin Hafez

Where are the UAE film makers and actors?

We had a great talk with two young and rising UAE stars in the cultural industries of film and theatre!


http://archive.gulfnews.com/tabloid/Cinema/10195033.html

What People said about the film contest Moath was in.

By Shireena Al Nowais, Staff Reporter Published: March 06, 2008, 00:53

The Emirates Film Competition made history this week not by their movies but by boldly lashing out at UAE and Gulf filmmakers calling their movies amateur, redundant and deeming most of them unworthy of a prize. At the closing ceremony of the Emirates Film Festival, at the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage on Tuesday, jury members finally spoke up by saying that most of the films did not deserve a prize and were not up to standard. Infuriated Jury members were infuriated by the quality of films that were submitted and many categories were simply omitted because the submissions were plainly below par. These comments were made immediately after an almost two-hour Oscar-nominated documentary by Charles Ferguson on the chaos in Iraq. No End in Sight looks at the role of the Bush Administration in the destruction of Iraq. According to Ferguson's documentary, ill-advised decisions led to the deaths of thousands of Americans and hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians. As if the movie wasn't depressing enough, it was followed by comments from jury member Nujoom Al Ghanem that many prizes would not be given out because the quality of films were below standard. Speaking to tabloid!, Abdulla Al Bastaki, Director of Emirates Film Competition, spoke of his disappointment at the quality of submissions. "In 10 years we have not had a single movie that reached international festivals,” he said. He said for years jury members have reluctantly given away prizes to boost the morale of filmmakers. But this year's jury, made up of professional experienced filmmakers, would hear nothing of it. ‘Frenzy' "It's all a media and festival frenzy. The media sees the films and pump so much into these amateur filmmakers, making them believe that they are the greatest, when they are not,” he added. The problem with the films of most UAE and Gulf film makers, he said, was that they were too much like television. "I haven't seen proper cinematic scripts… the lighting, acting and scripts are too much like television. Most of the ideas are dull and repetitive. For example, anti-smoking, that is repetitive. We are looking for originality.” While some might find the comments made during the closing ceremony harsh, Al Bastaki says this is exactly what filmmakers need to improve and upgrade themselves. ‘Honest Opinions' "These are honest opinions for the people by the people,” he said. But Al Bastaki and jury members agree that the problem is deeper than just improving the films. It calls for a complete change in the education system and the public's understanding of cinema. This lack of appreciation of UAE and Gulf films was evident in the low turn out of people during the competition. Jury member Nujoom said that educational institutions should find programmes, curriculums and trainers to enhance the artistic capabilities of their students. She also asked that all educational institutions support the cinematic industry financially, and conduct workshops and programmes in this specific area. Cancelled awards More than Dh1 million in cash prizes were due to be given out to the winners of the Emirates Film Competition. But because of poor submissions, only Dh265,000 worth of cash prizes were awarded. Also, 10 out of 24 prize categories were removed despite a rise in the number of entrants. Another new category or award that the organisers had been enthusiastic about were the Grant Awards of Dh250,000, Dh150,000 and Dh100,000 for best film idea, completed screenplay or project currently in pre-production for a feature length film. This was also removed due to the lack of any original ideas. Awards went to: Best Gulf Poster Design (student): Mohammad Al Shaibani Best Poster (general): Hafez Media Best Special Effects (student): Moustafa Zakaria Best Actor (student): Aisha Ebrahim Best Actor (student): Moustafa Zakaria Best Actor (general): Ghanem Nasser Best Scriptwriter for short film (general): Souad Al Serkal and Ebrahim Abdulla Jury Prize for Best film (student): Samantha Abdul Aziz Best UAE short documentary (student): Nasser Jaber Best UAE short fiction (student): Moustafa Zakaria Best UAE short fiction film (general): Moath Bin Hafez Best UAE short fiction film (general): Farid Al Khajah Best Gulf fiction film (general): Moussa Jaafar

Emirati theatre 'must depict modern lives'
posted on 02/09/2007
About 50 years have passed since the first play was staged in the UAE. A researcher in the history of Emirati theatre, Abdul Elah Abdul Qader, puts 1958 as the actual start of formal theatre acts. Two plays were staged that year by youths at Al Shaab Club in Sharjah and the other one in Dubai. But it was hard times for the theatre movement till 1963, the year Watheq Al Samaraei, an Iraqi artist, came to the UAE to supervise some plays and hold workshops.
A federation for theatre was finally established in 1971 and the first play showed the way to several productions that were staged in clubs and schools.
Some plays were improvised and some had actors who played women's roles as it was socially unacceptable for women to appear in public. Between 1972 and 1977, many theatrical troupes were formed. The Minister of Culture and Information invited Zaki Tolimat and Sa'ad Ardash, both Egyptian artists, to the UAE to supervise Emirati artists passionate with theatre.
In 1980, the ministry started offering scholarships for further studies in theatre in Kuwait, Egypt, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Emirati troupes also took part in Arab theatre festivals held in Cairo, Damascus, Baghdad and Carthage.
Some artists also bagged awards in the festivals.
Since the first play, three generations have been raised on the lines of the traditional Emirati theatrical productions, but what is the situation like now?
Dr Habib Gulam, actor, director and the first Emirati with a PhD in theatre, said: "I think we are stagnating for a long time." The Emirati theatre has witnessed experimental phases in search of different forms, and heritage and local issues were always the main subjects. "[We] are not creating new forms, ideas and techniques," Gulam said.
Most of the plays refer to folklores and lives and practices of the past especially the life of pearl divers and traders. As such, he said, new social issues are often overlooked.
He said: "Youths have to produce what they [are] living and experiencing in their lives [and] not their grandfathers' lives which they did not live. Youths are copying from the older generations who are captured by the past." Audiences, too, would like to see and experience artistic translations of vignettes from their day-to-day lives.
Gulam said: "I'm not producing new plays or acting on stage because I don't have [anything] new to give. I'm respecting my experience and I want to respect what I have been doing." He, however, is busy shooting for TV. "I [have] always warned actors not to get captivated by TV ... they can attract their audience to their plays. They just have to keep appearing on stage." The censorship on theatre is not very strict, said Gulam.
He called on thespians to read and research more to develop the form of their plays, especially since the Minister of Culture is interested in strengthening the theatre scene in the UAE. (Gulf News)