Written by: Bilal Sohail
Posted on: July 16, 2019 | 
| 中文
Promo for Jahaz
The art of expression knows no boundaries, whether it is race, religion or culture. Based on the principles of originality and progressive ideas, KahaniSaaz is a new experimental platform which aims to personify the art of storytelling.
The emergence of short-length films can surely rescue our generation from the depths of despair and indecision when confronted by the following question: What should we watch today? This, however, is not the case with short films, which reduce many reservations that viewers might face when making that decision. But there is another question which haunts aspiring filmmakers and enthusiasts alike: how does one even engage in the process of positive criticism, when people have preconceived notions of what a good film should be.
Artistic trends are swiftly evolving around the world, giving rise to the need to reevaluate viewers’ changing preferences through experimental content. KahaniSaaz’s process is driven by a sound vision, to create film content that is easier for viewers to understand. “In order to connect fully with the realities that surround us, we must embrace them first”, said Fatima Asad, the co-director of KahaniSaaz. She explained how over-dramatization should not be chosen over more nuanced depiction.
“Artistic freedom is a luxury that not many can afford in today’s day and age,” said Naveed Akbar, the co-founder of KahaniSaaz along with Fatima Asad. Before this, Akbar conducted an acting workshop with a short course on filmmaking at Olomopolo Studios in Lahore, and KahaniSaaz was created through collaboration with some of his best students.
Akbar highlighted the importance of promoting a thought-provoking and feel-good cinematic experience. When societal issues become the backbone of content creation, viewers can often experience depressive episodes, which can be detrimental in so many ways. “This endeavor requires a complete transformation of the existing pre-production processes to allow for more content diversity”, he said.
This team is fully equipped to set new benchmarks of innovative short-film production. Fatima Asad’s creative ability, together with Assistant Director Laeeq Ahmed’s art direction, Production Manager Rehan Abid’s technical knowledge, and Affan ul Haq’s marketing skills.
Team KahaniSaaz is promoting and refining contemporary raw talent using passionate actors, directors, and videographers. They aim to focus on quality content, without getting too bogged down by variables that can change in the future, like sets or time constraints. They do not let dated post-production/filming equipment hamper the production process. Instead, they have been gradually building upon their resource bundle for future projects.
Their first ever short-film, Cake, not to be confused with the feature film released March 2018, is set to be released at the end of 2019. It will give viewers a real insight into their humble beginnings. “Cake was filmed using minimal resources and obsolete filming equipment. However, it’s scripting and storyline is something that the viewers will hopefully relish,” they explained.
“The process of ideation is the most time-intensive process in KahaniSaaz’s entire film production cycle,” said Naveed Akbar. Dissatisfied with the prevailing formulaic entertainment industry, Team KahaniSaaz wishes to provide content that is relatable using philosophy and humor.
Currently, the core team’s creative prowess is fully devoted to creating a total of seven short-films this year. Two of these films, named ‘Changezi Mohabbat’ and ‘O Bhains’ are already out on their YouTube Channel. ‘Changezi Mohabbat' delivers a melancholic representation of love with Ali Afzal Kamal’s dialogue writing and Naveed Akbar’s storytelling. ‘O Bhains' tells an astonishingly funny story about two men discussing life on a hot afternoon. Both films were directed by Asad, who is Naveed Akbar’s protégé.
Their latest film, ‘Jahaaz’ is set to premiere on the 19th of July. Film enthusiasts should also look forward towards ‘Asmaan Kaa Batwara’ as well as other titles that are set to release later this year. “Aspiring new actors, directors, and videographers are always welcome to be part of our team, in order to nurture a shared learning environment,” said Fatima Asad.
Every film produced by KahaniSaaz sees each member participating fully in multiple areas of the production process. Furthermore, this group of passionate individuals is quite open to contemporary ideas about film production, and is hopeful about their path to creative rediscovery and innovation in Pakistan.
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