May 13, 2020

Meet Hanadi Elyan

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hanadi Elyan.

Hanadi, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’m a filmmaker currently based in LA. I was born in Dubai and raised between Dubai and Amman, Jordan. My family is artistic, Arab and Muslim. As a small child, I was fortunate to have access to a lot of high-end film equipment, which allowed me to start very early on. I used to make films with my dolls, friends and cousins — whoever would entertain the idea, really.

I always knew that I wanted to be a filmmaker, but there were no university film programs in Jordan when I finished high school. So, I studied and worked in IT and Projects Management for a few years. Once an institute opened up, I enrolled in a filmmaking night course. Fast forward a decade later, and now I am happy to finally be able to write/direct/edit and teach filmmaking everyday.

I moved to Los Angeles five years ago, after I earned a full-ride scholarship from the Mohamed S. Farsi Foundation to attend UCLA’s MFA in Film Directing program. I can’t say that I saw anything other than the four walls of my apartment and school during the first year, as I had to work very long hours.

But today I feel right at home, and even sleep through earthquakes…

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Haha, no. The road was windy and difficult, still is.

I had to fight really hard to get any project off the ground. There is a great deal of risk involved as a writer/director since the end result is your responsibility. The cast and crew rely on the writer/director. They put in long hours and they need to feel that their work is worthwhile. I think that is the hardest thing for an indie filmmaker.

There is also the nature of filmmaking, it’s a minefield. You can never plan for every eventuality. We had our film set burglarized one night as our security guard fell asleep on the job. Unpredictable things happen all the time. Once you put a plan together it is tested over and over again. As filmmakers, we are constantly adjusting.

I’m also a mother, so I have learnt to manage my time around my son’s schedule. Since I do not have the luxury of waiting for inspiration, I have started looking at filmmaking as a craft that I do everyday and that discipline is the reason I am able to continue working.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
As Covid-19 takes over the world, I am putting the final touches on my debut feature film Salma’s Home. Salma’s Home is a modern authentic story about Arab women. Like all women, Arab women have a wide spectrum of attitudes towards life. This story is about family, envy, pride, blackmail and entrepreneurship. Truly, it’s about women who take matters into their own hands and decide their own destiny.

I love this film so much. Pulling the production off was nothing less than a miracle, really, and I am super happy with the end result. My previous short films and the solid script helped me to convince A-list Jordanian actresses to come on board. They put their trust in me and I did my best to finish the movie to the highest standard.

The three main leads are unapologetic, strong and far from the belittling stereotype into which Arab women are often put. The audience is quite tired of seeing themselves portrayed as victims, and the actresses are done with playing ones, that’s for sure.

I cannot wait to share Salma’s Home with the world, but unfortunately our timeline for release has shifted. For indie filmmakers like myself, we start our journey with festivals, then move on to theatrical distribution. With the pandemic, the majority of festivals have been put on hold and movie theaters are closed. It’s time to find new ways to reach the audience; the world is changing and we need to adapt with it.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Change is the name of the game for an indie filmmaker, it is risky but never boring. I will always make films about Arab women, but I also look forward to creating film or TV series in other languages too. I am currently developing an English language film idea set in the US, my main character might speak a different language or dress differently than in my previous films, but the character traits are so relatable and universal I feel so close to this new American character although we do not share the same background.

I think this is the age of transnational filmmaking.

I love Los Angeles: the beach, the weather, the hills. I have been fortunate enough to meet a lot of cool, inspiring, hardworking people. LA attracts a lot of talent, which makes working in film very competitive but also certainly enriching. Being around people who love film is stimulating, and even an Uber ride will eventually turn into a discussion about movies.

The Safer At Home order has allowed us to see LA traffic and smog-free, which is beautiful. I hope we make some environmentally conscious decisions when we return to normal life.

Contact Info:

Website: https://www.hanadielyan.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hanadielyan/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HanadiElyanFilm/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HanadiElyan

Image Credit:
Nathan Bennett

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