Check Out Emma Younan’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Younan.

Hi Emma, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today. 
I went to college to be a director and ended up learning skills that completely changed my career path and my life. At UCLA, I changed my concentration from directing to screenwriting last minute. I ended up having a great learning experience writing my first feature screenplay, a coming-of-age story based in Lebanon in the 80s. 

I’m currently starting my career as a screenwriter, building a portfolio, and reaching out to producers to start getting staffed somewhere. 

As a college transfer requirement, I had to take a film photography course at Santa Monica College, and it forever changed my life. I bought a film camera for the course and still shoot at least one roll per month now. Film photography is my passion outside of work; I especially love photographing neon signs and old movie theaters. My biggest inspiration has been William Klein and his photographs of New York City. I share my photos on @emmaskameraa on Instagram. 

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s been difficult getting people to take me seriously. I’ve worked on film sets as a Camera Assistant, and I’m often the only woman – not just in the camera department but in any technical department on set. Not everyone likes that I’m part of the team. They say I’m too young, but they don’t treat men my age the way they treat me. Hopefully, I’ll get to be a part of more crews and workplaces where everyone is respected. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I process and scan all my own film at home. It started as an experiment during the pandemic but has now become an integral part of the photography process for me. I’m really proud of the fact that I’m able to create my photos completely on my own. Even though my photos might have more dust or stains sometimes, they’re the result of this really enjoyable process I go through with each roll. It makes me proud of all my photos, even the ones that didn’t turn out the way I wanted them to. 

How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
If anyone wants to write something together, I’m always happy to be part of a writer’s room. Also, I’d love to sell photography prints, so if anyone is interested in buying a print of any of my photos, just dm me on Instagram @emmaskameraa. Sharing my art on social media would also mean a lot. 

Contact Info:

• Website: emmaskamera.com
• Instagram: @emmaskameraa
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-younan/

Image Credits
Mateo Nikolav
Emma Younan