Meet Malek Haneen

Hi Malek, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up as the black sheep of the family. My parents both worked in sciences and they pushed for me to follow their footsteps. Could be a cultural thing since all my Egyptian friends seem to have the same story. I knew when I was in middle school that storytelling was my passion. I remember writing horrible short stories and poems but loving it. Even though I was forced into sports, I would always find time to sneak away and write or read the newest sci-fi. Sci-fi is where it got me hooked. A show my father shared with me before he passed, so there’s a little weight to this part of my story as well. After he was gone, I finally went to college at 23. Decided it was about time I did something useful. I even started in medicine! To make the parents happy, mostly. But, it never took, I kept coming back to storytelling, and learning how to use my first film camera sold me — THIS is what I’m meant to do!

Soon after college, an old friend got me my first film job. Reality TV! Noooo! I did it for a few years, learned a lot about just about anything you can think of that happens on a fast-paced hands in the air set. Good learning experience, everyone should try reality once. But I knew I wouldn’t be content until I was creating narrative content. So here I am. Years later. Working in commercials and narrative film. I’m also writing in a virtual writer’s group during covid, which has been different. Most importantly, I try to make content that matters. Always looking for new ways to showcase POC and female leads in interesting non-trope stories. It’s so important to me to share the voices of the under-represented. In fact, I am working with my Egyptian co-producers to build a platform for middle-eastern POC who want to collaborate with black/brown filmmakers in the states! So, ya I keep pretty busy. Lol.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as relatively smooth road?
I don’t think anything is ever a smooth road. And that’s okay. We learn from those speed bumps. I think one of the struggles we face starting out as a director is, how do we make money? You don’t just jump into the role or make your first film out of school. Hard reality check. It’s really important to realize you have to start small. Do some work for friends, even if you just gaffer or AC. Learn the ropes and build your networks. Then, direct some music videos. Those were my first directorial experiences, and they can be very freeing compared to the sometimes very constricting commercial ads we do. But it’s hard. Until you’re a famous director, it’s going to be up and down. Some months you get a few gigs, some times it might be six months before your next gig! So learning to be frugal was a big challenge at first. When you get that first big check, you think, “Wow” but that needs to last. I think another struggle is I have always looked younger than I am, so a lot of execs didn’t take me seriously. I think this is where your work has to speak for itself. And always present yourself professionally, but never be afraid to show your creative side. Selling your idea is partly selling yourself!

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a director. I would like to say I specialize in telling fantastical stories in fantasy and sci-fi. But I’m still learning, we all are. Hopefully, you will be seeing more of my stories on screen soon! Just wrapped a sci-fi film called “The Counterfeit Mind”. Look for it soon! I am really proud of this TV show that I am working on. A group of writers got together during covid to form a virtual writer’s room, and it’s been great. This is a show I have been dreaming about for years and the world, scale, characters are so interesting and detailed. It’s really like nothing I have seen yet!

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was pretty nerdy until high school. Then I lodged in with the trendy skater crowd. Then after college, I became super nerdy again.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sourbamboopictures.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malekhaneen/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/malekhaneen
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/realmalekhaneen