From spark to screen: Image Nation Studios on turning ideas into stories

Image Nation Studios is contributing to the Congress of Arabic and Creative Industries with two practical workshops. Fatima Al Dhaheri, Development Executive, will lead "From Spark to Screen," focusing on transforming ideas into compelling stories. Khaled Alhosani, Development Coordinator, will present "Story to Screen: The Art of Pitching Film & Television," offering insights for emerging filmmakers on pitching their projects.

Both highlighted the collaborative nature of filmmaking and the importance of understanding the process to transition from an initial idea to a completed screen story.

Fatima explained that her workshop covers three key points: identifying potential story sources, developing an idea into a fully-fledged story through character development, conflict, research, and rewriting, and the collaborative aspect of filmmaking. She chose this topic as both a development executive and a writer herself, having witnessed the process from an idea to a film.

Fatima considers her greatest achievement in film development being the growth from loving stories to understanding how they are developed and made. She learned that while experience provides the initial spark, craft is essential for transforming that spark into a full-fledged story. This process involves research, rewriting, collaboration, and sometimes sacrificing personal preferences for the sake of the story.

She emphasized that an initial idea and a story are not the same. An idea needs transformation through defining the protagonist, their desires, obstacles, and the consequences of their choices. The transformation involves extensive rewriting and feedback.

According to Fatima, authentic cinematic characters are those who are complex and contradictory. These characters evoke relatability by experiencing a range of emotions and behaviors, allowing audiences to understand their depth and motivations.

Fatima advised young talents in screenwriting to start writing before feeling completely ready. She encouraged aspiring writers to be curious, observe, read, research, ask questions, and critically analyze films they enjoy. Most importantly, she emphasized that the first draft does not have to be perfect and the process of writing should be embraced, despite initial apprehensions about creating something subpar.