Number 6
Taim, a 13 years old boy from Syria takes us through his grief when his father's incident changes his life forever.
Interview with Director Rachel Meguerdijian
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I have always had a passion for documentaries. After meeting Taim, I realized that his story needs to be heard. I felt this urge to make this film so people can know about it.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
The documentary delivers a message that many people in the world and mainly in Syria are facing today.
Plus, don’t we all feel more connected to a true story?
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
On a personal level, I felt a connection to Taim that made me decide to tell his story. As for a universal theme, the struggle that Taim goes through can be identified to many people. I believe, each viewer will connect to the theme and somehow relate to it.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
After receiving the approval to tell Taim’s story, the first thing I did was pack my things and head to Syria to shoot. Once I captured all the moments I needed, I began to structure the story. What I am most proud of is the authenticity I kept throughout the whole film, which I believe is rarely found nowadays in documentaries.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
People who watched the documentary came out of it pleasantly surprised. I was intrigued with the wide range of interpretations for the directing choices I made, I won’t spoil it of course. Some of my favorite spontaneous reactions were: “I got goosebumps watching it” and “I want to know more".
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The feedback got me questioning if the post-production process had been executed differently, would the message of the story still have stayed intact?
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
My aim is to have a diverse audience exposed to my film and its universal message, and I feel that this is a great platform to do so.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Distributors and Journalists would be vital to helping amplify my film’s message to more viewers.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I want the audience to sense the experience of watching the documentary. I hope that everyone realizes that every moment and every decision can change your life forever.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
I’m sure some people after watching the documentary will have a moment of introspection and may question themselves “What can we do to make a difference?".
Would you like to add anything else?
Yes! It would be remiss of me if I didn’t thank the family that trusted me with their story, my family who supported me throughout this process and my incredible crew. I have a sincere appreciation for each and every one of them.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I am currently developing my first feature script.
Interview: October 2019
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
Number 6
Taim, a 13 years old boy from Syria takes us through his grief when his father's incident changes his life forever.
Length: 30:23
Director: Rachel Meguerdijian
Producer: Adriana Diab
Writer: Rachel Meguerdijian
About the writer, director and producer:
RACHEL MEGUERDIJIAN was born in Montreal, Canada and raised between Canada and Lebanon. After completing her undergraduate audio-visual studies in Lebanon at the Académie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts (ALBA), Rachel worked on several TV commercials for clients in different countries of the region. She obtained a Master’s Degree with a specialization in Directing from the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles. Her previous short movie Link St. and In Circle won several awards around the world. Rachel is attracted to innovative and challenging projects that help her grow and expand her career.
ADRIANA DIAB was born and raised in Abu Dhabi, UAE. She earned her undergraduate degree in Audio-visual at the Académie Libanaise des Beaux-arts (ALBA) in Lebanon. Starting her career as an Event Coordinator, Adriana began as Casting Assistant and then transferred to Production Assistant. Now, Adriana's focus is to Production and Post-Production, working on several TV commercials for different countries in the Middle East. With her interdisciplinary skills and international experience, Adriana has truly mastered the technique of conveying the right message to the audience.
Looking for: distributors, journalists
Instagram: @number_6_documentary
Website: rachelmeguerdijian.com
Other: IMDb