Helping children to realize the possibilities and choices they have, leading a life pursuing their passion
Omar is an film director. After graduating from university, he resided the Zaatari refugee camp , where he worked with starting up various forms of film and media.We sat down with Omar, and he explains what he hopes to communicate through his work.
Omar Braika
Film director
Born and raised in Jordan, currently is a film director, and works inside the Zaatari refugee camp, starting up and editing various filmography.
Bettering the lives of others
I was born in Amman, the capital of Jordan. I was the eldest of four, with two sisters and a brother. Our family originally was from the Palestine region, but came to live in Jordan after our grandfather escaped as a refugee in his youth. Since then our families have lived as Palestinian refugees.
Ever since I was young I believed in, and wanted to work helping others. “If you can help, you should” was a personal value that was I held from early on. Being the eldest I didn’t receive this from my siblings, but I believe somewhere through experiencing the kindness and gratitude of others, this value was instilled in me.
Also in Arab regions, it is customary to “Help thy neighbor”. Treasuring family first, what each individual can do for friends and the community greatly widens the number of people they connect with. This is the same with countries, and the world around us. To not think of others is to become a selfish and unaware human being.
Because of these values, there were times where I would dream of becoming a policeman. Other times I would dream of serving in the military, or helping others by producing food through agriculture. As I grew older, I spent time wondering how I could contribute to society.
Doing what you love
My first encounter with a video camera happened when I was seven. Even though it a simple device attached to a cellphone, I was immediately drawn to the appeal of recording on film. Since then, I would attempt to record anything and everything around me. For instance, I would stay up all night, recording, just to capture the sunrise.
My love of video led me to try joining a film workshop. However at the time I was only 13, and I was deemed too young to join. It was suggested I join an acting workshop, where would be able to record videos on the side while learning how to act. But I was passionate about recording films and not acting, so I didn’t take part in those classes. Despite my continuous pleas, I didn’t have the opportunities to study film recording like I wanted to.
Still, it was hard to give up my dreams of working with film recording. In high school when choosing my college major, I found myself wanting to pursue a path in such a career. At the time when I was deciding I watched the film “Requiem for a Dream”, which also influenced my choice.
The film’s plot follows the lives of several individuals, and how they intertwine and connect with one another. The story isn’t exactly all bundles of joy and happiness, but I liked how it followed the reality of human life and drama. Watching the film drew me also want to capture such realness, and to urge and inspire others from the heart.
In an ordinary Jordan household, it is common for parents to want a “good” job for their children, something that pays well such as an engineer or a doctor. My parents were no different, and they were opposed when I expressed my desire to pursue a career in filmmaking.
However, I wanted to choose a future doing what I was passionate about, regardless of money. I made the decision to major in media during college. Though when young my career dreams were influenced by what I could do to help others, this was the first moment in which I chose my future based on “doing what I love”.
A film featuring Amman
Upon entering college I was finally able to purchase a proper video camera, something I had always wanted. Jobs are scarce in Amman, so I spent time living in Aqaba, a city six hours away, making hotel beds to save up enough money to buy one.
With my new video camera I started making films, and the first film I made was “The heart of amman dying”. Born and raised in Amman I loved my home, and the film’s theme centered on how the city of Amman was losing it’s history through redevelopment.
The origins of Amman’s downtown were from a small village, and there are several places where you can see the history and parts of the old town. However redevelopment means that more and more streets are lined with newer buildings, and the redeveloped areas are now known as “the new downtown”. Those parts hold no historical significance, so I feel it is important to preserve the old town area and its history.
During college I studied media, and through filmmaking I decided I wanted to become a film director. The benefit of films as a medium is that through using both audio and visuals, you can relay a vastly larger amount of information. Also, it can also been seen even by those who are illiterate.
After continuing to make films, I was awarded a prize in a film contest held across 25 colleges in the Middle Eastern region. Upon winning my parents, who opposed of my filmmaking career, gradually begun to accept and respect my choices.
After graduating college, I spend time working at the Zaatari refugee camp, a Syrian refugee camp situated in northern Jordan. Consisting mainly of starting up filmography and media, I work with children, themselves Syrian refugees, supporting them with finding and filming what they like, and helping with editing.
When I was young I never had the opportunity to study filmography, which is why I wanted to teach children in filming and editing. By doing what I do, I feel I have achieved what I wanted to.
What I want to convey through the power of filmography
The work at the Zaatari refugee camp is over and I am currently working as a free film director.
My dreams of becoming a film director haven’t changed. I want to create a film that connects people, uniting them. Currently the Middle Eastern region holds several issues, from the Israeli occupation, the Iraq war, and the Syrian civil war. Historically there have been several conflicts across the region, and people are forced to live under various circumstances such as refugees
Though sharing a similar culture and people, we are divided. Despite this, I believe it possible to unite the people of the Middle East through the power of filmography. Also, at times just because one hails from the Palestinian or Arab region, they are mistakenly branded as terrorists from the global community. I believe the reason lies within ourselves not being open-minded, and I want to challenge those notions and beliefs through filmmaking.
I also want to create these films for children, showing them and giving out the message that “anything is possible”. Those around you can’t stop you from achieving and realizing your dreams if you want to. That is the message I want children to understand, to realize that they can choose what they want to do, instead of basing their futures purely on financial reasons.
If I can create a film that can convey emotions and capture the hearts of people, I believe it is possible.
Also I want people even as they grow up to be adults, to retain the purity and dreams they had as children. With age people tend to lose sight of their dreams, blinded by riches, power, and political standing. This leads to people giving up what they really want to do, but I believe this drives to corruption, resulting in human conflict with one another. That is I myself never want to lose a childlike purity, and hope to create films that allow adults to regain that purity as well.
Omar Braika
Film director
Born and raised in Jordan, currently is a film director, and works inside the Zaatari refugee camp, starting up and editing various filmography.
