DrownedMadonna: Monshur, would you like to tell our readers about your artistic background?

Monshur: I have had no traditional and conventional filmmaking experience. All my knowledge about filmmaking has come from reading books, and watching films, and generally talking to other filmmakers, and listening to people. The first time I was on a film set, was when I was on the sets for my film ‘Martilino’, which as you are aware won the Guy Ritchie competition. I have written all my material, and this includes Martilino and my new feature film ‘Movies’ www.alambrothers.co.uk

DM: Monshur let’s talk about your 8 minutes movie titled “Martilino”. Who is Martilino?

M: Martilino is a character in my film played by Akkas Al Ali, and he is like the everyman, he wants to be a success, he wants to be remembered, he doesn’t want to disappear and be a nobody. Martilino is a representation of all our desires in life, whether we get them or not is another question.

DM: “Martilino” is about our fears and insecurities, what are these fears for a young boy nowadays?

M: I think Martilino for me in particular represents the notion of success, and what is success? Martilino deals with themes of fears and insecurities, and in my case, I would say, the fear of not being able to channel my artistic flair in the form of my movies!!! For me, my films give me an opportunity to express my ideas and thoughts and it is a release.

DM: Which is the mission of Martilino? Is there any sort of comparison between Martilino’s mission and yours?

M: I believe Martilino shares the same mission as us all, and that is to be remembered, we all want to feel that we have done something that we can truly be proud of, although how Martilino goes about doing this, is a totally shocking and thought provoking turn in the story.

DM: Why does Martilino need to be remembered strongly? Are we dealing with ambition or maybe a sort of personal success due to the place he comes from such a revenge from his family and friends?

M: Martilino feels that he has been put on this earth to do something special, and he is unable to face the prospect of dieing without any recognition. He has a burning ambition to be remembered, and wants to see his name in bright lights flashing in the sky, and this desire will lead him to go to extreme measures.

DM: Monshur your "corto" has won the prestigious Guy Ritchie Competition this year, talk us about this amazing experience. What's this Competition?

M: This was a competition set up by UK Youth, and my film was put forward by Tower Hamlets Summer university, and the film was picked personally by Mr Ritchie, while he was shooting in Hollywood. When he moved his production to London, myself and the rest of my team got an opportunity to meet him personally for a chat on the sets.

DM: You met director Guy Ritchie, have you been inspired by Guy movies on your work?

M: I have always respected Guy, and his work, he is truly an inspiration, and as a fellow London filmmaker, I want to follow in his footsteps. He’s work has really provided a platform for filmmakers from the UK to really attempt to go out there and make their own films, and not worry about going to Hollywood first and foremost.

DM: What did you talk about when you met Guy?

M: He talked to me about how he started up, and described his experiences making Lock Stock…He talked about the difficulties he faced trying to get ‘Relvolver’ up and running, and he was really down to earth, and one of the nicest guys that I have met in the industry so far. He talked about writing Relvolver, and said it is going to be one of his best pieces of work, and that the script took 2 years to write. He showed me through his monitor the scene he was shooting, which was a scene with Ray Liotta and Jason Statham. And he showed me the reasons for his particular camera set up. It was a truly amazing experience.

DM: Are you going to collaborate with him on his new project “Revolver”?

M: I would love to be involved, and we did have a chat about various projects, which we may develop in the future.

DM: Who do you meet on the set of Revolver?

M: I met the whole crew, including his personal assistant, who is a true star and soo nice. I met the sound people, the assistant directors, the cinematographer. It was wonderful, because everyone talked about their role,and what they were trying to do.

DM: Do you remember watching any scenes in particular?

M: I watched a scene between Ray Liotta and Jason Statham, which was a 5 minute scene, lots of dialogue, and very funny!!! The sets were amazing.

DM: Guy is Madonna’s hubby, she’s the one and only Icon of all time. Would you like to direct her in a movie? Which part she could play in an hypothetic Monshur new movie?

M: I would love to have her in my film, and I think she is such a talented actress that she could pull off any role. Although I would love to give her the role of a gangster moll, because she has that stunning diva look, and that commanding presence and soo much charisma.

DM: If they choose you to direct Madonna in a music video, which track you’d wish to put on the screen (even among those already realized).

M: I would love to shoot a Madonna video for the song ‘Frozen’. I think the song ‘Frozen’ gives a filmmaker such a palette of visual imagery to play around with.

DM: You know we are Italian..have you ever been in Italy?

M: I would love to come to Italy, it is a country that I have always loved, and I hope to come and see you all in the future, whether it is to do with my film projects or whether it is for a vacation, either will do for me.

DM: Are you already plannning your next work? or you will concentrate on promotion for Martilino?

M: I will be promoting ‘Martilino’ and planning my next feature film titled, ‘The Boxer’, which I plan to shoot next year. I am also developing a project alongside this with Film Council, UK.

DM: Thanks for your kindness Monshur and BEST LUCK for your career from your new Friends at DrownedMadonna.

Please, if you choose to use this interview or part of it credit DrownedMadonna.

Special thanks to Vincy.