Screenwriters' lab with Tawfik Abu Wael

As part of the student film festival in tel Aviv, I went to the screenwriters' lab with Tawfik Abu Wael. It wasn't really a workshop, it looked more like a local version of Actors' Studio (a show I enjoy a lot). Only the interviewer wasn't as bright as the bearded man at Actors' Studio.

Tawfik was charming. Very good looking, say what he thinks and never takes himself too seriously. I enjoyed looking at him while he talked. Yes, he's the most beautiful Israeli director. Competition is not very high, as most of the directors are spoiled skinny asses that are too pale to stand under the set lightning.

A funny moment was when the interviewer asked him if he had a cinema where he grew up, and Tawfik said that he didn't but when he was 14-15 he went to Tel Aviv to watch movies at the cinemas there. The interviewer asked him then: "how did you arrive to tel Aviv? you just took the bus..?". Tawfik gave her a De Niro look that says: "are you kidding me lady?" and someone from the audience said "he came here on his donkey". This was just a short moment that showed how for some Israelies an arab Israeli is always an Arab, that lives somewhere 'not far, not close, but never grasped'.