ABOU NAJA Talks with Entrepreneur and Filmmaker Hammam Nabtiti

Intellectual property is important for creators. It is the aspect that gives their labor its meaning and merit, but we have seen how difficult the modern age can be for creatives battling for intellectual property. We talked with Hammam Nabtiti, an Entrepreneur, Film Director, Scriptwriter, and Cinematographer, about his background in the industry and his views on art preservation in the modern period.

As is the case for many in the entertainment industry, Hammam began as a freelance filmmaker attempting to make it in the emerging gig economy. He credits his early years as a freelancer with showing him how to navigate various tasks and hats. “At the time, it was the only way for me to experiment,” Hammam explains. Experimentation is an essential component of becoming creative since the market is continually evolving.

Hammam, who describes his experience as "a learning curve," is cognizant of the film industry's continuous evolution and makes an attempt to keep updated on emerging technologies and strategies while he is not working on a movie, shooting on location, or editing a film. It's been nearly eight years since he started working actively in the industry, but his enthusiasm for each stage of the growth process hasn't waned. He is enthused by the whole journey, which many can find demotivating. “It is detailed work; neither the script nor the raw footage can edit themselves,” Hammam explains.

Whether it’s a painting or a film, all art deserves to be protected.

“The magic of it is seeing an idea develop from scratch to point z.” This is also why Hammam's best advice to aspiring filmmakers and entrepreneurs is to trust the process and take their time and study every part of this incredible profession. “Take it one move at a time; do not rush. There is still space for innovation,” Hammam asserts

“This sector is highly dependent on technology and innovation, [so] create what you have.” 

F8's Storytelling Hammam's passion for filmmaking and storytelling led him to co-found his own company, F8, a production house based in Dubai's Design District that has worked with a stellar portfolio of clients in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the UK.

“The name derives from the camera aperture, or F.Stop 8, which is the lens opening; at F8, almost everything in the picture is sharp and in focus, including the background and foreground,” Hammam explained.

F8's capabilities include the production of television advertisements, social media campaigns, event coverage, corporate films, and animation videos, as well as photography for a variety of industries, including food and beverage and fashion.

F8's target market as a company is digital natives looking to differentiate themselves by outstanding content, which F8 strives to offer.

Hammam's company is focused on its team's creativity and curation, which thrives on teamwork and the collective purpose of defending a concept or idea. This level of dedication and immersion in the artistic process is exactly why intellectual property is important for creatives such as Hammam, who has spent nearly a decade honing his art.

In an age when it is so easy to copy and recycle other people's inventions, Hammam emphasizes the importance of defending one's intellectual property as a filmmaker.

“Film and photography are just other visual platforms for communicating thoughts, concepts, emotions, and inspiration.

When working with labels, it is important to secure the skills involved in the output [actors, composers, etc.]. All parties should be informed [and sign a waiver or agreement] in advance to prevent any post-production intellectual property conflicts,” Hammam Nabtiti adds.

The filmmaker emphasizes the importance of defending not only one's own work but also the work of others. 

Given the ease with which random content can be downloaded from the internet, Hammam urges both creatives and non-creatives to focus on checked stock content platforms and to offer credit where credit is due. 

Similarly and due to his careful approach to filmmaking, Hammam Nabtiti is equally meticulous when it comes to copyright. Since nothing is more valuable to an artist or creative than defending their intellectual property.

For more on Hammam Nabtiti, you can follow him on Instagram @h.nabtiti and visit F8 Dubai's website and Instagram @f8dubai.