Major multinational companies generally have corporate social responsibility programmes (CSR), but these are not always easy to create among small businesses. Zakir Hussain, the company director and a film producer at Icon Art Production House in Dubai, discusses how his movie production house rolled out an initiative aimed at aspiring filmmakers.
What kind of work does Icon focus on, and how did the CSR programme come to be?
We've done a lot of work in short films and TV programmes. A lot [of people] came to us and said "we want to do this. Can you help us with the equipment, discounts and special rates?" In the past few years, filmmakers were hesitant to do a project - so we supported them [with] cameras, lights or post-editing machines.
How can your business afford to lend all this equipment?
We have the equipment in-house. We were busy with other projects, so every month or two we used to try to support someone when we could. This became part of the problem I faced: everybody who comes to us says can you do this for free? That affected my business. If we do this, I thought, let's separate this and launch an initiative to help people who have potential and want to do a project.
How did you structure the formal programme, Universal Film Makers, within Icon?
What we decided was annually we will support four short films and four documentary films with all the equipment involved - cameras, sounds, lights and post-editing machines. Also, we tied up with another production house; they're one of the best who can do the colour-grading … It's a finishing touch.
What exactly should filmmakers have ready if they want your support?
They should have a copyrighted script. All they have to do is give us a small introduction or synopsis of the project if that content has social value - because we're trying to produce projects that go to festivals. The point is to help serious people with serious scripts.
And what does your business get out of this?
What we're expecting is if any project participates in festivals - and any money gets made - it goes toward projects for up-and-coming people. The intentions are very clear: there's no commercial [benefit for us], because if I want to do a commercial venture I can do it under Icon.
You hosted a free workshop recently. How is this particular initiative playing into your efforts to help aspiring filmmakers?
We brought in screenwriters, production managers, producers, did a workshop and saw the output. We didn't charge, but the next one we'll charge a nominal fee - but they get the camera free for one day. What happened is this workshop [occurred], but they did not utilise [their learnings afterward], so it's a waste. Knowledge is good, but you must go out and shoot something and materialise what you've learned.
nparmar@thenational.ae
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Bournemouth 0
Manchester United 2
Smalling (28'), Lukaku (70')
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
Specs
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Director: Siva
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Seoul from Dh3,775 return, including taxes
The package
Ski Safari offers a seven-night ski package to Korea, including five nights at the Dragon Valley Hotel in Yongpyong and two nights at Seoul CenterMark hotel, from £720 (Dh3,488) per person, including transfers, based on two travelling in January
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Transmission: four-speed manual
Price: $1,075 new in 1967, now valued at $40,000
On sale: Models from 1966 to 1970
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Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
The biog
From: Upper Egypt
Age: 78
Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila
Favourite Abu Dhabi activity: walking near to Emirates Palace
Favourite building in Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
Company name: Play:Date
Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day
Founder: Shamim Kassibawi
Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US
Sector: Tech
Size: 20 employees
Stage of funding: Seed
Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund
The specs: 2018 Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE
Price, base / as tested: Dh263,235 / Dh420,000
Engine: 3.0-litre supercharged V6
Power 375hp @ 6,500rpm
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What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
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