"Labor Presents a Heartfelt Human Story".. Director Zeina Abdel-Baqi Comments on "Son of a Daughter of a Gray"

SadaNews - Zeina Ashraf Abdel-Baqi, the daughter of artist Ashraf Abdel-Baqi, emerges as a distinct directorial voice in the Egyptian scene. Abdel-Baqi sees her father's title as a double responsibility to prove that talent is cultivated through patience and knowledge, not inherited.

Since her early days in the world of cinema, Zeina has been drawn to the power of imagery in expressing the unspoken, and to the moment capable of encapsulating an entire story. When standing behind the camera for her directorial debut in the series "Son of a Daughter of a Gray," she was fully aware of what she sought to present.

Zeina's goal with the series "Son of a Daughter of a Gray" was not limited to presenting a social work, but rather she aimed to deliver an impactful human story.

In her conversation with "Al-Arabiya.net" and "Al-Hadath.net," Zeina discussed the details of the series, how she received the idea, worked on it, along with the behind-the-scenes experience with her father, artist Ashraf Abdel-Baqi.

The young director Zeina Ashraf Abdel-Baqi clarified that the series "Son of a Daughter of a Gray" represents an exceptional milestone in her artistic journey, as it combines her nostalgia for simplicity and her passion for experimentation.

She explained that the work stemmed from an idea aimed at exploring the relationship between generations and the changes in values and concepts affecting them. She confirmed that the series discusses, in brief, "how youth perceive adults and how adults perceive youth, and what ultimately brings them together despite the distance," noting that she loved the screenplay as soon as she read it.

She added that the filming took place in a family atmosphere, giving the experience a special human touch. She indicated that her father's presence, artist Ashraf Abdel-Baqi, within the crew was "a reassuring factor, not a dominating one," and that he granted her complete space to express her vision without interference.

She noted that collaborating with Leila Ahmed Zaher was a significant addition to the series, due to her artistic intelligence and ability to shift between emotion and innocence in a single scene. She explained that she chose her for her natural presence.

Zeina emphasized her commitment to ensuring that the series includes a dose of human comedy that elicits laughter without losing empathy for the characters. She clarified that the goal was not just to make people laugh, but for viewers to feel a connection with the story.

In closing her talk, the young director affirmed that what matters to her at this stage is not popularity or competition, but rather the sincerity of her choices, as she does not seek fame as much as she seeks the love of people for the story.