THE INNER WORKINGS OF CINEMA WITH HAKAN ARSLAN
In this exclusive interview, we had a conversation with Hakan Arslan, one of Turkey's renowned directors, about the behind-the-scenes of the business world. Hakan Arslan, a prominent figure with years of experience in the industry, shared his experiences from the beginning of his career to the present, discussed industry developments, and shared his expectations for the future.
-HELLO, MR. ARSLAN, WELCOME.
HAKAN ARSLAN: Hello, welcome.
-COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF?
-HAKAN ARSLAN: My name is Hakan Arslan, and I work as a director. I started as an intern while I was in school in 1995 and continued working actively from 1996. Of course, I began as an assistant, then became an assistant teacher, and started directing in 2004. I've been working as a director since 2004.
-CAN WE LEARN DIRECTING IN SCHOOL?
HAKAN ARSLAN: Education can certainly be obtained in school. Is it necessary to go to school? It's not, but of course, in school, you learn many things related to the profession, the industry, and the general field of your work. After that, you truly learn in the field, just like any other job.
-WHAT PROBLEM IN THE INDUSTRY WOULD YOU LIKE TO SOLVE?
HAKAN ARSLAN: Perhaps the main problem for everyone, for directors, screenwriters, and producers, is that the durations are very long, especially for the mainstream channels. If the work we do for mainstream channels had shorter durations, say 60 minutes or 50 minutes, it could result in a more dynamic and better-expressed work for those who write the story, the screenplay, act, and direct. So, I might say that shortening the duration could be a solution.
-WHICH PROJECT DID YOU ENJOY DIRECTING THE MOST?
HAKAN ARSLAN: I love all my projects, but "Annelerle Kızları," "Küçük Kadınlar," "Aşk ve Mavi," and I also directed a project in Arabia, 8 episodes for the MBC Shadid platform. It hasn't been released yet; I think it will be in April or May 2023. I generally love the work I do and enjoy it. I build a connection with them. I build a connection with the story. I build a connection with my actors. "Aşk ve Mavi" was a project that had both drama and comedy, so it was different in that regard. "Küçük Kadınlar" was about the struggle for survival of five little girls. That was another project with different narratives, different stories, different concerns, screenplays, and characters. Therefore, each story has its special place for me.
-YOU WORKED AS AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR IN THE SERIES "YILAN HİKAYESİ." WHAT
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS SERIES?
HAKAN ARSLAN: It was a police procedural series with a lot of action and comedy. It was a blend of drama, comedy, and action. I enjoyed working on that project very much. Our director created a fantastic world for that project. Our actors were excellent, and the audience enjoyed it a lot, achieving high ratings. We were almost unable to work; that's how much attention we received when we worked with those actors. I think it was a very enjoyable project during that time.
-WHY DO YOU THINK MEMOLI'S CHARACTER WAS SO LOVED?
HAKAN ARSLAN: Memoli was a hero in that series. He was both a cop and a hero, but he had a structure that could mingle with the public, and he could be one of the people. He had gelled hair, dressed casually, and stood against people who caused harm to society. I believe Memoli was loved because he was someone from the heart of the people. He could be both civilian and official.
-"AŞK VE MAVİ" SERIES, ESPECIALLY THE FIRST SEASON, WAS HIGHLY ACCLAIMED AND REACHED A LOYAL AUDIENCE. WHAT, IN YOUR OPINION, MADE IT A SUCCESS?
HAKAN ARSLAN: The story was very solid, and the characters were relatable to the public, characters that could be found among ordinary people. People felt those characters; they internalized the story. They put it in their hearts, or they had it sit next to them while they watched TV, they invited those characters into their homes. They sat beside them, ate sunflower seeds with them, drank tea with them. They found both drama and comedy very true to life. Therefore, it was the story and the characters that contributed to its success. They found it very relatable to themselves.
-CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE PROJECT YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON?
HAKAN ARSLAN: It's more about the sense of community, the structure of a neighborhood. It contains a love story and a bit of action. There are characters trying to engage in illegal activities in this project. It's a project that can attract people, both in terms of the story and the lifestyle of the characters. It also includes comedy. I think it's a project that will be successful.
-HOW DO YOU THINK WE COMPARE TO EUROPE?
HAKAN ARSLAN: Technically, I believe we are quite advanced. I don't think we lag behind Europe or America in terms of technical aspects. I think the issue is related to time, especially for our work on mainstream television, for series. Because of the long durations, when there is limited time for post-production, even though it is mainly produced on set, things like music, CGI, VFX, and effects, among others, could take the work to a different level during post-production. But when it's on air, there's not enough time for all of this. When you're playing a new episode every week, and it's 120-130-140 minutes long, you don't have time for these things. I don't think it's about comparing with Europe and America; it's about comparing in terms of time. When there's time, everything can be done at its best in this country.
-WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUNG DIRECTORIAL HOPEFULS?
HAKAN ARSLAN: Good observation, the ability to read scripts well, observing the director while working as an assistant, observing everything, observing the actors, establishing a connection with them, and observing the actors. If they accumulate as much as possible, they can come up with solutions in the field, or they can use different languages. Maybe they won't even choose that, it depends on the director, and people differ from one another. But the more you observe, the more you produce, in my opinion.
-WELL, MR. ARSLAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE INTERVIEW.
HAKAN ARSLAN: Thank you, you're welcome. Goodbye. Take care
In this interview with Hakan Arslan, we examined his experiences from the beginning of his directing career to the present and discussed changes in the industry. Additionally, we discussed his advice for young directorial aspirants and his views on the state of the Turkish television industry. We thank Hakan Arslan for this special interview.
Comments