Tariq Hager talks film
My guest today is Tariq Hager, a Lebanese born American citizen who is the co-founder and co-director of Prague Film School, which is a private film school in Prague that has operated since 2003.
“The Prague Film School emerged from a larger project, the Prague Centre for Further Education (PCFE), which dealt with a number of subjects mainly in the arts. We were running film classes as well, and over the years it became increasingly obvious that there was a real interest in film and yet, people interested in studying film faced the obstacle of either a national film academy back home, which was virtually impossible to get into, or very expensive private schools back in the United States. So we decided to found something that would be an alternative to those two options.”
Were you competing with the ‘natural’ choice here, which is the FAMU film school? There’s not really that much else here, is there? There is a film school in Zlín and another one in Písek…
“That’s right, but FAMU and the other Czech film schools weren’t particularly important to us as their primary area of interest was Czech students and we were to be an international film school – our students were to come from all over the world.”
So how does the school function and what kind of education does it provide?
“We provide courses in directing, editing, cinematography and screenwriting. The programme obliges students to study all four core areas in the first semester, and then specialise in the second semester.”
And you are the co-founder of this school, so was it difficult, along with your colleague to actually set up this school?
“Working with him was the least difficult part of the whole thing. Of course it is always difficult to set up any kind of business and we had a number of obstacles. A film school is incredibly complex to set up – everything from getting facilities together, keeping up with the latest developments, making sure you get the right teachers and of course making the programme appealing to the students and also finding the students. So there were quite a few challenges.”
What kind of students do you have?
“Our students are, as we wished originally, international. In a programme of, say 50 students, we will have thirty countries represented.”
And you personally have been in Prague for ten years, I understand. What brought you here in the first place?
“Prague’s reputation for being a beautiful city. I had finished my undergraduate studies and was wondering what to do next. And I was here for three years, before continuing with my graduate studies in the United States.”
And you are an American citizen that was born in Lebanon, called Tariq Hager. That is quite an interesting combination.
“In 1971, when I was born, my father was working to broker peace negotiations with Pakistan and East Pakistan - present-day Bangladesh. At that time, one of my sisters came down with cholera. As the hospitals in Pakistan were not particularly developed, a family friend by the name of Tariq helped to secure a medical evacuation which actually saved the life of my sister, and we went to Beirut, Lebanon. And while in Lebanon I was born. Hence, I was named after the man who helped to save my sister’s life.”
And then you went back to the United States?
“Not immediately. We lived in Pakistan, India, Egypt, Rome – I spent a few years in the United States for schooling in undergraduate and graduate studies.”
How do you find living in Prague?
“I think Prague is a fantastic city. It has the charm of a much smaller city, but the buzz of a real metropolis. It has managed to preserve a historic beauty, while also having a very cosmopolitan buzz.”
And what are the changes that you have witnessed while you have lived here?
“I would say that it has become a bit more similar to other European capitals, but of course, it still preserves a bit of its magic that I think it will always have.”
Now you run a film school here, and I suppose you must be keenly aware of the whole situation with Czech film, which many people think is in a creative crisis at the moment.
“In recent years there hasn’t been much of interest emerging. That could partially be because the market is now focusing more on what you could call ‘Hollywood’ type films. And there is less interest in financing the more traditional art-house cinema. However, the new generation of filmmakers that emerged after 1989 were producing some very strong films.”
Was it more a love of film or the business side of things that led you to set up a film-school?
“There is definitely a love of film there. Actually, I would say that I approached it more from the perspective of education. My past history has always been in education and this was the third educational project that I have been involved in.”
And what about the students? Do some of them come in not knowing much and end up making great films?
“Every year, statistically you will find two people who shine. And it is that magical quality called talent. And we are not surprised when they do emerge. On the other hand, we do find that at the end of the year, students that we did not see as particularly strong at the beginning of the programme do eventually emerge with fantastic films. We’ve had successes in film festivals and roughly eighty percent of our students do continue in the film industry. I think that that is mostly a credit to them, as they are already a particular type of student when coming here. We are not the logical first step for students who study film; you really have to do research to learn about us. It is precisely those types of students that we planned the school for. It is the student who could not get into the national film academy back home for whatever reason and could not afford private studies elsewhere, but who also knew that they were passionate about film and knew that this is what they were going to do with their lives and wouldn’t take no for an answer. And it is that commitment and dedication which maintains them through the programme and of course sticks with them afterwards. So it is not surprising that they persevere on into the industry and are successful.
What is the age group that attends?
”Next year, our youngest student is eighteen and our oldest is thirty-six and that is pretty standard. I think that the mathematical average is twenty-six years old.”
Do they get a certificate or a degree for their studies?
“Our programmes are accredited by the Czech Ministry of Education, so they get a certificate in film production, and screenwriting, directing, cinematography or editing depending on the specialisation.
Final question: what are your plans for the future?
“We have a number of plans. It is our long-term ambition to be able to provide accredited Masters Degrees. We are also establishing a documentary film department and an acting for film department. These are our immediate goals, and of course we are always trying to strengthen the school.”
Tariq Hager, thank you very much for joining us.
“Thank you for inviting me.”
