Tempo magazine May 2012

THE WIDEST CIRCULATED YOUTH AND COMMUNITY FOCUSED MAGAZINE IN THE UAE

KNOW MORE ON PAGE 12

CREATIVE CITY TALENT TO BURN

MAY 2012

THE FIRST MAGAZINE IN THE REGION TO USE MOBILE TAGGING

+ PLUS

PICTURE PERFECT COFFEE WITH FRIENDS THE TALENTED MR. IQBAL NOUF SAEED- SPECIAL EFFECTS MAKEUP

contents

ed’s note:

www.tempoplanet.com

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letters to the editor uspace what’s hot the bottom bottom line tech talk / game hedz tempo’s top 10 songs / on my ipod my style blueprint the dream players city bites bandwidth youth talk people calendar picture perfect time capsule planetarians the talented mr. iqbal mini minx media tamakkan knowledge hub

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We are constantly inspired by those who express themselves creatively. The local film industry is emerging on the world stage in a big way, and grassroots initiatives such as The Dream Players are giving a platform to new talent to showcase their abilities. We see no shortage of poets willing to share their thoughts, and have met so many sculptors and painters, musicians and dancers who are telling their stories and adding their unique talent to the creative melting pot of the country.

At the heart of this creative movement is the community, the very essence of Tempo. Being in the centre of it all we are thrilled that others’ creations bring inspiration to us, and our work at Tempo brings joy to our readers. Feed your soul with art and culture, and drop us a line to let us know what you’re doing.

doc in the house / just handcrafted just a thought

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At Tempo we see the UAE developing a strong artistic identity, and we are blessed to meet so many talented people who are truly passionate about their creative pursuits.

Be true to yourself and spread kindness,

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Sana Bagersh Managing Editor bagersh@tempoplanet.com MANAGING EDITOR Sana Bagersh SUPERVISING EDITOR Ian Mason

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Angeli Castillo

FEATURES WRITER Alma Kadragic

Shakil Haque Jan D’Sa

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Sharon Carvalho

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Manar Al Hinai Ahmed Samir

MARKETING COORDINATORS Manjul Abhishek Laskar Laipubam

Rohith Bhat Azza El Masri Shahid Saeed

MAGAZINE DESIGN Mark De Castro

Blakniss Sadaf Hassan

DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR Melaku Muluneh

Dave Solomon Justin Thomas

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ADDRESS To reach editorial at Abu Dhabi Tempo email: editorial@tempoplanet.com. If you need to find out where you can pick up your copy call: 02 491 8624/25 or check out the list of Tempo distribution points on our website.

NOTE TO ADVERTISERS Advertisers can request brand tagging with all advertisements. To reach advertising call: 02 491 8624/25, fax: 02 491 8626 email: advertising@tempoplanet.com DISCLAIMER Tempo is a publication of BrandMoxie. Although Tempo Magazine does its best to ensure the authenticity and accuracy of its contents, the publisher cannot accept any responsibility for errors, mistakes and inaccuracies. The publisher reserves the rights of this product and no part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the permission of the publisher.

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Post your views and comments on our facebook and twitter pages

Dear Ed, I love that Tempo keeps me in touch with the word on the street, new ideas and budding stars.

Thanks for all the hard work and keep it real - Hermoine Macura

Thanks for the interview, Hermoine. What a great story!

- The Tempo team Hi guys! Thank you for the opportunity to intern at Tempo.

My time there and the team were amazing! Covering The Dream Players talent show was the best end to an unforgettable week!

- Yasmine Ziadat (photo left)

We loved having you,Yasmine.

Thanks for your awesome work -The Tempo team

u vote RESULTS OF LAST MONTH’S U VOTE:

THIS MONTH’S QUESTION:

Tempo asked our online readers, Do you like the new size of Tempo? This is what you said:

Which is your favourite Avengers character?

1) Iron Man 2) Captain America 3) Thor 4) The Hulk 5) Black Widow

SAID YES

go to tempoplanet to vote

04 | www.tempoplanet.com

SAID NO

FB & TWEETS Lovin’ the new Tempo layout and size. Keep up the good work!!! - Azam M Your magazine is fantastic! I can’t wait for each issue! - Bernadette B Love my Tempo! - Geraldine L My Style Blueprint is my favourite section of Tempo - Mariana G Eds note: Ok, Mariana, you can be in this issue!

Tempo keeps me in touch with Abu Dhabi - Ruth M Great design, great articles, great colour.

Thanks, Tempo! - Logan D

A team of business administration students from SZABIST Dubai could soon be the UAE’s next successful entrepreneurs.

Fatima Sarwar, Syed Adil Moshin, Ruqayya Khan and Kulsoom Khan created an idea for a restaurant that serves diabetic meals and other healthy options to combat growing obesity levels in the UAE.

“We have considered the valuable suggestions given to us by the competition judges and are trying our best to implement them into the plan. When consequences are favourable and opportunity knocks, we would surely take it into the market.”

Further success Fatima also recently L- R: Ruqayya, Fatima, Adil, Kulsoom triumphed at the Raymond Big Idea competition with a FUTURE plan to develop an affordable ENTREPRENEURS: online tutorial portal for Winning idea students, freelancers and Students Plan U SPACE For Success Their idea received a boost the unemployed. “These by winning the Biz Plan competitions are a great start Competition 2011, a tritowards our big dreams.” university initiative involving SZABIST Dubai, IMT With enterprising students like these, the future of Dubai and Manipal University Dubai. The team is business in the UAE looks very bright. currently working towards improving the idea.

“The business of a restaurant has many elaborate details, so we are trying to make them all consistent with each other, along with many other aspects,” explained Fatima.

GIVING HOPE:

A Heart-To-Heart Chat

By Alia Youssef

Inspired by the Gives Me Hope website, I wrote this article especially for Tempo’s teen readers. As a 16 (soon to be 17) year old girl, I know being a teenager is one of the most stressful stages a person goes through.

Making choices about college, friend problems and discovering ourselves are just some of the daily dilemmas we go through. I find myself swarmed with choices, questions, homework and pressure from my parents during this stage of my life.

Think positively I’m an optimist and I get through by staying positive. Be happy and don’t worry. As someone once said, “Worrying is like sitting on a rocking chair; it gives you something to do but gets you nowhere.” The less you worry, and the more proactive you are, the happier you’ll be. If you’re feeling down, don’t keep it bottled up inside you. Talk it out with a friend or an adult you trust. Talking and expressing your feelings always makes you feel better and less down. Don’t let negativity get to you; it won’t do you any good! Keep smiling.You’ll look better!

Inspirational stories These are two stories from the website that gave me hope: I saw a homeless man on the corner of one of the busy streets today. He was wearing ratted clothing and it was evident he had no personal

Tamakkan and Tempo supports UAE entrepreneurs by sharing business knowledge.Visit www.tamakkan.org for more information.

care. But his sign didn’t say, ‘Need money or food.’ His sign simply said ‘Smile’ and he had the biggest smile on his face. People like him.

I’ve had a lot of self image issues. I spent last week at a friend’s house. The first thing her baby sister said to me was, “You’re so pretty. I want to look just like you when I grow up.” Little kids who open your eyes give me hope.

For more inspirational stories, visit: www.givesmehope.com

Inspired by past memories and winter in Paris, Sara Al Mazrouei contributed this beautiful poem to Tempo.

I KNEW YOU A WHOLE WORLD It’s the season of mists and beauty and magic The ground is covered in sparkly white stardust Pearls fall from the sky and melt into my hair The trees look as though they miss their leaves And the vintage song starts playing in my head 4 minutes and 60 seconds of happy memories And my thoughts say I knew you a whole world I knew the love of fun and the need for speed I knew adventures and heights and pretty views I knew good music and lights that drew patterns I knew the dolphins wouldn’t come out that day I knew because the sea was swollen with waves I knew too, that I was trusting a changing moon Still, I think about you like you put stars in the sky You see, a dreamer’s thoughts outweigh reality And my thoughts say I knew you a whole world.

TALKING BOOKS

By Azza El Masri

Book Review: The Paris Wife (Virago Press, 2012) Author: Paula McLain

To the world, Ernest Hemingway was one of the greatest writers of the 20th century, whose prose was brilliant, concise and brutal and whose books bled fear, horror and love like no other. To Hadley Richardson, Ernest Hemingway was the love of her life.

FALLING IN LOVE In 1920s Chicago during the time of Prohibition, Hadley is introduced to the Ernest we haven’t yet heard of: the bright-eyed, enthusiastic, vibrant lover who yearns to be a renowned and famous writer. They instantly fall in love, and after a short and wild affair, they marry and set off for France, arriving in Paris, the city that buzzes with artists, writers and poets alike.

THE DOWNHILL SLIDE In the haze of alcohol, jazz and hearsay, things begin to go downhill for the married couple, and the arrival of a son only takes them further apart just as Ernest’s literary career sets sail.Yet, Hadley – and Ernest too, in his own way – tries to rekindle the flame that burned so bright not so long ago but her efforts prove to be worthless with the arrival of a new character.

A COMPELLING READ The Paris Wife is a heartbreaking, beautiful story about Hemingway’s first wife, but most importantly, about the reality of life.

This novel was like a wake-up call to me; it showed me that life isn’t a fairytale, and that there are no knights in shining armour coming to the rescue. It is cruel, yet full of love; a true and beautiful romance, told by the Paris wife herself, that gives us not only insight into the Ernest Hemingway, but also a direct link to the heart of a woman in love.

This novel left me drained with sadness and frustration, but also renewed with wisdom. Nothing is ever as it seems, and nothing is ever simple. www.tempoplanet.com | 05

WHAT'S HOT

International Jewelry and Watch Show

Speak Abu Dhabi: A night of live poetry recitals

1 -5 May, ADNEC

2 May, Abu Dhabi Theatre

A glittering array of the world’s leading brands will dazzle the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre at the International Jewelry & Watch Show from 1 – 5 May.

Timeless wisdom enshrined in enchanting lyrics will flow freely at Abu Dhabi Theatre on 2 May in Speak Abu Dhabi. The first event of its kind, an ensemble of UAE-based poets will recite their poetry along with verses from the classic masters like Rumi, Omar Khayyam and Khalil Gibran. The free event at the Abu Dhabi breakwater is organised by Abu Dhabi’s own spiritual poet Bahareh Amidi.

Elite retailers and distributors will display an extensive showcase of exquisite jewelry and timepieces from all over the world, aimed at the region’s most affluent consumers.

Entrance Fee: AED 20

Poets from around the world, who call the UAE their home, will illuminate the theatre with their deep insights expressed in poetry about light, peace, nature, humanity. Poems will also be shared by members of the audience, the American Community School and New York University students.

Information and RSVPs: Bahareh Amidi 050 6606142 or email: connect@bahareh.com

Treasures of the World’s Cultures, Manarat Al Sadiyat Manarat Al Saadiyat gallery until July 17 Treasures of the World’s Culture, a new exhibit at Manarat Al Sadiyat, showcases over 250 artifacts celebrating more than two million years of human evolution.

Organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority and the British Museum, the exhibition offers a taste of the Zayed National Museum will be like when in opens in 2015 at the Saadiyat Cultural District. The artifacts on display include loans from Al Ain National Museum, Sharjah Archaeology Museum and the private collection of HE Abdulrahem Al Sayed Al Hashemi, and provide insight on the UAE and the Middle East’s universal context. The exhibition also includes an impressive collection of Greek statues, ancient Egyptian tombs, Islamic miniature paintings, Michelangelo and Rembrandt sketches.

Open from 10am to 8pm daily Free entrance.

Avenged Sevenfold 4 May, Flash Forum, Abu Dhabi Heavy metal fans are in for some serious headbanging time when Avenged Sevenfold – or A7X – play the Flash Forum on 4 May. After touring with the likes of Metallica, Guns N’ Roses and Iron Maiden, A7X are in top form and ready to rock Yas Island. “We are excited to come back to the Middle East,” said front man M. Shadows. “We played to some of the most amazing crowds when we toured the album here, and we can’t wait to bring our live show back to our friends in the UAE.” Information and ticket sales: www.thinkflash.ae

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THE BOTTOM BOTTOM LINE One Moment in Time 18 - 20 May, Madinat Theatre, Madinat Jumeirah Rock, musicals, movies and divas will be in the spotlight when Diverse Choreography Arts School presents their annual show ‘One Moment in Time’ from 18 – 20 May at Madinat Jumeirah.

This spectacular event covers four diverse styles. Rock Through The Ages is a celebration of rock classics; New Musicals features snippets from some of West End’s biggest musicals; Movie Soundtracks highlights some of the best film music over the years; and Divas pays tribute to the worlds’ greatest songstresses.

Information and ticket sales: www.madinattheatre.com

Beautyworld Middle East 29- 31 May, DICEC Beautyworld Middle East, from 29 – 31 May at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, is the largest international trade fair for beauty products, hair fragrances and wellbeing in the region.

Professional hair dressers and make-up artists will demonstrate their skills on centre stage while attendees can enter nail and makeup competitions. The latest trends in beauty will be discussed in talks, live demos and conferences.

Open from 10am till 7pm.

Making Business Cool Tempo loves new cool ideas and one of the most talked about restaurant models is Make Business Hub restaurant in Dubai which combines two things: offering an environment for Mac toting entrepreneurs to desk down, along with pretty decent food. Concierge believes this is precisely the kind of conducive ecosystem that gives birth to new businesses. The one think MBH has to watch out for is making sure their lingering patrons spend enough on food and coffee to sustain the business.

A Slice of Heart Speaking of innovation and the marriage of cool concepts in homegrown eateries, Concierge applauds Slices on Muroor Road for having great organic food and a huge community heart: you see, all food left over at the end of each day is given away to mosques to feed the less fortunate.

Delectably Emirati Yet another cool food concept is Fanar in Dubai which claims to be one of the most unique Emirati restaurants. True dat, and more! As far as Tempo knows, two other restaurants, Emirati N More in Barsha and Mezlai at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, offer true Emirati fare. What we love about Fanar (check out the one in Festival City) is that it also provides the experience, so you get to eat machboos on an Arabic majlis surrounded by cultural accoutrements. We love it.

Heritage in the Mountains Speaking of UAE heritage experiences, we hear a lot about Heritage Village off the breakwater in Abu Dhabi, which offers a pretty decent synopsis to tourists wanting to learn about Emirati culture. But another “Heritage Village” that serves a very authentic and historical experience is Hatta Heritage Village which is nestled among the Hajjar mountains. The 16th century village overlooks a fertile oasis, consists of a mosque, watchtowers and homes constructed of khoos (palm leaves), stone and mud. A definite must see for culture lovers and historians.

So whether you have coffee while you work or served up with lots of culture, remember there’s so much more to food.

Bon appétit.

Write to me: concierge@tempoplanet.com The Concierge

www.tempoplanet.com | 07

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS

tech talk Shahid Saeed | Talker for the Non-Techies

ACER AS5742G NOTEBOOK Acer’s AS5742G laptop has Intel Corei3 2.5GHz Processor, 15.6” LED screen, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 320 GB SATA HDD (7200 RPM), NVIDIA 1 GB DDR3 dedicated graphic card, DVD writer, 5IN1 Card Reader, Wi-Fi A/B/G/N, Webcam, built-in microphone and speakers, 3 USB ports, HDMI out, full-size keyboard, Windows 7 Home Basic 64bit preloaded and weighs about 2.7 kg.

If you are looking for a good laptop, the AS5742G has a large screen size, good hardware configuration and is available for a very attractive price - AED 1,999 - from Carrefour UAE.

PANASONIC DMC-TZ20GC The Panasonic DMC-TZ20GC is an ideal choice for anyone looking for a basic good-quality compact camera. It has 16x optical zoom equipped with GPS and can record full HD Movies in AVCHD format, with shoot sharp images at 14.1 megapixels. The 24mm wide angle LEICA Dc lens, MOS Sensor and Venus Engine FHD are really cool features and the 3.0” smart touch screen adds another plus-point if considering this compact camera as your next travelling gadget.

It’s available from Carrefour UAE for just AED 999 and comes with a free camera case and 4GB memory card.

Follow me on @shahidaasi

LATEST NEWS ATIC and Saxony to open twin semiconductor labs

• Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Investment Company and the state of Saxony in Germany have announced that they will open a pair of research labs focused on semi-conductor technologies.

• The ‘Twin Labs’ project will see one lab located at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi and the other based at the Technische Universität Dresden.

• The labs, which will host 10-12 graduate and PhD students, will focus on research around three-dimensional chip stacking, a potentially faster and more energy efficient semiconductor technology.

• The Abu Dhabi lab will investigate the minimumenergy/low-power features of 3D-integrated microelectronics in a variety of computing, communication, storage and sensing design contexts. The Saxony facility will work on the interconnect aspects of 3D integration, especially the crucial role of TSV in the back-end-ofthe-line structure of 3D-stacked chips. The goal is to develop modules (design blocks) for high-rate interfaces between multiple chips in a semiconductor chip-stack.

• ATIC and Saxony will invest $2.4m in the plan over two years, which builds on a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the two in 2010 to partner on technology development.

game hedz Blakniss | Original game head from Atari to XBox!

PLAYING PROTOTYPE 2 Alex Mercer is back but this time he is the enemy.

You play Sgt. James Heller who is seeking to exact vengeance on Mercer for killing his family.

Though twists and turns ensue, there will be a bit of deja vu - it is a sequel after all. But expect the big final boss battle to be THE Heller v Mercer throwdown of the decade...well, of the month at least.

There is a limited edition available with a bunch of downloads including a total of 55 challenges, events and other goodies.

It’s available on both Playstation and XBox.

GETTING READY FOR XBOX LIVE MIDDLE EAST Might I remind everyone, and Microsoft in particular, that plans for a Middle East service were announced last May, and it was stated that Live would launch within a year.

MEA Regional Director for Retail Sales & Marketing, Julian Woods (yes, I’m naming names cuz that’s how I roll!) made the announcement at a conference in Fujairah last year. That makes the due date this May. This May, Microsoft. This May. No word from Microsoft that we have heard. But we should all remind them. It’s about time. If you have gaming related news, views or events, hit up the blog - www.gamehedz.blogspot.com Game on!

MY FAV APP My favourite app is Angry Bird Space for iPhone, iPad & Android devices. Angry Birds Space is an incredibly addictive game. Even when you get frustrated that you can’t find a solution, you keep coming back for more, and its bite-size levels make it ideal for playing on the go.

Developer Rovio has pulled off the difficult task of making a game that feels new and exciting, yet familiar enough to easily pick up and play, and the charming cartoon visuals and sounds are used to great effect. Above all, Angry Birds Space is a lot of fun for a very small outlay (or for free if you’re playing on Android)

by Sheeraz Ansari

08 | www.tempoplanet.com

1 We Are Young- Fun ft. Janelle Monae 2 Starships- Nicki Minaj 3 Boyfriend- Justin Bieber

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Somebody That I Used To Know- Gotye ft. Kimbra We Are Young- Fun ft. Janelle Monae Glad You Came- The Wanted What Makes You Beautiful- One Direction Boyfriend- Justin Bieber Wild Ones- Flo Rida ft. Sia Starships- Nicki Minaj Call Me Maybe- Carly Rae Jepsen Stronger - Kelly Clarkson Part Of Me- Katy Perry

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Call Me Maybe- Carly Rae Jepsen Boyfriend- Justin Bieber Somebody That I Used To Know- Gotye ft. Kimbra Climax- Usher Starships- Nicki Minaj She Doesn’t Mind- Sean Paul We Are Young- Fun ft. Janelle Monae Level Up- Sway Turn Up The Music- Chris Brown Wild Ones- Flo Rida ft. Sia

4 Call Me Maybe- Carly Rae Jepsen 5 She Doesn’t Mind- Sean Paul 6 Part Of Me- Katy Perry 7 Alone Again- Alyssa Reid 8 So Good- B.o.B.

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Ishfaq Zaman, a 21 year old animator loves instrumental music. For him, it doesn’t matter which genre, if it’s an instrumental song, he’s sure to give it a shot. He listens to more jazz, rock and blues music.

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You Will Be Perfect - Aperture Science Psychoacoustics Laboratory Moanin’ - Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers Green Onions - Booker T & the MG’s Blue Train - John Coltrane Sevens - Guthrie Govan Bad Asteroid - The Aristocrats Cheese - Tim Minchin Secret Prayer - Joe Satriani Elation Station - Infected Mushroom 1812 Overture – Tchaikovsky

Throw Your Hands Up- Qwote ft. Don Omar and PitBull

10 Love U Better- Neon Hitch

View the #1 SONG IN THE UAE

www.tempoplanet.com | 09

GES R O G A N MARIA Coordinator ent Age: 28 | Ev

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10 | www.tempoplanet.com

cover story

By Sharon Carvalho and Ian Mason

THE DREAM PLAYERS 19 April 2012 will be a landmark date in the history of Abu Dhabi’s latest talent show sensation, The Dream Players. For the first time, The Dream Players moved from its Innovation@Work home and played at one of the busiest locations in town, Al Wahda Mall.

Six extremely talented contestants fought it out for the title of The Dream Player April 2012, but in the end, 25 year-old American music teacher, Chris Roebuck, blew the competition away with two powerful and emotional performances that will live long in the memory of the 1,000-strong crowd.

Tempo was there to cover this amazing event in words and pictures.

Guests at the VIP recept ion

The Grand Millennium- Al Wahda Hotel was the venue for the exclusive pre-event VIP reception on 15 April for the contestants, their friends and families, the judges and the team behind The Dream Players.

with cer Sana Bagersh Executive Produ

d Mame sisters Aisha an

It was another historic moment for The Dream Players because, for the first time, the contestants and judges met each other before the main event.

Kera Thompson, Project Manager for The Dream Players and one of the four judges, said, “It was fantastic to be able to meet the contestants and their families before the event in such an intimate setting.”

Judges Emma Stansfield and Michelle Nickelson with guests

Sultan Darmaki and Nicola Ablett

Ian Mason with eventual winne r Chris Roebuck and his friend

Contestant Natasha McLean

(far right) and her

Osama El Kamel Yesterday’s show was incredible! I’m looking forward to the next one!

Great job everyone and congratulations to Chris!

family

Ali (left) Contestant Sufyan

with his friends

Sufyan Ali - Thank you very much for selecting me as a contestant!

Congrats to Christopher Roebuck!!!

Great performance!! ... Congrats to The Dream Players for one of the best, most successful shows of all time!

Today was the best day of my life.

Muhammad Sehan - It was seriously a fantastic show!

12 | www.tempoplanet.com

Liz

January’s winner Becky Morrison with her parents

Gary Maigue - It was a fantastic show! Congrats to all the contestants and to the winner Chris Roebuck.

More power to The Dream Players community!

Nanosa Twixy - amazzzzzzzzzzzzing :D Jacque Yentsch Watson - So great!

Mohsin Raza - Congrats Chris Roebuck!

Danielle Whitley - Congratulations Chris Roebuck - you’re amazing!!

THE WINNER Chris Roebuck, a 25 year-old from Wisconsin USA, silenced Al Wahda Mall with his mesmerizing rendition of ‘Bring Him Home’ from Les Miserables which earned a standing ovation from the audience and a perfect score from the judges.

A special thanks to the beautiful host, Mylene Gomera, who kept the show going with her wit, charm and banter

The crowd was on their feet again to applaud Chris’ second song, a heart-wrenching performance of the Simon and Garfunkel classic, ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’.

Photo credits: Simone Carvalho

While Chris loves the stage and performing in front of a live audience, he is even more devoted to sharing his love of music with others, especially children, in his day job as a music educator at the GEMS World Academy in Abu Dhabi.

tants The contes

The Komondors perform during the intermission

17 year old singer /dancer, Sufyan Ali

The winner, Christopher Roebuck!

WINNERS REACTION Chris Roebuck spoke with Tempo after his win.

“My experience with the Dream Players was one I will never forget. It felt so good to be back on the stage! The rush of performing coupled with the venue made for a truly memorable experience. I was truly honored to be part of the event and I have to say that my competition was truly inspiring to watch and listen too. All of these factors made The Dream Players so wonderful.”

“It was also a thrill to have my friends there.

My school family made my experience that much more enjoyable because I had someone there to share my joys with. The next day at school was also moving. So many of my students congratulated me and were asking questions about singing and performing. I took time to share the experience with them and talked about following your dreams and doing what your heart tells you.”

“I cannot begin to describe the feeling that this opportunity has given me. Many thanks to everyone who made the event possible.”

Natasha McLean, a 17 year old who put her own twist to popular songs ‘Hey Ya’ and ‘Nobody’s Perfect’

ar old Leya er up, 17 ye th her Second runn audience wi e th ed ov d ‘Lego Beidas m s of Gold’ an eld ‘Fi of on renditi House’

The youngest contestant, 13 year old Geetika Gopi. A gutsy effort as this was her first performance ever!

The Dream Players were honoured to have some very talented and experienced individuals judge the event.They were Kera Thompson, model, designer and project manager for The Dream Players; Rajesh Bhatia, music composer and voice over artist for Radio Mirchi; Michelle Nickelson, President and COO of Mirage Foundations and Emma Stansfield, founder of the Abu Dhabi Community Youth String Orchestra.

The oldest contestant, runner up Venkatesh Vishwanathan, belting out popular Indian tracks

ORGANISERS REACTION "We were astounded by the level of performances especially in the seasoned talent of Chris. This clearly demonstrates that there is a lot of raw talent and incredibly gifted people in our community, waiting to be identified and recognized.”

Sana Bagersh, Executive Producer of The Dream Players

One of the intermission acts, OPMMAD

Mylene with Feb ruary’s winner, Osama El Kame l

CALL FOR TALENT:

AUDITION FOR THE DREAM PLAYERS. AUDITIONS HAPPENING ALL SUMMER. SINGERS, DANCERS, POETS, STAND UP COMEDIANS, FILM MAKERS, MODELS, ACTORS ETC. GO TO WWW.THEDREAMPLAYERS.COM AND REGISTER.

THANKS

Sincere and grateful thanks to the sponsors and supporters who made The Dream Players event possible.

Community Partner

Al Wahda Mall Gold Sponsor

Grand Millennium Al Wahda Hotel www.tempoplanet.com | 13

city bites

COFFEE WITH FRIENDS: FOOD

SIMPLE ENTERTAINMENT

By Justin Thomas

From its Arabian origins, coffee quickly went global. The first coffee house in western Europe was opened by a Lebanese proprietor in the university city of Oxford in 1650. Academia and caffeine have since enjoyed an intimate relationship; but so too have coffee and recreation. Meeting friends for coffee is now one of life’s most frequent and least complicated forms of entertainment. The only real challenge is to choose a venue.

JONES THE GROCER KHALIFA ALIF

CARIBOU COFFEE MASDAR

Jones has managed to capture the look and feel of the age with their interior decor. It reminds me of my Mac AirBook or my iPad aluminum, rounded edges, stylish in a totally minimalistic and utilitarian way. Even the table staff look as though they just stepped fresh from shooting a Gap commercial.

Visiting Masdar is an experience in itself.You get to ride the futuristic, driverless electric cars to your destination, whilst imbibing the raw, unpainted elegance of the world’s most sustainable city. This Caribou is small, but given Masdar’s current population (a few hundred students and workers), space and fast service is not an issue. Caribou has an impressive menu of drinks, including dark, milk or white chocolate mochas.

I particularly like the way the managers get to wear black, possibly the coolest looking table staff anywhere. As for the coffee, Jones does not disappoint. Their mocha, my caffeine carrier of choice, is delicious and gives a strong kick, despite the addition of quality cocoa.

Aska have mastered the art of consistency Jones has a great ambience - no TV screen, and their mocha is first rate - always. A no overpowering music, just gentle, sociallyminor gripe is that the air conditioning is lubricating background chatter. In addition often too high so, depending to the edible exotica, it is a upon where you sit, you may great place for coffee with “ In addition to the need to wrap up. friends, although the table staff edible exotica, it is can occasionally be a little a great place for Also the smoking section is illoverzealous in terms of service coffee with friends... defined and you may find it gets and pseudo-friendliness. uncomfortably smoky, even in ASKA CAFE AL RAHA MALL Aska is great little cafe, right at the heart of Al Raha Mall. The bright, Ferrari-red, design elements make the place totally unmissable.

The seating is super comfy, an obvious enticement to fatigued shoppers to stop and rest their weary legs. Two TVs spew a constant stream of entertainment upon patrons; soccer and MTV are proverbial favorites.

The coffee is excellent. For their mocha, they add chocolate syrup rather than cocoa powder but the result is dreamy probably my favorite mocha in the UAE. In many coffee shops, the beverages are disappointingly variable; the taste, strength and even the temperature are too often left to the whims of the individual baristas.

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the non-smoking section.

Dark is my favorite and Caribou rarely get the drink wrong although, sadly, consistency is an issue. The best thing about Caribou at Masdar is that you’re likely to run into a scientist or two at one of the tables. On my last visit, a few science-types, complete with science hair and thick rim specs, were demonstrating state-of-the-art robots to a group of enthralled students.

COSTA COFFEE AL WAHDA MALL For me, the fully mature, illness-free Costa would have been the undisputed king of caffeine, if only they could be consistent.

More often than not, the drinks will deviate from the prescribed recipes. However when they do get it right, it is worryingly good. I say worryingly, as I fear addiction; beware of anything that creates an appetite for itself - as the Mormon church once said about caffeine.

The Wahda Mall Costa is like Costas the world over, the same décor and characteristic coffee-colored soft furnishings.

Their coffee bean logo - which looks suspiciously like a pair of full-lips, if you turn it sideways - emblazons everything from the windows right down to the frothy head of my mocha. Despite the corporate sameness, Wahda Mall Costa has recently undergone a regime change. Overnight a whole new team has appeared but they seem up to the task; on my last two visits, the mocha has been perfect but it’s still too early to judge.

‘Unreal’ which can be streamed either on their Reverbnation page or Facebook page.

GIGGING AROUND TOWN Corporately, POV has also been responsible for working on the creation of the Khaleej Times theme music and a song inspired by the Dubai Metro. The band has contributed charitable performances at venues like ‘The Shelter’. Having drawn inspiration in music spanning from the 70s to date, they also dedicate tributes to some of their favourites like Pink Floyd, The Police, Mr Big and Dream Theater among others. POV regular haunts are Dubai venues such as The Music Room, Central Perk, Touch, Malecon, The Ratsky Club, Rockwell Pub, The Jam Jar, American University of Dubai and Wafi Roof Top, and they have also played the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 main stage.

BANDWIDTH MUSIC

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: POINT OF VIEW

By Shakil Haque

‘B

een there, fun that’ is my point of view if I have to sleeve up my experience of witnessing this bunch of talented lads who pretty much justify the phrase ‘for what it’s worth’. If you have an ear for good stuff but have not seen or heard Point Of View, I suggest it’s about time.

Their debut album ‘Revolutionize the Revolutionary’ is at the brink of release this season.

IN THE BEGINNING

POV is currently doing their homework on the second album and one can only see them soar higher if they get about in this fashion.

much makes human errors seem like a thing of the past when it comes to beating the dust out the kit with precision and knowhow. Under his guidance, the poor kit must have a point of view as well. Johann does a six-string bass and quite a swell job on the groove. If your head goes nod-nod on their tracks, you now know who to look at. Nik Uzi is not your regular open-bolt, blowbackoperated submachine gun but the man is a human synonym of the same when it comes to jettisoning the ammo off his vocal pipes.

Take a listen and I am sure you will have a similar POV.

THEIR BIG BREAK Flashback 2005. Somewhere “The lyrics are about in Dubai, Nik meets Johann, The band’s first big global awareness says hello, handshake gesture, achievement came when transcending to rounds of chit chat and then they were shortlisted for deliver messages of pop went the question “what’s hope, not your regular SHAMAL in 2006 to open for your point of view?” (Seems the legendary Iron Maiden history book syllabi” like a Guy Ritchie screenplay?) and they haven’t turned back.

I reckon so. If you go through Successfully juggling day their lyrics, it should be obvious jobs, family concerns and the passion for why they call themselves Point Of View making music, the band has managed to stay (POV). I guess it’s not just because they have together, despite some initial and necessary their viewpoint but they also acknowledge early line-up changes, and bring to fruition a the same on a collective level. The lyrics dream project. are about global awareness transcending to deliver messages of hope, not your regular THE DEBUT ALBUM history book syllabi.

The album ‘Revolutionize the Revolutionary’ THE LINE-UP consists of 11 tracks showcasing the band’s diverse skills. The album previews within the Murtaza and Royden give an ambidextrous studio perimeters have been great with some view to the band as they are respectively left very credible sources in the international and right-handed. Raunchy riffs, piercing solos, rock music industry praising their work. sound samples and apt melodic transitions Releasing alongside the album is the global reflect their complementary style of guitar release of the first music video for their song playing. Chiro, Mr Percussion of POV, pretty ‘3rd Eye’. They have released a radio single

Check band information and tracks at www.facebook. com/pointofviewdubai and www.reverbnation.com/ pointofviewdubai www.tempoplanet.com | 15

youth talk THE MAD PRISONER:

PLATO’S THEORIES EXPLAINED

By Ahmed Samir Around 380 BC –or thereabouts– Plato, a Greek philosopher, scratched his archaic and impressively long beard and dreamed up an allegory that he thought illustrated much of his views on the nature of learning and the human condition. The following is a summarized version of that.

MUM’S THE WORD:

THE PERILS OF BEING CONNECTED

By Sadaf Hassan

It entertains me. It knows where I am. It keeps me updated. It stays by my side. It responds to my touch. It never judges me.

No, it is not my best friend - it is my new smartphone.

The smartphones we have today are very close to the Tricorder in ‘Star Trek’. They can record data in many high definition formats, scan everything from documents to barcodes and have GPS. They can also be connected to the World Wide Web, can stream both HTML 5 and Flash video which lets you watch movies and are Bluetooth-enabled. Let us not forget we are still talking about a phone!

Smartphones keep us connected to one another all the time with universal messengers and social networks like Twitter and Facebook. From day to night, I am connected to at least three social networks and four instant messengers. I can go on, but I think I have freaked you out enough. But is it okay to be so connected?

If you ask my mum, she would definitely give these phones a thumbs down! According to her, my smartphone is not just a phone; it’s a part of my body! Maybe she is right because I do have the phone just 5 inches away from my face most of the time and it seems like there is an invisible cord connecting them!

So has my smartphone done me any good? Well I believe my hand and brain coordination has improved a lot, thanks to the tiny keys, but I also feel it has drifted me away from the world.

My obsession with my phone started to scare me as well. Now it’s more about striving to not break it (only dropped it thrice with no dents!) whereas my ex-phones did not see out more than a year without something broken.

This era of technology and our dependence on it really makes me wonder where we are headed. Should we gear up to fight robots? Or be prepared to turn into Avatars? In a world where technology is the propeller of communication, all the addicts (you know who you are) should learn to create a balance between their ‘normal’ and ‘digital’ world. I tried, and it worked for me. What's the real catch? No more nagging from my mum!

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The Cave: Imagine a group of prisoners, each of whom has had his head and body chained so they could look only ahead of them. The prisoners have been restrained like this all their lives, and the only home they have ever known is the dark expanse of the cave. Now imagine another addition: a large fire, burning nonchalantly behind the prisoners, so, as they look ahead of them, the prisoners see their own shadows, the ones resulting from the firelight. Between the fire and prisoners is a raised walkway along which all manner of creatures and people pass. So all the prisoners have ever seen are their distorted shadows and those of the walking creatures, and the resounding echoes of the sounds they make.

The Freed Prisoner: Imagine now that one of the prisoners were to be unshackled and freed, let out of the dark cave. For a while, the prisoner accustoms to the blinding light and is then met with a surprise of earth-shattering caliber: another world! He finds trees, rivers, people and animals; an illuminated world, unlike anything he had witnessed Our perception, limited by what we before his release.

see and hear and perceive in living, will only teach us so much and provides an incomplete picture.

The Return: In his shock –and perhaps out of benevolence– the prisoner would return to the cave that housed him, bearing news of the magnificent world outside. Perhaps he would speak to his fellow prisoners, telling them of what he had seen. A second surprise now: the other prisoners would think their released friend mad! The coloured flying creatures he speaks of, the green trees he describes, the sun and the land, would seem ridiculous to them, preposterous! They would shun him for having lost his mind, ironically call him stupid, and, if he were to try to untie them, to free them as he was freed, perhaps they would try to kill him; for they would see his attempts as a threat, not only against them, but also everything they believe. To the prisoners in the cave, the world outside will never exist, but that doesn’t make it any less real. The world outside is there, and exists perfectly well.

Plato’s lesson: So what does Plato want to say here? This small story speaks volumes, particularly about our limited perception, and the only true way to learn. Our perception, limited by what we see and hear and perceive in living, will only teach us so much and provides an incomplete picture. It is then a difficult task, that of trying to uncover what truth there is in the world, what there is beyond the ‘shadows’ (the apparent, the trivial), and ‘to venture out of the cave’ (to learn the true nature of things). It is a process of continuous mistake-making, but you don’t learn any other way.You can’t force knowledge into anyone, just as you can’t force a mountain through a keyhole.

There is no greater calling than to break out of the prisons of the caves of the apparent, and to strive for greater understanding.

Otherwise we forever remain prisoners. To think is to attempt to become free.

my may to do list

6

13

20

Interiors UAE @ ADNEC 7-9

7

14

1 International Jewelry and Watch Show @ ADNEC 1-5

8 Arab Media Forum 2012 @ Grand Hyatt Hotel

15

21

Airport Show 2012 @ DICEC 22-24

22

3rd A n n u Investm al en Arab Abu Dt Summit, habi

Abu Dhabi Electronics Shopper @ ADNEC 22-26

India Sourcing Fair @ DICEC 29-31

29 Beauty World Middle East @ DICEC 29-31

28

Middle East Communications @ ADNEC 14-16

Nada

PALME Middle East @ DICEC 1-3

Arabia Mold @ Sharjah Expo Center 14-17

in One Moment Time @ Madinat 0 Jumeirah 18-2

27 Reflections on Islamic Splendour @ Dubai International Art Center, 12-26

Alessandro Lauria

Middle East Event Awards @ DICEC

Vision X Dubai @ DICEC 8-10

2

9

16 Plastivision Arabia @ Sharjah Expo Center 14-17

23 Made in Korea UAE @ ADNEC 21-23

30 China Sourcing Fair @ DICEC 29-31

Sandance tomorrow @ Atlantis, The Palm

3

10

17

Whose Line Is It Anyway? Live Show @ Madinat Jumeirah 10-12

The Hotel Sho @ Dubai World w Tra Center 15-17 de

24

31

Automechanika Middle East @ DICEC 22-24

2012 Shams Festival @ ADNEC

Avenged Sevenfold @ Flash Forum

4

11

Comedian Jason Byrne Live in Dubai @ Bonnington Jumeirah Lake Towers 10-11

18

The Office Exhibition @ Dubai World Trade Center 15-17

25

th John An Evening wi dinat Cleese @ Ma Jumeirah 23-26

my may eco pledge

Rami lk

Phoebe Jaspe

Saif Al Madani

Zammy Ishfaq

MAY

tempo’s people calendar

Ara b AD Marke N EC t @ 1-12

5

12

Al Gaffal 60ft Traditional Dhow Sailing Race @ Dubai International Marine Club

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Cards and Payments ME @ ADNEC 15-16

19

Kartdrome Endurance Championship @ Dubai Autodrome 11-12

Aubrey Cabana

Hermoine Macura

PICTURE PERFECT: CAPTURING THE MIDDLE EAST ON FILM PHOTOGRAPHY

Former Dubai One anchor Hermoine Macura shares her for passion for photography, people and the Middle East with Tempo’s Ian Mason

It’s a match made in celluloid heaven – cameras love Hermoine Macura and she loves them right back. Not only has Hermoine carved out a successful career in front of the camera but her personal passion is photography, and she rarely misses an opportunity to snap evocative cultural images around the GCC. Igniting a passion For five years, Australian-born Hermoine was an anchor and journalist for Emirates News on Dubai One. Her charming manner and radiant smile made her a favourite with thousands of viewers. But when the studio lights shut down, Hermoine was assiduously planning the next phase of her career. “I studied photography as part of my degree at university and since that moment have not put my camera down.

I love documenting people’s faces as well as architecture and culture.”

“In 2010, I launched Faces Of The Middle East, a collection of photo-journalistic images from more than seven years of my work across An image from Hermoine’s book the region. The book documents the various social and minority groups in the Arab world and proves that this part of the world is not a monolithic culture as many in the West mistakenly believe.”

Breaking down barriers Faces Of The Middle East combines Hermoine’s trio of passions – photography, people and the Middle East. Her enthusiasm for the region shines through in every photo she takes.

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“I believe an image can speak a thousand words, and I love capturing a positive side to the region as well as unravelling the common thread of humanity that unites us.”

Understanding the region and helping people to reach out is the way to break down barriers. I hope my exhibitions will help to pave the road for further dialogue and peace in the region.”

“My love for the Middle East and my desire to document the region and share it with the world were the two main reasons I decided to stay in the UAE.

Next step forward Earlier this year, Hermoine took the bold step of leaving her comfortable job at Dubai Media Incorporated.

The Arab world is such a misunderstood and misrepresented part of the globe and as a journalist I felt it was partly my responsibility to shed light on controversial issues in the region as well help the world understand the Middle East in a far less complicated way.”

“I decided to launch my media consulting company Straight Street Media in 2012.

Branching out as an entrepreneur was something I was planning to do for some time. After 5 wonderful years at Dubai TV, I felt it was time to spread my wings and establish my own company.”

“I studied photography as part of my degree at university and since that moment have not put my camera down”

Making a difference A significant part of this outreach was to mount an exhibition in Dubai to display the photos from the book. So positive was the reaction that it is now an international travelling show that proudly highlights the strength of the Middle East.

“Faces Of The Middle East has been exhibited in the UK, USA and in Australia as well as across several locations in Dubai. I will be returning to the US in June for my third exhibition there. “ Spend a few minutes in Hermoine’s company and one can’t help but be inspired by her deep affection for her adopted country. Her soulful eyes spark with enthusiasm as she describes the value of her work. “The impact we have had through the exhibition has been amazing!

No matter where those wings take Hermoine Macura, you can be assured there will always be a camera nearby to record every moment.

SPEED DATE Favourite car: Vintage Esprit Favourite food: Anything vegan Favourite country visited: Ireland Favourite performer: Fayrooz Biggest personal inspiration: My faith in God Personal motto: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and love your neighbour as yourself.”

Name:

AZZA EL MASRI Age: 17 Profession: Student Nationality: Lebanese

PERSONALITY Your most valued possession: My closet full of books One thing you cannot live without: Chocolate! They tell you that all you need is love, but all you need is chocolate!!!

MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT List the albums/ songs that you would want to play at your funeral.

Beautiful Day by U2 If you had to be trapped in a TV show for a month, which show would you choose? How I Met Your Mother! Or The Big Bang Theory! Either would be totally wicked.

What recent movie made you cry?

The Hunger Games. I’m a huge fan of the books (read them on their release 2 years ago), so 10 minutes into the movie, I was already crying my eyes out.

Your goal in life? My goal in life is to see my name on the International Bestselling Authors list on the New York Times.

What item do you keep buying even though you have plenty? Books. So many books. (And sunglasses too) Who in your life deserves a big old thank you? My parents, without a doubt. They’re the ones that cheered me on when I discovered my love for writing and reading. They gave me honest advice, initiated me to writing competitions, and introduced me to people who know about these kinds of things.

What is the craziest thing you have ever done? I once snuck out of school Mission Impossible-style by climbing the fence and running for my life to get food at the McDonald’s next door. What I’d do for food...

What is your earliest memory? How old were you? I was about 4 years old, we were vacationing in Greece, in the island of Mykonos.

My parents wanted to go clubbing, so they took me with them. I made friends with the bouncer who gave me a cookie (yay!), and I took control of the dance floor (still young, and can bust a move) while my parents stood around me, mortified. It was very fun.

If your life was a book, what would it be called? An Unfinished Manuscript: Diaries of a Bookworm.

Would you change your name? Nah, I’m content with my name. It’s unique in a way that people can’t mistake me for someone else.

Who would you most like to be stuck in an elevator with? I would totally love to be stuck in an elevator with Taylor Lautner. Who wouldn’t? (Don’t answer that)

TRAVEL If today was your last day, where would you go? I’d probably go do something insane like skydiving or something I would have never done on a normal day.

What is your idea of a perfect weekend? My idea of a perfect weekend is to be on a reclusive beach, the sea clear blue, and the soothing sound of crashing waves while I lounge on the sand enjoying a book.

In which city would you rather be now? I think I’d be in New York City.

Which historical event would you have wanted to witness? Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s incredible “I have a dream” speech.

Every time I listen to it, I’m moved to tears.

Imagine if I had heard it live!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT What was the best thing before sliced bread? I don’t discriminate when it comes to food: Food is THE best there is.

If you were on death row, what would your last meal be? I’d request a buffet (with a chocolate fountain, of course). If they say no, I’ll break out.

If you could associate yourself with a drink/ snack/ fruit / vegetable, what would it be? I’d associate myself with a steak, a good juicy one. With extra BBQ sauce. www.tempoplanet.com | 19

THE PLANETARIANS

By Emma Kirkman

PROMOTING THE ENVIRONMENTAL MESSAGE: CELEBRITIES LEND THEIR SUPPORT Many international and local identities are publicly voicing their concerns over the environment. Tempo’s Emma Kirkman looks at some who are doing more than just talking.

Whether you like it or not, in today’s celebrity-driven culture that we live in, stars often hold a huge amount of power in raising awareness of issues. The environment and sustainability are no different, with many celebrities throwing their weight and name behind various campaigns.

Some celebrities just do it for the publicity but Leonardo DiCaprio and James Cameron are two who follow through on their pledges to help fight climate change....and each have a link to the UAE.

Leonardo DiCaprio DiCaprio is one of the most respected leading men in Hollywood for good reason, having founded the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation in 1998 to promote global sustainability.

Owning not just the ubiquitous Toyota Prius but also two other electric cars, he has also installed solar panels at his home. After creating, producing and narrating the environmental documentary ‘The 11th Hour’, he was asked to sit on the jury for the Zayed Future Energy Prize. The Prize was founded to honour the environmental

legacy left by the late Sheikh Zayed (PBUH), rewarding companies and individuals for advancements in green technologies.

James Cameron James Cameron, the most successful film director of all time, is also known as an ardent environmentalist.

As well as raising green issues in ‘Avatar’ and supporting political campaigns in the USA to combat climate change, Cameron also pays to offset all of his carbon emissions accumulated when crossing the globe.

Cameron was impressed by the environmental work in Abu Dhabi when touring Masdar City in 2010. “Through Masdar, the leadership of the UAE has taken a visionary path towards the future,” he commented. “In the heart of a major oil producing nation, Masdar is a shining ideal of what a long term, sustainable future for energy can be.

This is a test bed and this is where the technology is going to come from that will allow us to have a renewable energy future.”

UAE Ambassadors Well-known Emiratis are also making their environmental voice heard.

Ali Al Saloom, of Ask Ali fame, is an Environment Ambassador for the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi and often lends his weight and name to many of their campaigns.

In addition to presenting a wildlife series, Ali has most recently led ‘Ali’s Carbon Footprint Challenge’ in association with EAD to encourage

students to reduce their carbon footprint by reducing energy and water use in their daily lives.

The Green Sheikh, also known as Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Ali Al Nuaimi of the ruling family of Ajman, champions holistic living and moving towards a sustainable future.

He has applied the principles of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle to medicine and is leading a drive for people to donate unused medicine to hospitals. Previously trained in chemical and petroleum engineering, Sheikh Abdul decided to turn from polluter to protector of the environment and is using social media to spread his message throughout the UAE and the world.

HAVE YOUR SAY Do you have a favourite eco-minded celebrity? Or do you think that there is more that they can do to help the environment?

Let us know on The Planetarians Facebook and Twitter or read some of the articles on www.theplanetarians.com Emma Kirkman is a freelance production and communication professional, and passionately devotes her spare time to helping The Planetarians to spread the environmental message.

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Photo by: Sid Viva

THE TALENTED MR IQBAL: PERFORMING ARTS

STARRING IN THE ROLE OF HIS LIFE

By Sharon Carvalho

Jamal Iqbal is one talented guy.

From comedy to dancing to acting, there’s not much he hasn’t done in the performing arts.

Fresh from the release of his latest film ’The Journey’, Jamal tells his own life journey.

Of all the forms of performance art you are involved in, which is your favourite and why? That’s like asking a guy if Angelina Jolie is hotter than Scarlett Johansson! Everything is gorgeous. On a scale, standup (comedy) scares me the most, but a good night is a huge buzz!

Theatre will always be my first love. Poetry is when I say goodbye to my body and leave my soul out there. Improv is where I feel most in control. But you know what they say about falling in love with the camera…cinema is perhaps my worst addiction.

What do you consider is your best performance? I feel deep down inside all performers are either overtly arrogant or tremendously insecure. And it does boil down to the narcissism inside of us. I fall in the latter category. There are so many performances (and I say this in all humility) where I could have done so much different and better. So picking a ‘best’ really isn’t on.

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If I was picking a list of ‘decent’ performances, I would rate my cameo in Nawaf Al Janahi’s ‘Sea Shadow’, my role in Hana Makki’s ‘The Journey’, Improv Revolution’s ‘Leap Year Show’ and StarTOO’s ‘What Art Thou Wearing’.

How do you prepare for a role?

I think preparing for a role is something I sometimes enjoy even more than the actual role. I believe in method so everything about a character has to be learnt, observed, done and internalized…for as long and as deep as possible.

When I was auditioning for ‘Sea Shadow’, I drove to RAK where the movie is set just to get a feel of what the barber there behaves like, what the town feels and spend a day there. In ‘The Journey’, the role was that of a taxi driver and I insisted on becoming at home with the car.

I took passengers, dropped them off and even refused some!

I give myself music cues for my headspace, have shaved my head bald for a role so the wig could look more ‘authentic’, set myself on fire in the closing scene of a play…everything!

Have you always known that the performing arts would be a big part of your life? I guess deep down inside I always did. However, as a child, I sucked at most things I participated in, messing my lines or breaking things on set in school plays, walking out of elocutions because I was crazy scared…

Theatre will you name it, I’d NOT always be my first love. Poetry done it!

is when I say goodbye to my body and leave my soul out there.

Something inside of me snapped when I rebelled, walked out of my math exam and purposely flunked my high school so I wouldn’t have a chance to become an engineer. Switching over to literature, I landed on the university stage on my second day. And never really left it!

Is it true when they say that actors are always broke? That’s probably because we spend all our money on clothes and gadgets!

Jokes aside, I don’t have a car or a house, but I have a dream. And I live it. Money will come. And it will go. I do what my heart loves, and we all get by, with a little help from our friends!

Crystal ball I’ve been blessed with some fantastic teachers in the UAE. Mina Liccione and Ali Al Sayed on comedy, Miranda Davidson on Stanislavski, Sol Abiad on French performance theatre, Frank Dullaghan and Hind Shoufani on spoken word.

Whatever happens in the next 5 years, inshallah, will be debt repayment to the investment they have made in me, not just as teachers but as friends as well. And if along the way I can help people smile, laugh, cry a cathartic sob, so be it!

LIVING THE ARTIST’S LIFE: ART

CHILDHOOD PASSION BECOMES A CAREER

By Ian Mason

Creative talent abounds in the UAE. Prize-winning artist Hamdan Buti Al Shamsi is an Emirati who is actively pursuing his love of art on both a personal and professional level.

Some people have artistic talent, and others don’t. For those in the latter category, it can be quite intimidating to meet someone like Hamdan Buti Al Shamsi who is a self-taught photographer, graphic designer and amateur writer.

Childhood interest Born in Al Ain, Hamdan’s interest started at an early age.

“As a child, I was fond of art, sketching and colouring books,” remembers Hamdan. “My mother used to call me ‘Qurtas’ (sheets of papers) because every time we walked into a grocery shop, my only goal was to get to the colouring books.”

“Unfortunately art was ignored in school. I would have loved it if I was taught different aspects of art as a child as this would have had a stronger impact on my technique as an adult.”

“While growing up, I tried to keep the artist in me alive and active while everyone around me thought that being an artist was pointless. The only way I overcame this was through the drive and ambition I had.”

Recent commissions Hamdan has turned his childhood passion into a fascinating career. He is now a school teacher and also conducts graphic design and photography courses. He has participated in a number of group exhibitions around the UAE and been asked to produce artworks for a number of notable organizations.

“I was commissioned by Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage to digitally paint five walls for Al Qattara Art Centre which is the first art centre in Al Ain City. Recently I have been commissioned by Emaar Properties to create artworks for The Loft Towers residential complex and Boulevard Plaza.”

Artistic inspirations Hamdan was selected as one of 40 designers to display and sell their products in the DXB Store, a non-profit space spread across three venues - Art Dubai in Madinat Jumeirah, Sikka in Bastakiya and Design Days Dubai in Downtown Dubai – that showcases limited “ It would be edition objects designed great if artists and made in the UAE. were supported by organizations that could play an effective role in empowering the cultural scene in the region.”

“Most of my work is inspired by mankind,” Hamdan explains.

“I try to portray and express the existence of mankind in our continuance of life and struggle to define ourselves, our beliefs, concerns, hopes and thoughts. My artworks are reflections of subconscious and conscious experiences and interpreting them visually.”

“I tend to use the medium that would suit the idea of the artwork I am planning to create.

My work sometimes is defined by creating a collaboration of digital painting with Arabic calligraphy and old photographs or my own photographs.”

Hamdan Buti Al Shamsi

“Recently I started to get more involved in creating collage pieces with mixed media which brings back a lot of childhood memories for me. As a child collages were just for my notebooks covers but now it’s on higher level and there is a message to share.”

More support Despite the creative freedom being an artist offers, Hamdan says that there are some significant challenges with deciding when to make it a full-time career.

“I see that most artists with full time jobs have a major issue with creating art and pursuing their art, due to the lack of time and the obligations towards work. It would be great if artists were supported by organizations that could play an effective role in empowering the cultural scene in the region.”

ADVICE FOR NEW ARTISTS “My message to every artist is to keep experimenting and experiencing art. It’s an ocean so don’t settle for just a few drops. Also, always respect your fellow artists and try to learn from them and their experiences.”

“Amy Lowell once said, “Art is the desire of a man to express himself, to record the reactions of his personality to the world he lives in,” and that is my motto too.” www.tempoplanet.com | 23

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS

mini minx Angeli Castillo | Making minutes out of molehills

STAYING IN FOCUS: LIFE OF A FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER Being a freelance photographer is not as glamorous as it sounds. Regular Tempo contributor Angeli Castilo outlines her experiences.

Lifestyles of the rich and famous, gourmet meals, red carpet treatment, beautiful bodies and fancy fillies are usually the kind of things I would cover as a freelance photographer.

Being a female photographer in this country really has its perks, from getting first in line for covering an Arabic wedding to the ‘let her through’ smiles and nods by the security at some high-class private event.

Hard road to success But what many people don’t know is that behind the flashing lights and fancy passes, this is one tough business to crack.You not only need a lot of confidence but also some street smarts with a dash of sarcasm. In this kind of business, not only are you sometimes taking pictures of things you don’t like but you are also forced to grit your teeth and smile throughout the shoot, even when your models may be as thick as an elephant or if you have a prima donna client who pays you peanuts and thinks you are their personal slave for the day.

Like most careers, the bad is countered by the good. One of my favourite moments when I started out was being invited to Chill Out in the artists lounge, just chatting away with them. Moments like these are what make my job one of the best ever.

24/7 pressure It’s all about networking. As Steven C. Price, a fellow photographer, puts it, “Seeing the world through a camera lens and the amount of people you get to meet and see and the smiles and lives you touch is the most rewarding part of being a freelance photographer”.

my camera; 2) post manipulation proves my imperfection; 3) this camera is a part of my arm; it is not a second nature; 4) my subjects are not clients, they are my partners; and last but not least, 5) money is but a byproduct.”

Reality check A lot of photographers I know who started out as a freelancer are quite heavily into their field of choice now, and a lot of them would agree that in the long run sometimes you lose sight of your ground and your ego tends to guide you along instead. But then you get those moments of clarity which just jolt you back to earth and remind you that you are only human and nothing can last forever, except for your images.

I think the final word should belong to noted photographer David Alan Harvey: “Don’t shoot what it looks like. Shoot what it feels like”.

Photo credits: Ariya Behjat

Steven is spot on because the simplest act of a little child thanking you after a photo shoot can do wonders for your day. What a lot of clients or individuals don’t understand is the unrelenting stress we get from work.

We don’t have the 8-hours-shift type of job; we are basically open 24/7 and even though we do control most of our time and day, what a lot of people forget about is the timeconsuming process of editing; editing does not just take an hour for a 100-image shoot.

Lessons of the game Not every pricy-camera-toting person who points and shoots is a photographer, but they can be. 23 year-old eclectic independent graphic artist Ariya Behjat shares his insights on being a freelance photographer.

“In my opinion, there is no really good or bad photographer. However, in order for one to earn the title ‘photographer,’ they need to realize a few things: 1) I am the composer, not

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Photo credits: Steven C. Price

media Alma Kadragic

EMIRATI FILMS ON SHOW:

GULF FILM FESTIVAL COMES TO ABU DHABI The 5th Annual Gulf Film Festival (GFF) in April featured more films than ever before and for the first time screened some of them in Abu Dhabi.

The main site of GFF was at Festival City Dubai, but three nights of films were shown at the Abu Dhabi Theatre on the breakwater, a venue that is becoming popular for film screening thanks to Peter Scarlett, director of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival, who discovered its usefulness two years ago.

Opening night in Abu Dhabi Opening night in Abu Dhabi, as earlier in Dubai, featured a prime candidate to win the Official Competition Gulf Features. Tora Bora is by Kuwaiti filmmaker Walid Al Awadi who tackled the difficult jihadi subject. A middle-aged husband and wife, Abu Tarek and Umm Tarek from Kuwait, go to Afghanistan to find their son Ahmed who listened to the voices of war and is now with extremists in the caves of Tora Bora.

Veteran Kuwaiti actor Saad Al-Faraaj returned to film after decades away to play Abu Tarek.

Photos Courtesy of Gulf Film Festival

Emirati films shine A total of 347 films were screened during GFF, most of them shorts, with a number made by students from the Gulf. While most of the films came from the GCC, many were from the wider Middle East and the rest of the world.

For me, in addition to Tora Bora, the Emirati films were the most interesting because they testify to the progress being made by Dubai and Abu Dhabi in promoting the development of film and its related industries.

Student films a highlight 14 films by young Emiratis were selected for the Gulf Student Short Competition, ten of them world premieres. I don’t have the space to mention most, but I’m focusing on two that seem especially important; the first for subject, the second for format.

Marwan Alhammadi is a student at Dubai Men’s College and is showing at GFF for the second time.

Cats, one of the world premiere films, isn’t about domestic pets; these cats are wild animals living in Dubai homes. No animal expert anywhere in the world thinks this is a good idea, but nonetheless it goes on in the UAE.

Mohammad Fikree is a 2D animator who produced and did everything else needed to create Children, the story of a mother and her children trying to escape from a scary, perhaps mythical beast. The style recalls the short story of three brothers in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I. In ten quick minutes, Fikree creates beauty with a moral and doesn’t need three dimensions to do it.

Another contender A rival for best Official Competition Gulf Features was Halabja – The Lost Children from Akram Hidou, a Syrian Kurd who emigrated to Germany in 1995. The film focuses on Ali who comes back to Halabja in Kurdistan 21 years after Saddam Hussein killed thousands with poison gas in 1988. Ali is on a mission to find his family and in fact finds five families that hope he is their missing son. Many children were lost; only a few were ever found.

April also saw yet another film festival, this one at Zayed University for students from around the Middle East. However, that seems to be it for a few months, giving the filmmakers time to work.

ADFF EXTENSION The Abu Dhabi Film Festival (ADFF) has extended the deadline for the submission of films to July 1.

ADFF, the longest in the region, takes place from October 11-20 followed by the Dubai International Film Festival from December 9-16.

This lion cub wasn’t more than an armful at the time of filming. By now, he’s much too big to handle at home as is the young lion relaxing outside a Dubai villa. Like any good documentary, Cats calls attention to a contemporary problem.

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TIMELESS LESSONS FOR BUSINESS: THE MAGIC OF WALT DISNEY

By Ian Mason

audience for our greatest ever performances.

This in itself is a magical business lesson.

Final curtain Of all the aspirational messages Disney offered, there is one in particular that resonates highly for me. “You can design and create and build the most wonderful place in the world, but it takes people to make the dream a reality.”

So, Mr Disney, there was a genius around your studio. It was you.

Business lessons from Walt Disney: Getting Started “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”

“I only hope that we don’t lose sight of one thing - that it was all started by a mouse.”

If any entrepreneur is looking for inspiration for their business, they should look no further than a man who died in 1966 but whose business wisdom will endure for decades – Walter Elias Disney, better known as Walt Disney.

Disney once said, “We allow no geniuses around our studio”. Well Walt, I respectfully beg to differ.

A man of vision Walt Disney was a genius; in fact, 46 years after his death, he still is a genius. He understood better than almost everyone else the keys to business success. Along with Henry Ford and Henry Heinz, Disney was one of the greatest entrepreneurs of his era... indeed, any era.

Unlike current motivators like Anthony Robbins and Stephen Covey, Disney didn’t need a platform, an audience and some DVDs to build an empire. He just honed some simple yet powerful business philosophies that are as relevant today as when he first uttered them.

Providing inspiration In fact, some of the most inspirational business messages can be found with a simple Google search. Just type in ‘Walt Disney quotes’ and you’ll find gems like these: “All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me.You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.”

“Somehow I can’t believe there are any heights that can’t be scaled by a man who knows the secret of making dreams come true. This special secret, it seems to me, can be summarized in four C’s. They are Curiosity, Confidence, Courage and Constancy, and the greatest of these is Confidence. When you believe a thing, believe it all the way, implicitly and unquestionably.”

Customer focus I once read that the last thing all front-ofhouse employees at Disneyland see before they enter the public arena is a sign that says ‘Smile, you’re about to go on stage’. (I hope this is true because I have been using it in my training for years!)

Disney understood that, in business, we are all actors playing a role, and customers are the

Customer satisfaction “We are not trying to entertain the critics. I’ll take my chances with the public.”

Dreams “If you can dream it, you can do it.”

Improvement “Whenever I go on a ride, I’m always thinking of what’s wrong with the thing and how it can be improved.”

Competition “I have been up against tough competition all my life. I wouldn’t know how to get along without it.”

Life Balance “A man should never neglect his family for business.”

Courage “When you’re curious, you find lots of interesting things to do. And one thing it takes to accomplish something is courage.”

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”

Ian Mason is CSR, PR and Training Manager at BrandMoxie and Tamakkan. Tamakkan offers a range of professional skill workshops and team development events for companies, covering areas such as customer service, social media and communication.

Email Ian at ianmason@brandmoxie.com for further details, or call (02) 419 8624. www.tempoplanet.com | 27

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS

doc in the house Dr. DMS | A doc from the Bronx

MEDICINE WITH A DASH OF SOAP: A DIAGNOSIS OF TV DRAMA Ever heard of TV shows like MASH, ER, Shortland Street, Grey’s Anatomy or House MD? Or movies like The Hospital, a 70s classic depicting the ‘wild west’ days of medicine where smoking was awesome and a stiff drink at work after rounds was totally accepted.

How about a book? (Do you guys still read books?)

The bible-like novel that every American medical resident has read (even if they don’t admit to it) is The House of God. A classic!!

TV’s influence The entertainment industry has milked the medical angle for years and continues to recycle it. All those beefy docs and angry vixen nurses. All those gladiators who face a daily battle with blood, guts and carnage at every-second-counts speeds, and possess a superhuman intellect we can only dream of. Come on now! What’s not to like??

Entertainment has definitely swayed many confused college grads into the medical profession. For my generation, it was ER. The day after the show, students were buzzing about what heroics Dr Carter and co had performed the night before.

About how some rad time-dependent (completely insane and obscure) diagnosis had been made in a snap. WOW! A show firmly based in ‘reality’. How many of my own emergency med colleagues were swept up by the ER phenomenon and chose their specialty based on the series?

Keeping it real It amazes me how many blunders and fantasies these shows play out to the public. They feed the viewer certain expectations of what we do, and now some viewers consider themselves ‘in the know’! Yeah right, it’s that easy.

The blatant medical errors I see on TV med shows slay me. It’s very misleading, and the studio has hired

some schmuck doc to oversee this but disregards the advice as it’s not entertaining enough to show the truth.

Consider the Hollywood version of a cardiac arrest where you see the dreaded ‘flat line’. The ‘docs/ paramedics’ will shock the patient back to life........ malpractice, call me a lawyer!! In truth, it’s not as sensational as that.

However, all being said, I do feel honored that the entertainment industry has chosen my specialty in some form. If you want to subscribe to that, don’t let me disappoint you.

P.S. Autographed copies of this article are available at Tempo HQ. On the night of April 27 I got violently sick in the middle of the night with extreme vertigo and vomiting.

My husband rushed me to a hospital's emergency ward and I was immediately put on a drip, sedated and given a slew of tests. I am recovering as I write this.

And the reason I am writing this is to thank a special someone.You see I was fortunate enough to be taken care of by our own guardian angel, our Doc in the House. Thank you doc. You looked exhausted and sleepless and you still managed to be upbeat, kind and funny. Don't know how you do it, but bless you for it.

-The ed

just handcrafted Jan D’Sa | Scientist artiste hybrid

HIGHLIGHTING YOUR HANDCRAFTS: PHOTOGRAPHY BRINGS OUT THE BEST I am focusing on photography in this month’s column because making incredible handcrafts is not enough if the photographs you have taken don’t do justice to your lovely work. Think about it.Your customers need to have a great understanding of what your handcrafted work looks like on the screen before they will buy from you.

This is my own experience which is why, when I have the time, I will practice taking photos that ‘inform’ my customers correctly.

Using the macro mode One of the most important camera features that I use is the macro mode which, for those handcrafters who are not photographers, is useful to take close up photos of my mixed media artwork and jewelry.

Aziz Mahmoud, who I call the ‘macro man’ because his work involves this technique, has been photographing since 1989. Aziz loves the macro mode because “it reveals a world inside our world, a world which we rarely have time for to observe and cherish.” Subsequently his macro photos are

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an appreciation of that which we look at but do not see.

According to Aziz, the macro mode is essential in photographing handcrafted work. “In order to appreciate handcrafts, one needs to get a ‘taste’.

Photographing handcrafted work needs to convey a feel of the artist’s taste and finesse, and macro photography is a powerful tool to do that.”

Tips for macro success Macro photography may come easy to handcrafters simply because it needs creativity foremost.

“Macro photography calls for creativity in capturing the finer details of an object which sometimes can get overlooked in an auto focus shot,” explains Aziz.

“The camera should have a manual focus mode as shooting so close requires precision focusing.”

“The tripod is another tool which makes life easy in macro shooting conditions. Also, having the ability to fire flash off-camera can be very useful in challenging conditions, outdoors or indoors.”

These may sound like basic tips, but for those handcrafters who struggle to take good quality macro photos, Aziz’s advice is a good way of starting.

Follow the work of Aziz Mahmoud at http://community.webshots.com/ user/azizes

Jan D’Sa is the artist-designer of Janys Dé mixed media (www.janysde.com).

Follow her trips ’n treats at the Cultural Arts Travelogue (www. culturalartstravelogue.com)

horoscope Aries: Choose your words carefully this month. They will carry the weight of an elephant. Remember, the best conversationalist isn’t someone who can talk, but someone who can listen...or better yet, HEAR. Also remember that making yourself clear is one thing, being dictatorial is another. Soften what you say, but keep the point up front.

Taurus: Financial demands are starting to grow and change.You’ll be tested this month on how to do more with a whole lot less.You can be very tight fisted when you have to be, the trick here is how to be that way and still have fun with it. It ain’t easy, but it is possible.

Gemini: The people in your life, especially your committed other, are going to be your perfect mirrors this month. This can be good and it can also hurt a bit. The truth is never easy. But what you see this month will tell you what you need to change and you get to do this two more times over the next year just to see if you are headed in the right direction.

Cancer: You are on a roll now. Life is very rosy and things could not be better if Santa Claus showed up in May instead of December. If you have any problems at all, they may surface in the workplace. There are many changes going on there, especially at the upper levels.

Leo: May is full of the pleasures of life this year.Your love life is getting some real boosts from Mars and you may be including people you never considered before. The 15th could prove something of a shock from your committed other, as they may unveil a side of themselves you have been unaware of.

Virgo: The problem still exists with balancing your career and your home life. And it’s not going to get any easier until you face it and work it out. This can’t be a bandaid fix either, it’s going to require a lifestyle change if you want to keep what is valuable. Starting now, you’ll have the next year to work it out.

Libra: Happiness surrounds you and you spread the joy everywhere you go and with everyone you meet. But who wouldn’t be happy with all the love and attention your getting this month. The Sun and Mercury are lighting up your love life and when they move out,Venus, the planet of love, moves in.

Scorpio: You’ll be fighting “The Good Fight” this month with your checkbook. Time to put a stopper in those financial leaks. Time to assess where all the money is going and why.You may have to take a strong and final stand on someone who is draining your resources. Consolidate and conserve. This could be the path you take for the next year.

Sagittarius: This month could be “High Noon” in the relationship department.You’ve grown and your partner probably hasn’t.You want to move and your committed other is stonewalling you. Like a Rock, isn’t always the best way to be. The 23rd may provide you with just the right words to either work it out or end it.

Capricorn: You may be asking yourself by month’s end, does the work ever end? I have to caution you here about going overboard and not taking time for yourself. Overwork could turn into a health issue for you, but with all the work you’re cranking out, the money should be good.

Aquarius: What you’ve got looks one way. What you want doesn’t look like it used to. And what you’ve got is starting to look like a burden rather than an asset. The whole situation is sapping your creative side.

This situation is going to be around awhile so you should learn to work with it, as opposed to against it.

Pisces: If you could just figure out a way to move the family into the office, or move the office into your home things would just be dandy.

Truth is, most people don’t get that luxury and have to figure out how to balance the two, as you are discovering. But the job you’ll be doing this month will be top notch.

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EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS

just a thought Manar Al Hinai | A Khaleeji girl who overthinks a lot and loves to write

NOUF SAEED

SPECIAL EFFECTS MAKEUP The talented Nouf Saeed, an Emirati from Dubai, specializes in special effects makeup. Yep, the makeup effects used in creative photography and horror movies!

Not only is she young, only 18 by the way, she is also ahead of her game and a pioneer Emirati in this field. We sat down to chat about makeup and breaking into the industry.

When and how did this obsession begin?

It started at the end of 11th grade by doing theatrical and creative makeup on my face every day. I used to stay in my room for hours and then show my ‘work’ to my family. They’d first compliment it and then call me crazy, but that was something positive for me.

When my brother noticed that I showed genuine interest, he recommended that I watch a TV show called ‘Face Off’ which is a special effects makeup competition/reality show. The realism and transformation achieved just using makeup is what made me jump right in to it.

How did your family and friends react?

They were all very supportive because it was something different and playful. They loved all the looks I created but weren’t too convinced about choosing it as a career path since there’s always the risk of failure or no demand. Eventually they loosened up.

How do you learn different techniques, given that there is no special effect makeup school in the country? Ironically, when I first started doing theatrical makeup, I was blindly using special effects techniques. When I did my research, I discovered a quarter of what I’m supposed to know I was already implementing.

The second quarter, which is the basic theories or knowledge, was surprisingly from school and the rest was from doing a lot of research, reading, and practicing. It’s important to know that this type of makeup has no rules and that you can use and do anything as long as you don’t hurt or burn yourself.

Where do you get your supplies? A lot of the stuff is random makeup from any brand, some are from professional art suppliers, and some are from professional makeup companies that

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specialize in special effects makeup both locally and internationally. I always try to use substitutes that are more accessible if possible. I also like to use products that can be mixed to get the product I want instead of buying the actual thing. It makes me feel more in control.

Tempo Editorial Coordinator Sharon Carvalho agreed to be transformed by the skillful hand of Nouf Saeed. Check out the before and after pictures!

How long does a ‘burn victim’ look take you to create? Simple burns and scars take an hour or two. Dramatic and complex ones have to be premade a couple days before application day.

How much do you charge your clients? It depends. There’s the studio rate and the set rate.

The studio rate is for the pre-production of work that needs to be done and it’s fixed at 150 AED per hour.

The set rate depends on the type of work, but for extended time work, it’s 100 AED per hour and that’s because some of the makeup takes about 5 to 7 hours to apply.

Any exciting news on the horizon? I’m currently working on a forensic art collection that I’m hoping to exhibit soon, and I have a series of fantasy photoshoots that will follow after so I’m very excited about that. I’m also working with an imaginative young writer to produce a theatrical play with amazing character design.

CONTACTING NOUF Web: www.noufsaeedstudiofx.ae and www.flickr.com/noufsaeedmakeup Twitter: @Nouf_AlJ Facebook: Nouf AlJahdhami Email: n.aljahdhami@ymail.com

What do you think?

Follow me on Twitter: @manar_alhinai