½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï

Waleed Bedour

M.F.A. in cinema arts – directing, born in Cairo, Egypt

BC: Why did you choose ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï?

WB: The program offered by the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema sets ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï apart from other schools, many of which offer an M.F.A. in general film production. The Feirstein program was more track oriented, and I was interested in earning an M.F.A. in directing specifically.

BC: What are some highlights of your ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï career?

WB: Shooting my projects has been a major highlight. I shot my second-year film a couple of weeks before the COVID-19 lockdown. It was a great overnight shoot with more than 40 people involved between cast and crew, all squeezed into a medium-sized restaurant. Almost a year after, I was shooting my thesis with COVID restrictions. Only 10 people, including cast, were present, and it was shot in upstate New York on a snowy farm. The juxtaposition between the two shoots was so profound and showed me that with persistence and hard work, everything is possible.

BC: What is your favorite place on the Feirstein campus?

WB: The Equipment Room. It was the best place to hang around, learn a lot, and gain experience with some top equipment. It helped a lot.

BC: What are you doing after graduation?

WB: I plan to start working on development for my feature film. Meeting a lot of great industry leaders in film festival labs through classes was very helpful. It showed me how to present my projects in a way that elevates its chances of being made. Additionally, I am planning to shadow other directors, and I’m hoping that I can accomplish that through the connections I’ve made through ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï.