Interviewee : Hossein Ghenaat

Interviewer : Leila Tabasi

Hello, good day to you.

🌸Please introduce yourself?

I am Hossein Ghenaat. Born in 1965 and my birthplace is Amol. Initially, according to my interest, I was an assistant director to various directors. Then I made a few short films and made my first film in 2003 named Negin.com, which this script was selected at the Isfahan Festival.

🌸What is your opinion about the current children’s scripts in cinema and television?

In previous years, television produced more programs and films for children, and I even had programs myself. But for a few years now, telefilms have been obsolete and I haven’t seen any special work. Of course, I am currently writing scripts following Koochendan-e Koochak (Little Heroes).
One of the major problems of children’s cinema is the screening problem, which has decreased. Of course, in the past year or two, it has improved. May God willing, this trend that has recently emerged will continue.

🌸What is your suggestion for improving the art of scriptwriting for children, especially in the field of animation?

I have no expertise in animation. But fortunately, I have seen and heard that good work has been done and animation production has progressed. It is a matter of joy.
Regarding films, if the entertainment aspect for children is considered more, especially in today’s conditions where our children have high intelligence, are more familiar with images, and their entertainment is phones, tablets, the internet, etc., the work has become harder. And in any case, if more attention is paid to the entertainment aspect, of course, the type of entertainment for today’s children and with the conditions of the modern world is employed, it is excellent.

🌸Please name a few standard examples of children’s scripts produced in Iran and the world and state what features in these works have distinguished them?

Allow me not to name a film in Iran.
But in foreign cases, I remember that about twenty years ago my friend was getting the Harry Potter book for his child and they were waiting to buy it as soon as the next volume was translated and printed. People were also waiting in long lines to buy this book. My own daughter as well, we have bought all the volumes of Harry Potter. My daughter even spent her Eid money to buy this book and its films. Now I see that my friend’s child, who is young, is still connected with this book and script. So it has a good feature that has distinguished it from other books and scripts, and that is its entertainment aspect.
Another brilliant animation, Coco, was both beautiful and had a principled and beautiful script.
And another animation whose subject was the body of a child with a creature that had gone inside its body. It showed the anger and emotions of the child in a childlike way. It had a good moral message and had a high entertainment aspect in it.

If there is a subject or word that you would like to express, we are at your service.

In these last two years, work for children has become better. If children’s filmmakers think of the child and kids,
it is possible to strengthen the connection between the child and the family with such films, because children enjoy watching a good film alongside their family. Programs that establish more connection with children and families. Principles and beautiful programs are produced and screened, which is better both for the economy of program makers and filmmakers, and for the children who are the heart of a society.

I thank you for the time you provided to us.
Be proud and victorious