As part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence Campaign, the UNESCO Tashkent Office shares with its readers a motivational story of Ms Mariya Musakova, founder of the Tashkent FOCUS Film and Theatre School. Mariya is successful in her work and is fully committed to it.
Ms Mariya Musakova, founder and director of the FOCUS Film and Theatre School. Participant and partner in a number of UNESCO’s trainings on film industry development in Uzbekistan.
Mariya, could you please tell us about yourself. What kind of work and activities have you done before? How have you come to do what you are doing now?
I am an ordinary girl. I was born and grew up in Tashkent; I studied the Japanese language and culture at the Tashkent State Institute of Oriental Studies; I was an intern in Japan and worked there. I have done quite a lot of things in the past: tourism, advertising, marketing and business management. Then I opened the FOCUS Film and Theatre School in Tashkent where I am still involved today.
What helped you to develop your entrepreneurial potential? What helps you to make your ambitious dreams come true?
Whether I have discovered my entrepreneurial potential is more visible from the outside. I have a very restrained and calm attitude towards it. Just like everything, I do with ambition. Frankly, I am not so positive about the concept of "ambition".
What helped me to get where I am now? I think I was very lucky with my teachers, with the situations that arose along the way and with the people I met in my life. All of this is a necessary experience. The experience has helped and still helps me "to take off".
FOCUS School was established in Tashkent in 2016. Please tell us about the achievements of your school and new projects.
We work in four main directions: the direction of feature films, scriptwriting and camera art as well as acting. In addition, there are also many joint projects with local and international organisations which are free for all participants.
Artists from Uzbekistan, including Ali Khamraev, Rustam Sagdullaev and Bahodir Yuldashev, often come to our school for a cup of tea. We had the opportunity to meet the legendary Damir Salimov, Rikhsivoy Mukhamedzhanov and Nasrullo Sagdullaev who have recently passed away.
We trained many of the already well-known Uzbek actors. Among them are Rano Shodieva, Feruz Saidov, and Shahzoda Matchanova. There are also annual meetings with prominent figures from abroad. For example, last year the Oscar-winning film director Vladimir Menshov met with the school's students, and before that, they had met with the rector of the Moscow Art Theatre School Igor Zolotovitsky. The guest of our school was the Art director of the Oleg Tabakov’s Moscow Theatre Vladimir Mashkov among with many others.
Concerning the projects, we can highlight the FOCUS School graduates' internship in Poland in 2019. It was possible thanks to the support of the UNESCO Tashkent Office and the Embassy of Switzerland in Uzbekistan. Among the highlights was a master-class tour around the regions of Uzbekistan, trips to China, Georgia, Tajikistan and others.
Today the main partner of FOCUS School is the Embassy of Switzerland in Uzbekistan. We are preparing to implement many large non-commercial projects for all regions of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
In 2020, six out of seven students from Uzbekistan who got the state-funded places at VGIK (All-Russian State Institute of Cinematography named after S. A. Gerasimov, - ed.) were students and graduates of our school.
The initiative of cooperation between our countries in the field of education in cinematography was personally submitted by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan His Excellency Mr Shavkat Mirziyoyev. We are really glad and immensely grateful for it.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, with the support of the European Union Delegation to Uzbekistan, we were able to launch the International Online Cinema Laboratory European Union - FOCUS CineLab. More than 50 young people from many countries including the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia and others are taking part in this project. I can talk endlessly about our projects, there are many of them, but these are the most important ones.
Can you tell us about your management style? There is a stereotype that women are more emotional than men. Do you agree with this belief?
I have not thought about whether I have a certain style of management. I am just doing my favourite thing and treat other people in the same way as I would like to be treated. Are women more emotional? I think that it is not entirely correct to measure everyone with one ruler. We are all different. We all have our own shortcomings and strengths.
The world is beautiful in its diversity.
The issue of gender inequality in the film industry remains at the center of attention: actors are against the under-representation of women and unequal pay. However, women behind the scenes remain largely in the shadows. How do you feel about that?
This is the first time I have come across this opinion about the "under-representation" of women in the film industry. Less than 100 years has passed since Uzbek women first appeared on the screen. Moreover, not much time has passed since the liberation of women and the removal of the burka in our country. Needless to say, how difficult this process has been. And today, our film actresses receive international recognition and awards, and roles abroad.
I do not think that the film industry stands out from the rest of the field in terms of gender inequality. This industry lays in a public domain. It is no secret that people in creative professions are more public. They receive more attention. Staying in the shadows, or being in the public eye, is everyone's personal choice.
Are there any projects involving gender equality among the works of your school students? Do you encourage students to bring this topic up in their projects?
Among the works of our students, many films touch on the topic of gender inequality, as well as domestic violence and social discrimination. We encourage students to express themselves in any form and develop in them a sense of responsibility for every idea they put into their scripts and directorial works. This is important for me.
Combating gender discrimination can be difficult because it goes against deep-rooted local traditions. What does it take to shape new traditions and maintain the idea of equality?
Cinema is always about promoting different behaviours. It can lay down both creative and destructive thoughts or ideas.
The artist is responsible for what ideas and thoughts are embedded in his or her picture.
Concerning the need to form new traditions, I believe that you don't have to be "against", you have to be "for" something.
As to the role of cinema, I can say that people should be different before watching a film, and after it, they should change for the better. In any form of art, there must be a thought. That thought, in my opinion, must be creative.
How is it possible to understand what you are worth and how to find your own way? What kind of advice can you give to the girls?
Perhaps this interview will be accidentally read by a girl who has found herself in a difficult life situation. So, I can try to write words of support to her: Everything passes. Never, under any circumstances in the world, stop believing. Believe in yourself.
No matter how difficult it is, if you put your hands down, you have wings! Believe in yourself. Everything will work out for you.
How do you agree with the statement "If you plan to start (or develop) your own business, you must learn to respect yourself"?
Positive. It is not just about your own business. However, I had to go through a lot to realise that. Nevertheless, I am glad. This is my path.
What is your professional dream?
I have no professional "dreams". I think more about solving current tasks and implementing prospective plans into action. I am afraid that some of the women reading this interview will judge me for considering maternity to be the main role for a young woman. However, that does not mean that this role is the only one. Everyone chooses something closer to his or her heart. For me, the most important thing in life is family.