Saboor Akram

photographer and filmmaker

Compiled from 1 recorded interview. Every statement below is drawn from the passage cited beside it.

Saboor Akram is a photographer and filmmaker who was raised in Lahore. He started photography and filmmaking in grade six and later made a Spider-Man fan film that grew from a thirty-second idea into a thirteen-minute film. He plans to study in Turkey and has said his final aim is to work in Hollywood.

Early life and background

Akram was born in Quetta, and his family moved to Lahore for his father's business. He was raised in Lahore, and his extended family is from Quetta. He started photography and filmmaking in grade six. He began by borrowing his cousin's camera and began teaching himself photography through YouTube. [1]

Education

Akram studied at an institution in Lahore. He studied from playgroup until A-levels, and he describes himself as a straight A student. [1]

His parents first expected him to attend LUMS. He was told to keep film as a second option and to study CS. He applied to NCA, but the application for the seat did not succeed. His name was not on the second NCA list. [1]

Career

Akram was advised to take his camera and photography work as a career. He began entering university competitions and won at LUMS and at another university. Early on, he did a great deal of free work. Around 2017, he made a burger video for a restaurant connected to a friend, and the owners offered to pay him for it. The first money he brought home was 3,500 rupees. [1]

After people began to notice his work, he was paid four to five thousand per shift. His biggest campaign, in late 2018, was for a brand. The brand approached him through family contacts. He art-directed that campaign, which included an outdoor shoot on Mall Road in Lahore. [1]

Before the fan film, Akram made short films. He kept five journals in which he wrote down ideas. [1]

Spider-Man fan film

Akram describes himself as a huge fan of superhero movies and of Spider-Man. He decided to play smart and chose Spider-Man. He thought an original film would not draw attention at around 2,000 followers. What began as a thirty-second idea became a thirteen-minute film. [1]

He and the people with him did all of the ADR, the sounds and the soundtrack themselves. He kept working and saved up what he earned. He expected the production to cost about 40,000. He says he was 19 and that nobody gave attention to children. [1]

The shoot took place in rain at a temperature of two degrees. Akram was very concerned that everything would be cut after the money they had spent. The movie was approved, and he held the premiere at a cinema. It was a short film shown as a separate standalone screening. [1]

Turkey and future plans

Akram describes Turkey as the route that opened after the NCA route closed. He chose Turkey because he believes its industry is being built up today. He plans to go to Turkey for a bachelor's degree by August. He had never been outside Pakistan before. [1]

He plans to spend four years in Turkey first. After Turkey, he plans to go directly to the USA, where he intends to do a master's and an MFA. He plans to study film as a major, with photography and digital work as minors. His final aim is to work in Hollywood. [1]

Current projects

Akram is writing a new script. He is trying to work on an era film, which he describes as a historical film. He plans to make a pilot episode for a spin-off series. He wanted to play it safe by making part of the story fictional. [1]

Views

Akram thinks a film needs a relatable story to find an audience. He says a person can gracefully accept defeat. He says Pakistan has strong actors and actresses. He says artists should learn from other artists' work by asking questions about it. He says he will apply the mistakes he learned from. [1]

Personal life

Akram's parents are now his biggest supporters. He says he gained his parents' trust through his work. He practises his Oscar speech in the bathroom. [1]

Timeline

2017
Made a burger video for a restaurant connected to a friend, and was offered payment for it.[1]
2018
Worked on his biggest campaign, for a brand, in late 2018.[1]

Appearances

DateTitleWhere
2022-06-06 The 19-year-old who self-funded a Spider-Man film in Pakistan Thought Behind Things

Frequently asked questions

Who is Saboor Akram?

Saboor Akram is a photographer and filmmaker who was raised in Lahore. He started photography and filmmaking in grade six. He later made a Spider-Man fan film.[1]

Where is Saboor Akram from?

Saboor Akram was born in Quetta, and his family moved to Lahore for his father's business. He was raised in Lahore. His extended family is from Quetta.[1]

How did Saboor Akram start in photography and filmmaking?

Saboor Akram started photography and filmmaking in grade six. He began by borrowing his cousin's camera. He also began teaching himself photography through YouTube.[1]

What was Saboor Akram's first paid work?

Around 2017, Saboor Akram made a burger video for a restaurant connected to a friend, and the owners offered to pay him for it. The first money he brought home was 3,500 rupees.[1]

What is Saboor Akram's biggest campaign?

Saboor Akram's biggest campaign, in late 2018, was for a brand. He art-directed that campaign, which included an outdoor shoot on Mall Road in Lahore.[1]

Where does Saboor Akram plan to study?

Saboor Akram plans to go to Turkey for a bachelor's degree by August. After Turkey, he plans to go directly to the USA, where he intends to do a master's and an MFA. He plans to study film as a major.[1]

What are Saboor Akram's future plans?

Saboor Akram plans to spend four years in Turkey first. His final aim is to work in Hollywood. He is also writing a new script.[1]

References

  1. The 19-year-old who self-funded a Spider-Man film in Pakistan . Thought Behind Things , 2022-06-06.
Show the source passages (60 statements)
  1. He was born in Quetta, and his family moved to Lahore for his father's business. I was born in Quetta but my family shifted to Lahore because of my father's business
  2. He was raised in Lahore. raised up saara Lahore mein hi huye hain
  3. His extended family is from Quetta. Family saari Quetta wali hai.
  4. He studied at an institution in Lahore. Maine Lahore Alma se kiya tha.
  5. He studied from playgroup until A-levels. From playgroup till A-levels.
  6. He describes himself as a straight A student. I was a straight A student
  7. He started photography and filmmaking in grade six. jo photography and filmmaking thi na maine woh start ki thi grade six mein.
  8. He began by borrowing his cousin's camera. I started borrowing my cousin's camera.
  9. He began teaching himself photography through YouTube. maine YouTube se khud seekhna shuru kiya
  10. He began entering university competitions and won at LUMS and at another university. university based competitions bhi start ho gaye LUMS ho gaya BNU ho gaya woh bhi saara Insha'Allah masha'Allah jeete
  11. He was advised to take his camera and photography work as a career. maybe what you're doing with your whole camera thing and your whole photography thing why don't you take this as a career
  12. His parents first expected him to attend LUMS. pehle toh mama baba ne bol diya ke LUMS jayega baba ki favorite university hai LUMS
  13. He was told to keep film as a second option and to study CS. Saboor you need a sustenance Saboor second obviously keep this as the second thing CS karo
  14. His parents are now his biggest supporters. aaj kal Alhamdulillah they're my biggest supporters
  15. He says he gained his parents' trust through his work. I gained my parents' trust unhone dekha ke bada honestly kaam kar raha hai
  16. Around 2017, he made a burger video for a restaurant connected to a friend, and the owners offered to pay him for it. It was I guess around 2017 mera pehla tha ke there was a friend uske friend ka ek na restaurant khula tha toh maine competition ki video banani thi a burger ki toh wahan par unko na unki video itni achi lagi unhone kaha ke like let I'll pay you for this
  17. The first money he brought home was 3,500 rupees. pehli dafa na ghar mein 3500 rupees aaye thay
  18. Early on, he did a great deal of free work. bohat zyada free kaam kiya
  19. After people began to notice his work, he was paid four to five thousand per shift. logon ne notice karna shuru kar diya char paanch hazaar shift milti thi
  20. His biggest campaign, in late 2018, was for a brand. was my biggest campaign in 2018 ki end mein perenne ek brand tha Courts
  21. The brand approached him through family contacts. perenne ek brand tha Courts unhone approach kiya through some family contacts
  22. He art-directed that campaign, which included an outdoor shoot on Mall Road in Lahore. unka campaign shoot bhi tha outside uska art direction karna bhi toh woh maine kiya tha Mall Road pe Lahore mein
  23. Before the fan film, he made short films. us waqt na main short short films banata tha
  24. He kept five journals in which he wrote down ideas. I have five journals jiske andar na sirf ideas maine likhe huye thay
  25. He describes himself as a huge fan of superhero movies. I'm a huge fan of superhero movies
  26. He is a huge fan of Spider-Man. I am such a huge fan of Spider-Man
  27. He decided to play smart and chose Spider-Man. maine kaha let's just play smart maine Spider-Man ko pakra
  28. He thought an original film would not draw attention at around 2,000 followers. instead of making an original movie at 2000 followers I don't think anyone will focus on that
  29. What began as a thirty-second idea became a thirteen-minute film. woh jo tees second ki cheez thi na woh tera minute ki film ban gayi
  30. He and the people with him did all of the ADR, the sounds and the soundtrack themselves. humne saara ADR kiya humne saare sounds humne saara track bhi khud hi banaya
  31. He kept working and saved up what he earned. maine bhi kaam karta raha karta raha ke jitne aate thay I used to save up
  32. He expected the production to cost about 40,000. mere mind mein tha ke chalo 40,000 ki production lag jayegi
  33. He says he was 19 and that nobody gave attention to children. I was 19 aur koi munh nahi lagata bacho ko
  34. It was a short film shown as a separate standalone screening. It was just a short film as a separate standalone play hui.
  35. The shoot took place in rain at a temperature of two degrees. humne do degree ke temperature mein baarish ke andar humne shoot kiya
  36. The movie was approved. Alhamdulillah woh movie bhi approve ho gayi
  37. He was very concerned that everything would be cut after the money they had spent. humne itna paisa lagaya aur at the end of the day woh saara kuch kaat denge toh I was very concerned
  38. He held the premiere at a cinema. humne Cue Cinemas mein uska premiere kiya
  39. He says he will apply the mistakes he learned from. jo ghaltiyan seekhi na usse main karunga Insha'Allah.
  40. He plans to go to Turkey for a bachelor's degree by August. I'm gonna go for my bachelors I'm gonna go to Turkey Insha'Allah by August
  41. He applied to NCA, but the application for the seat did not succeed. first I was applying for NCA lekin kyunke Quetta se tha seat ek thi open merit pe kya toh lekin woh nahi hua
  42. His name was not on the second NCA list. jab list lagi uske baad ek aur list lagi usmein mera naam nahi tha
  43. He describes Turkey as the route that opened after the NCA route closed. NCA ka raasta Allah miyan ne band kiya toh ek raasta Allah miyan ne khud khola hai for Turkey
  44. He chose Turkey because he believes its industry is being built up today. Turkey kyunki wahan ki na industry aaj kal build ho rahi hai, jaise Ertugrul, Osman and everything
  45. He had never been outside Pakistan before. kyunki main kabhi Pakistan se baahar gaya hi nahi
  46. He plans to spend four years in Turkey first. Toh Pakistan se main pehle Turkey jaunga, main wahan pe chaar saal
  47. After Turkey, he plans to go directly to the USA. Uske baad phir wahan se main direct jaunga US
  48. He says he intends to do a master's and an MFA in the USA. I have to land in USA at the end, maine masters wahin se karna hai, maine MFA karna hai
  49. His final aim is to work in Hollywood. mera obviously final aim is Hollywood
  50. He plans to study film as a major, with photography and digital work as minors. Major film hai aur uske andar jo minors wagera, uske andar photography, digital, woh saara kuch hota rahega.
  51. He is writing a new script. aaj kal main ek aur script likh raha hoon
  52. He is trying to work on an era film. main kuch era film pe kaam karne ki koshish kar raha hoon
  53. He describes an era film as a historical film. It's like an historical film, jaise aaj kal Ertugrul, Osman
  54. He plans to make a pilot episode for a spin-off series. spin-off series ke liye ek pilot episode banana hai
  55. He wanted to play it safe by making part of the story fictional. I wanted to play it safe ke main thoda sa na fictional banaun
  56. He thinks a film needs a relatable story to find an audience. you just need to make a relatable story in a good way and people will be there
  57. He says a person can gracefully accept defeat. Gracefully aap ja ke us cheez ko bare aaram se kar sakte ho ke yaar theek hai apni haar maano
  58. He says Pakistan has strong actors and actresses. hamare paas Sajal Aly hai, hamare paas itne pyaare ache ache actor hain, actresses hain
  59. He says artists should learn from other artists' work by asking questions about it. aapne dusre artist ka kaam dekh liya lekin aap seekho, aap questions poocho.
  60. He practises his Oscar speech in the bathroom. main bathroom mein khade ho kar practice karta hoon ke maine Oscar ki speech hogi