Saudi VFX Producer Jumanah Shaheen On Making It To Hollywood
The visual effects producer walks Bazaar through her inspiring journey…
Jeddah-born visual effects producer Jumanah Shaheen fell in love with animation, music and film from a young age. Her curiosity in the entertainment industry was nurtured by her belief in its ability to connect the world and provide creative insights into the minds of others. “What’s interesting to me is the different shows that people watch, which build and show a lot about their personality,” says Jumanah, who has been a fan of animation for as long as she can remember.
“I just love cartoons for instance, since they allow us to build our own universe which sometimes cannot be built. It’s also an easier way to work in production, being a female from Saudi – it was acceptable at that time to work behind the scenes. So, animation was by choice.”
Raised between the United States and Saudi Arabia, Jumanah was constantly shifting between cultures, adapting to new social norms. “I think this really opened my eyes to different cultures which helped me to have a lot more empathy towards people and to have a better sense of commonality,” she shares.“The fact is that it shaped the way that I see humans and treat others.”
Following graduation from Manarat Jeddah International School, Jumanah took up an internship as an assistant at Saudi-based publication Destination Jeddah, where she tapped into and discovered her passion for storytelling and media.
Then, in university while working on a visual project for the 2013 American biographical drama film Fruitvale Station, the soon-to-be headliner was exposed to the work of independent filmmakers, leading her to apply for various projects across California. “Los Angeles was an upgrade – Hollywood is always going to be that place.”
To date, Jumanah has been presented with an array of opportunities which include the Oscar-nominated 2014 film Theeb, the Independent Spirit Award for Fruitvale Station, the Sundance Award for sci-fi drama Advantageous, and a nomination for MTV’s Video Music Award for best visuals in Taylor Swift’s hit song, Look What You Made Me Do.
The Saudi trailblazer’s career has also seen her work alongside famed American figures including the likes of Ryan Coogler, Joseph Kahn and Kenya Barris. “My job is to basically make any visuals which cannot be shot,” she explains. “I’m involved in movies, YouTube, beauty, commercials and music videos.”
As one of the first female VFX producers from the Kingdom to enter Hollywood, Jumanah’s dream is to inspire other women from around the world to achieve their ambitions, independent of societal expectations. “Follow what you what,” she insists.
“Women all over, not just from Saudi, should follow the path of passion. Don’t be afraid to do something different or out of your comfort zone. It’s okay to fail, because that’s the way to learn and move forward. Follow your heart and just do it.”
@jumanah_shaheen