Meet Nicolas Naim, hotelier by profession, actor and director at heart
Despite his day job as a hotelier, Nicolas Naim's true calling is in the film industry.
Paramount Hotel Dubai's General Manager Pascal Eggerstedt and the hotelier from Dubai's Paramount Hotel collaborate on the annual 'We Create Drama' film festival.
In recent years, the United Arab Emirates has grown widely associated with all things entertaining, from movies and theater to live dinner shows and more.
The enormous desert landscapes of the nation have served as filming locations for popular series like Dune and Mission: Impossible. Almost every night of the week, theater and dinner shows are held to accommodate the varied audience in the country.
The third season of "We Create Drama," a film festival held annually at the Paramount Hotel Dubai in Dubai, has filmmakers of all stripes showcasing their narrative chops. In addition to giving filmmakers a platform to showcase their work, this festival also gives them the chance to network with other professionals in the field. Films shown at the festival take place in the Paramount Hotel Dubai, which is known for its iconic movie sets. Free masterclasses on screenwriting and independent filmmaking are held at the hotel throughout the festival, giving eager filmmakers a chance to learn the ropes.
Pascal Eggerstedt, general manager of the Paramount Hotel Dubai, and Nicolas Naim, creative producer, came up with the idea for the film festival in 2021.
"Pascal pointed out that we have such a unique selling experience at Paramount, the screening room," Naim told the newspaper. "It's one of our main selling points and it's something that sets us apart and really makes us stand out as a hotel representing such a colossal entertainment brand Paramount Studios."
All of the scenes were shot at the cinematic Paramount Hotel Dubai because the staff wanted to use the space and give storytellers a chance to showcase their films and narratives.
Thanks to its global appeal, Paramount's "We Create Drama" has been a smashing success. The goal, according to Naim, is to turn it into a center for creativity: "Our brand promise here is 'For the creative, by the creative.'"
During the film festival, this place becomes a gathering place for artists, authors, and performers, so I think we truly deliver on that promise. They come here to plan their scenes, and it begins to feel like we're a Paramount Studios backlot rather than just a Paramount Hotel.
In late May, the Paramount Hotel Dubai's screening room will host the festival's grand finale, where an impressive preview will be presented. Awards such as "Film of the Year" and other prestigious accolades will be presented to exceptional contributions. Other notable honors include Director of the Year, Actor of the Year, Actress of the Year, DOP of the Year, and Writer of the Year. In addition to the thrilling prizes, winners will have the chance to enjoy exclusive hotel experiences, such as gourmet dining at the hotel's exquisite F&B outlets or a luxurious staycation at the Paramount Hotel Dubai, and state-of-the-art Nikon equipment to help them improve their filmmaking skills.
This year, Naim is in charge of ensuring that the filmmakers have all the necessary resources at the festival. "My job is to make sure that the locations are available within the premises, because, of course, we have a film festival going on, but at the same time, it is a fully active 5-star hotel where guest experience comes first," according to him. "We need to make sure that the guest experience is not jeopardised by anything that we do with the festival."
This year's panel features a talented group of judges, including two from the Golden Globes, according to Naim, who has served as a judge in prior editions. "The same people that select the Golden Globe film nominees are selecting our scripts," said the director.
My heart belongs to acting.
Naim, who was born and raised in both Dubai and the United States, is not only a creative producer and judge, but also a director and actor. I was always the one who would put on plays and performances for my friends and family, or gather all my cousins and make a short film," he says, revealing that he has been an actor his whole life. Therefore, acting and filmmaking have always run through my veins.
However, Naim's parents were hoteliers, so he was born into a family that worked in the hospitality sector. "So by default, I joined the hospitality industry when I graduated high school," according to him, "though I wasn't very enthusiastic about it after doing a semester because everything that they were teaching me, I felt like I already knew as I grew up in a similar environment."
Thus, Naim followed his heart and enrolled in a New York film school, where he majored in both cinema and theater. After finishing college, he naturally found himself working in the hospitality industry, developing content and marketing strategies for hotels. "That's how I ended up here, because when a hotel representing a production company was looking for a creative director, it was like a pot finding its lid."
Still, Naim isn't giving up on his acting career.
Maintaining its core value of entertaining and escaping with guests is paramount to Paramount Hotel Dubai. That being said, the hotel's eateries frequently host immersive experiences. The performances feature a large cast of actors and singers, Naim included. "I write myself into these shows because I am a storyteller by nature and a trained actor," said the actor. I was actually asked by my actor to be a part of these stories from the start. "Why don't you just put yourself in this show and play the part?" an actor asked as I was outlining the show's improvised nature as director of one of the original Murder Mystery series.
As a method actor, Naim finds that performing is like returning home. "When I am in character, I come into work that day in character," he pointed out. Being a method actor means I fully immerse myself in my role for the day. I constantly remind my co-stars to do the same, because if we want an immersive experience, breaking character would ruin it. We aim for you to truly immerse yourself in this alternate Paramount universe. Therefore, performing is something that I value greatly.
In regards to Dubai's theater scene, "It is a tight community of theatre actors here," remarks Naim. "The Musical Theatre DXV group puts on a lot of independent theatre shows here."
Conversely, live dinner show concepts have experienced phenomenal growth in the city. As they chow down on delicious food and drink, people love to watch entertaining shows. "People are starting to appreciate immersive experiences a lot more because of this sudden emergence of AI," he added. As a result of what I would term an AI assault, the creative industry is currently in a precarious position. Things that used to take months to make are now possible to make in an instant thanks to AI. Thus, live performances, interactive experiences, and one-on-one conversations are now greatly valued by audiences. When it comes to immersive experiences, Dubai is booming.
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