Pari Gasimzade
Pari Gasimzade was born in Baku. She is a philologist. She is the author of children stories. Her stories are published in the Azerbaijani press.
What topic do you discuss in your script? And why?
The relationship between people and animals have always been one of the concerns of environmentalists and as such become a philosophical ground for environmental ethics. My script claims to offer this perspective in light of pandemic whereas humans being more concerned of their own survival seem to be less caring about other species. The plot in my script discusses how a lost cat’s fate in pandemic is associated with the idea that love, mercy, grace, compassion towards animals cannot be considered as not being part of tools for human survival even in pandemic.
How do people feel after reading your script?
First, I offered my loved ones to read it as their feedback I thought would be very important for me to assume how the script conveyed the message I have thought to send to my other potential readers. It seemed to them very interesting that a cat challenged by a situation when it was lost and left to the mercy of its destiny could initially get an assistance not from people but animal community. In their opinion, this serves a good lesson for humans to learn from animals. Moreover, what they stressed was that unlike much spread narratives about how humans hit by pandemic struggle for survival, the plot focuses more on animal struggle for survival than that of people.
Do you think that films can change people for the better or for the worse?
Yes, I do. My overall assumption at this point is that writers should fashion their pieces in optimist notes as to tune audience to believe that goodness always wins.
According to 3-act dramaturgy, how would you define your story?
This script is meant to be sort of fairy tale for kids. Its dramaturgy is the following:
1. Announcement on a street wall: “The blind cat is lost…”
2. In a pandemic, everyone is kept indoors and is not allowed outside.
3. A different cat finds the missing cat, makes friends with it, and with a human's assistance, manages to rescue it.
How does the main character develop?
The main character, a little cat, gets lost in a completely unknown place. He encounters another cat who treats him with cruelty. Fortunately, he finds one among cat community who offers him friendship and guardianship. The little cat develops confidence in himself and others.
Why do you think your script should attract director?
I believe its subject is unusual and may help kids to develop compassion in their character traits and feel like animals and humans are all members of one community.
At which festivals did you receive the award?
KOSICE International Film Festival is the second festival where I presented my script. The first one that granted me to become a finalist was ANIMAFILM international festival held in Azerbaijan.
Which screenwriters are your favorite and why?
I admire Masud Panahi, Nazrin Agamaliyeva, Gulshen Tofiqqızı, Michaël Dudok de Wit etc’s works because of their thought-provoking ideas and creative imagination.
About which topics are your screenplays?
My scripts are mostly aiming at describing how children, and the flora and fauna act in harmony and as one community.
What motivates you the most to write screenplays?
I have three grandchildren and could observe how they friendly react to whatever species they come across, which actually was what made me hark back to my own childhood and ponder over creative possibility to write fictional narratives with mixed characters of children and environmental entities. Moreover, I have always felt that all the virtues encoded in child’s nature deserve to be disclosed in fictions as well.
What are your plans in future careers?
I plan to publish my scripts and wish that they be used for making cartoons.