Everybody, meet Aymen!
Good Chance Assistant Producer Mali Siloko has a conversation with our first Stage Door apprentice, Aymen Mahammednor.
Before we talk about Stage Door Programme, tell us a bit about you!
For me, the thing is, I don’t just do one thing – I like to do a lot of multiple things. When I do one thing, I get bored. Outside of college, I do boxing and work out, and work out in myself – self love is so important – and I make films and have lots of plans to make publications, a blog and films. I like to do films.
I like to tell stories. It doesn’t have to be non-fiction. I like telling stories – non-fiction and fiction. I had this talent from a young age. When I speak, all the stories just come. It’s finding how to tell them.
You worked on a film with CARAS?
I always wanted to make films and learn about film and how to become good in front of camera and all that. When CARAS told us about this opportunity that the Young Foundation were doing, a workshop for four days, it teaches you how to use the equipment and build your confidence, how to edit, how to direct, how to act, I was like YES I WANT THIS!!!
It was my responsibility to tell other people and bring them to the project, why it was a good opportunity. I have a lot of friends who go to CARAS with me. When you speak with your friends you’re more open and you know what your friends like. I told them about the project, they were like: I WANT THIS!!!
What is it like working with a group of friends from different backgrounds?
I don’t know why, is it something I grew up with?, but I find it very easy for me. From a very young age I grew up with people who speak different languages. People from different backgrounds. I always had it, I was used to it, I always work with people with different backgrounds. It always helps improve your knowledge of their country, what they think, learning new information and finding out about their culture.
And the boxing you do, is that a class or is it with friends as well?
The reason I started boxing: from a young age I used to do MMA – wrestling, yes: Mixed Martial Arts – I always loved to do this, I used to fight a lot. Fighting to learn, this was my goal. I used to fight a lot, and then I stopped, it’s not healthy, when I came here I had the opportunity to start boxing. CARAS helped us go to Academy to do the workshop. We were 10 people. I was the youth leader so I had to explain to the people what would be interesting. I fell in love with it again. It’s upper body, but I used to do the lower body, running outside, when I found this, this was the right thing for me.
When I feel angry, boxing is the thing. I had a bit mental health problem, boxing helped me a lot. It helped me in my mental health. I also started gym so I can distract myself from not thinking negative.
I think that’s why I like cycling – it’s something to focus on, to work towards.
Yes, boxing helped me a lot mentally and physically. It makes you quicker as well. You have to move in less than a second. Helps me improve my thinking quickly and mental health and working as a team. Two years ago I started boxing, I got my first certificate two years ago.
Do you want to be a professional boxer?
Yes! I want to be a professional boxer, actor and filmmaker! I don’t like to stay in one place. For some people it’s good, to focus, to not waste your energy, and I try this many times and it doesn’t work for me, I like to do multiple things and work in all of them.
Let’s move on to Stage Door and how it’s going. What have you been up to? How’s it going? Do you like it?
Do I like the placement? Of course! It’s a very good opportunity. I’m so happy I’m the first one here at Good Chance. I’m very grateful for the opportunity. Here I’m basically getting a lot of help from you guys. I always try and there’s a time, when I started, this is my first time in an office place, it’s a good opportunity to have in this age so I can learn and be ready for the next step. I had in the back of my mind – one day I want to make my own merchandise to sell.
So it’s giving you good experience?
Yes, good experience. People like you guys are so helpful. I can’t – there are no words to explain, it’s amazing. Different opportunities, different tasks which are amazing to do. I don’t know how to explain it. Everything’s positive, but I can’t put it in a word.
How was the new Good Chance project workshop you took part in? [Dear reader, this is a new exciting project and we’ve not announced it yet!]
The workshop was an amazing opportunity to be a part of, I met people from different places, lots of people, a big team. Good to see how everyone reacts. Her story will amaze everyone. When they go to different camp and in the UK it’s going to be – wow this is amazing! They will ask a lot of questions. If you go to different countries, like Greece, where there are camps, there will be lots of questions. In Greece and other places they will ask lots of questions and want to learn.
You’re working on a film project, tell us about that!
It was my idea, I wanted to do this kind of thing – filmmaking and being an actor of course, not just behind the camera! I want to do multiple tasks – it was great opportunity to speak to my friends and having all my best friends who are really talented but still had their cultural style: they don’t speak up, they don’t promote themselves, they don’t ask for help. I felt proud to be the one to ask them, “I’m doing this and I see in yourself this talent, by doing this and this it will help and improve your skills.” Yes, just working with friends, doing something we love. This is amazing for all of us.
The most important thing – Good Chance letting me and my friends do our work in the work experience week, that was amazing from you guys. That meant a lot. We worked a lot in making this script and storyboard and lots of the skills as well. It was a good time, everyone working together.
You’ve had conversations with a filmmaker, James Harris?
It was amazing, through you guys I’m getting lot of help and connections, that is very helpful. For example, meeting James who helped me a lot in the script and showing me a lot of things I don’t know, and of course the books.
You’re half way through your placement, sadly you’ll be finishing at the end of February. We’re going to say this to all our Stage Door placements, once you’re in Good Chance, you’re part of the family. Whatever happens, if there are any questions, projects, opportunities, there is always going to be a space for you.
Most of the thing I realise – it’s amazing, Good Chance, it’s like a family. It doesn’t matter if I finish from here, the help I receive from you guys was a lot and it was amazing, and the connections I will still have after I finish and I will still have the experience after I finish from here. It’s a good thing. I am very grateful to every individual in Good Chance, advising and helping and giving me a lot of opportunity and the budget to do the film, that was most helpful.
We are very pleased to hear that. As a last thing to cap it all off, where do you see yourself in five years? What are your big dreams?
I have the goals in my phone for the next five years.
[Aymen gets his phone out!]
I’ll give you a summary: Where do I see myself in five years?
I see myself in five years:
being very humble to myself,
being very supportive,
work more in my mental health,
to go to one of the best universities in the UK,
become a professional boxer.
Be my own boss. I will work for it!
And there is more – to start doing more acting, become a professional actor and director.
What do you want to study at university?
I’m doing IT this year, so I can improve my IT skills because where I come from – it’s bad – so I did IT to improve knowledge of cyber security, I want to study business next year at university. Hopefully international Arabic business at university.
Before you become the next boxing legend Anthony Joshua, can you give Good Chance a boxing lesson?
Yes of course, that would be an honour!
What would you say to the next Stage Door apprentice?
The doors are open – you choose which door you want to go into.
What an amazing interview. We love having Aymen with us and if you’re interested in applying for the next Good Chance Stage Door programme placement, find out more and apply soon!
The Stage Door Programme is possible thanks to the generous support of a private donor, the Nommontu Foundation and the John Thaw Foundation.
