By Peter Townson/Staff Reporter
Movie lovers will not have to wait long before taking part in their own Hollywood stories according to a local expert, who said that cinema-goers will soon be able to take on villains, rescue damsels in distress or even play the bad guy in interactive film experiences.Muqeem Khan, who currently works at Northwestern University, is an expert in animation and has worked on films such as Armageddon, Flubber, George of the Jungle and Final Fantasy the Spirits Within, among many others.Khan gave a presentation at the first edition of Platform Doha this week, in which he outlined some of the processes behind creating the first fully digitally animated movie, Final Fantasy, and some of the associated challenges.Gulf Times spoke to Khan at the event, where he expressed his excitement at the future of technology and highlighted the importance of the younger generation in developing new content and forming the next wave of ideas to revolutionise the world.“The minds which shape the way the world moves are getting younger all the times,” he said, “and I truly believe that the next wave of change will come from people younger than us.”“I also expect many new ideas to come from this part of the world as they can look at things with a fresh perspective,” he added.Khan said that he had been delighted to find such an interest in gaming and animation in Qatar, and said that he was particularly pleased to find that local women seem especially talented in this area. He suggested that their creativity offers them a level of exposure and attention that they may not otherwise receive, and he said he is looking forward to seeing this creativity develop in the gaming industry in the future.As technology changes on an almost daily basis, Khan argued that every designer has a responsibility to keep updated with the latest innovations. And while that makes certain aspects of distinguishing oneself difficult, the designer suggested that it is content which sets apart the best from the rest.Content, and passion, and he argued that for anybody lacking the necessary commitment and passion for computer graphics should be looking for another field of work.Khan is obviously passionate about his work, and he has achieved much throughout his career. From his experience he believes that although talent and technology are essential for success in the field of computer graphics and animation, they are not sufficient. The extra essential ingredients are tolerance and teamwork, and having been a member of many large teams, Khan understands the challenges associated with the ‘too many cooks’ proverb and highlighted the importance of communication at all times.Despite his numerous achievements, Khan continues to look forward, and is extremely excited about what the future will bring to this field.Interactive movies are a prospect which could be realised soon, offering viewers the chance to participate in what they watch on the big screen and effect the outcome of the story as it unfolds.Indeed, gaming has already become very close to interactive film, with gamers often playing roles in their own narrative throughout the course of a game.He suggested that computers will be obsolete in the not too distant future, and said that the most advanced technological developments taking place at the moment will become almost run-of-the-mill in 18 months.Khan said that he hopes to see more content being developed here and in the rest of the region, arguing that it is an effective way of promoting cultural understanding and preserving heritage among a younger generation.Having seen what this designer has achieved and understanding the technology behind his line of work, his excitement and enthusiasm is entirely understandable.