Ahmed Wehbe, 32, is a public relations officer for West Coast Cleaning and Environmental Services in Abu Dhabi.
He has created dozens of 3D animated videos as a hobby. Here, Mr Wehbe, whose family is from Beirut, talks about his plan to make his passion his profession.
How did you get involved in 3D animation?
Since I was young, I always watched cartoons and thought, 'I want to make something like this, match the reality and the 3D objects so that viewers will not be able to make the difference between reality and animation.'
Where did you train?
I watched tutorials on websites and bought CDs and 3D applications. I have more than 1,500 CDs and DVDs and not less then 14 pieces of software. I watch around six tutorials a day. After watching these, I try to [replicate] them. I started thinking about [making animations] around 2000 and by 2004, I was working hard on these.
This must be an expensive hobby?
I have spent not less than Dh60,000 (US$16,334) on software.
Some of your animation videos are quite violent, such as a giant kicking around a stone like a football and crashing cars, and you getting hit by a bus. Why?
That is because if there is no action, you are not getting views on YouTube. People want to see something unusual, especially those who are playing games, like the 17 to 21-year-olds.
Why no storylines?
Any video with a storyline goes over 10 minutes and most people get bored and they don't watch.
Have you used animations for practical purposes?
I have made two animation videos on real estate this year. A friend wanted to view his villa from outside and inside before it was built. He gave me the floor plan and I drew the model of the villa. It took me three weeks to do this. And I got Dh10,000 for the minute-and-a-half video. I plan to officially use this skill in real estate and want to get an animator's licence. My father owns a real estate company called Dar Al Saad Property Management, which we started in 2006 and we manage a lot of buildings in Abu Dhabi and some in[Al Gharbia]. I will join the company next month.
Where do you want to take your skills?
My [aim] is to make the first 3D animation film in Arabic to be released in the cinemas. I have a screenplay of 90 minutes ready. It is a comedy. It would take around two years of work and cost around Dh800,000.
To view Mr Wehbe's work on YouTube, search p0is0n0fl0ve
SSahoo@thenational.ae