The nine-to-five lifestyle has been slowly diminishing in the last several years worldwide, with “hustle” culture finding its way to the forefront and books like “The Four Hour Workweek” trending. Many college graduates find themselves trying to escape corporate culture and an office job, fleeing to a “freelance life” that offers them attractive work hours and personal freedom. Egyptian Streets spoke to several current freelancers in all different fields for this series about freelancing to gather an understanding of the current Egyptian freelance market. The pay rates in each market differ greatly, and it is easy to be manipulated as a beginner or to be treated like an intern, or even be offered pay “in exposure”; a concept offering freelancers no pay and rather compensation in the exposure their work will get. These freelancers share their insight in the first article in the series focusing on videography and filmmaking. Nada Mawsouf is a freelance director, filmmaker and film producer, and has previously worked on projects including the Cairo International Film Festival. Mawsouf is not one to immediately praise the “freelance life”. She immediately acknowledges its difficulties and instability. However, with…
