Tim reading the screenplay!

The Final Draft of the Arab in America feature screenplay is now, officially finished! It’s been a long time coming, and I can now say, without a doubt, that it’s perfect.

There’s many people to thank – and there’s no way I’m going to be able to remember them all right now, but if you’re out there – you know who you are. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

We’re now in talks with various parties and I can honestly say that for the first time in a while, things are looking very promising. I can’t go into details for the obvious reasons – but we might have an actual shot at getting this made.

Keep checking back for more updates as they become available! If you’re interested in taking a look at our AWESOME Pitch Packet or the AWESOME Feature Screenplay, don’t hesitate to shoot me an email. Onward!

-Nabil

Tim reading the packet!

This is Nabil.

Last week, my thirteen year-old sister’s Middle School received a bomb threat. Thankfully, it was just a prank. During my tenure at Loganville High School, we also received bomb threats.  However, my experiences and my sister’s experiences were totally different.  My school got threatened BEFORE 9/11/2001.  My sister’s school got threatened right after the Fort Hood Shootings.  Bomb threats are nothing new to public schools in America.  They’re very serious, but most of the time they’re just pranks to get out of taking tests or what-have-you.  And that’s exactly how I remember them: nonthreatening.  My sister, on the other hand, felt very different about them.

My thirteen-year-old sister was harassed and made-fun-of by many of the other students at her school.  Their first response to the bomb threat? It must have been my sister because she is Arab and Muslim.  A couple of students even approached her directly, calling her a “Muslim Terrorist” and a “Bitch”.  Okay, so maybe the second name is just something kids do – but the first one is very troubling. My sister came home that night, crying her eyes out, because the negative perceptions of Islam have gotten so mainstream and universally accepted that even school children are spreading them. I really wished my sister hadn’t experienced that ridicule, but it’s something that many American Muslims are experiencing.

Colin Ferri recently handed our feature screenplay to one of the head readers at Dreamworks Pictures (nice score, Colin!).  And out of the goodness of his heart, he read our screenplay and gave us his notes.  First thing’s first.  He thought the screenplay was, “a hoot”.  Awesome.  Having our screenplay come off as “funny” and “hilarious” was one of our main goals, and according to the reader, we succeeded. Yay!

The problem? The reader was very concerned that our screenplay wasn’t relevant anymore.  His argument: The United States of America has elected an African-American president with the name, Barack Hussein Obama.  Because the plot of Arab in America relies heavily on Osama changing his name to Samuel – the reader was wondering if having a name like Osama would still be a roadblock. He thought America was becoming more accepting of Arabs and Muslims and that our screenplay addresses a non-issue.

And then I got to thinking…  If things are getting better, then why is my sister being harassed by all the kids in her school when some punk calls in a bomb threat?  Why is my father still running a Middle Eastern Restaurant with his 22 years of Engineering experience?  And why in the hell am I seeing Time Magazine running a cover like this?

Reminds of A Teaser Trailer...

Back in 2006, Colin and I shot the first half of our short film, Arab in America.  There was a scene that was cut from the movie that we used for a Teaser Trailer.  Most of our friends and family who saw the Teaser Trailer, complained that it was too “outlandish and ridiculous” and “Time Magazine would never have a cover like that.”  I’ve included the Teaser Trailer below…

We think Arab in America is still relevant.  Arabs and Muslims are still having a hard time in this country and many are treated like second-class citizens.  And because some people might think that the topic is fading in the background and “getting better” that only emboldens us even more to get this thing made.

Keep checking back for some new updates, including – your very own copy of The Arab in America Pitch Packet! – AND – DVD News! – AND – Even More Arab News!

-Nabil

Anyway, we hope you like the site re-design!  Check back in an hour for an Arab in America Feature Film Status Update!

-Nabil

Perhaps this weekend would be a great time to check us out again…

-Nabil

PS- Updating the blog from my Blackberry Bold is absolutely awesome!

Covering Things Other Than The Swine Flu

Ivan Shammas (the actor who plays Sam in our short film), sent me an email last night informing us that Arab in America was mentioned on CNN.COM!!!!  This is definitely amazing news!  The article is about how the internet has opened up the door to focus on new Muslim voices…  I feel a little humbled that Arab in America was applicable.  Yay!  To check out the article, click Here.

Thanks Ivan for the heads up (oh, and congrats on the marriage, dude!)!  If anyone else sees Arab in America mentioned anywhere on the web, send me an email or comment on this site!

-Nabil

More Blogs

Kabobfest
ArabDetroit
Racialicious
Tab All
US4Arabs
Huasipungo
Taggnation

If anyone sees anymore out there, just comment on the post and let us know!

-Nabil

Thomas (Tommy-Tom) Verrette’s feature film, I Am The Bluebird, is premiering tonight in Atlanta, hosted by the Atlanta Film Festival!  If you guys don’t know who Tom is, he’s a co-writer of the Arab in America feature screenplay!  So if you’re in Atlanta or in St. Petersburg, FL – you can watch I Am The Bluebird!  Colin and I have been watching cuts of this film since 2007, and I can be completely honest with you when I say that it’s really fantastic.  Check out the Atlanta Film Festival & the Sunscreen Film Festival’s websites for ticketing info and directions.  Also, don’t forget to check out iamthebluebird.com!

I AM THE BLUEBIRD – ATLANTA FILM FESTIVAL
Friday, April 17th – 7:30pm
Tuesday, April 22nd – 1:00pm

I AM THE BLUEBIRD – SUNSCREEN FILM FESTIVAL
Thursday, April 30th – 9:00pm

-Nabil

(P.S. – Look for Colin Ferri & Nabil Abou-Harb in the “Special Thanks” section of the credits!)

So check out the links below!  Follow us on Twitter and fan us on Facebook!

We like to Tweet!

Your face is an open book.

PBA NPR

Earlier today, NPR Atlanta (PBA) broadcasted a news piece on our Link TV win intercut with soundbytes from Colin Ferri and myself!  To listen to it online, check out the PBA Website here!  Also, Colin Ferri got featured in his hometown newspaper, The Providence Journal!  We hope you enjoy reading/listening to them!  Thanks again to everyone who’s covered our film, as well as tons of thanks to Link TV, One Nation For All, and Fenton Communications – especially Yasmin Hamidi for all their work in getting this contest covered and featured!

-Nabil

Saphir News: Arab in America - Front Page, Baby

We’ve got some exciting news today!  Arab in America has now been featured on The Huffington Post, Saphir News, and The Athens Banner-Herald!  Not to mention countless and countless internet blogs!  So, for those of you who like to keep count, we’re going to link you to all the stories below!

PRESS

USA Today
The Huffington Post
NPR Atlanta-PBA
The Providence Journal
Saphir News (french translation)
Air America’s State of Belief
The Athens Banner-Herald

BLOGS

Beliefnet
Yahoo Movies News
Filmstew.com
Progressive Islam
Illume Magazine
Alt Muslim
One Nation For All
Minareti (french translation)
Faisal Kutty
Muxlim.com
Queer Isn’t It?
South Florida Drifters
Beauty and the East
Political Peon
Jannah.org
Arabesque (french translation)
Meefedia
Milk and Cookies
Muslim Women
Infocus News.net

And the most humbling thing out of all this coverage is Wake Forest University’s new course MLS 833, Re-imaging Islam in the West, where Arab in America will be discussed, critiqued, and debated alongside my hero’s essay/book/documentary: Jack Shaheen’s Reel Bad Arabs.  Check out the link below to go see more information on WFU’s new course.

Wake Forest University | Master of Arts in Liberal Studies

Also, NPR-Atlanta interviewed Colin Ferri and I last week, so expect that interview to be coming soon, too!  If there are other links that I’ve missed, please – let me know by sending me an email!  nabouharb(a)fiveonfifty.com.  Thanks a bunch and keep checking back for more info!

-Nabil

This is Colin.

“Tell me about that idea you had again.” I say to Nabil as we walk to the Motel.

“Well, it’s about an Arab-American guy who can’t get a job, and it’s about his struggle to make it.”

I was a little interested at this point, but still in a bad mood, owing to the fact that we were going to be stuck in Florida for the night. So, Nabil and I made it to the Motel. We checked into our tiny, smelly room with rock hard beds and fornication stained sheets. Glamorous to say the least. And that night we had the first creative meeting about the short “Arab in America.” I don’t know what exactly we spoke of, or what specific idea’s were thrown around that night… but one can surmise that a work of genius was being created in that stifling motel room.

The next morning came with the sounds of birds chirping, and rays of sunshine beaming down upon our heads. We checked out of the motel and headed over to the Shepboys to see how Nabil’s car had made out… And just when you think a day can’t get any better, we were in for a treat. We arrived to Nabil’s car in the parking lot, and see broken glass around the rear passenger side.

“What the fishsticks?!!” Nabil ejaculated. Except… he didn’t use the word “fishsticks” but you can use your imagination and fill in the expletive of your own choosing.

It’s moments like these when the comforting words of good friends can strike you to the core and move you. Words can make even the worst possible scenario seem trival and insignificant. So I chose my words to comfort Nabil very carefully.

“That sucks, dude.”

With the car fixed and the window broken, we headed back to Savannah – With no radio – Which, when you’re driving with Nabil and he is in charge of choosing the musical selection… having no radio really isn’t such a bad thing. So again, we had time to let the creative juices flow during the music-less two hour car ride. Again, who knows what was said or who came up with what idea. The point is, by the time we reached Savannah we had a story! And as we got home to our apartment we knew that this idea was a winner! We decided we must get to work on writing the script as soon as humanly possible!!

So after a nap, and leisurely dinner we did what we set out to do! Write the script!! We wrote for days… sleeping only when our bodies would shut down and we fell to the floor… we ate only when necessary, and bathed regularly… because like it says in the Qur’an… “Cleanliness is next to Godliness”… maybe not the Qur’an… but something, somewhere says it… I’m sure of it.  Anyway… we had a first draft! And it was good! I brought the funny! and Nabil brought the… the arab stuff??… no… Nabil brought something! And what he brought was good!

So now that we had a script. All we had to do was get it made…. hmmm. That should be easy right??

Watch The Short Here!

I really want to thank the folks at State of Belief for sitting down and taking the time to discuss Arab in America with me.  It was much appreciated.  If you still haven’t seen the short film yet, you can watch the film on Youtube by Clicking Here.

And perhaps between now and my next radio interview, I’ll learn how to keep my “Ums” and “You Knows” to a minumum!

Thanks for listening!  If you missed the interview, State of Belief and Air America put all their shows online via podcast.  I’ll link to the show from here when they go up.  Thanks again!

And always, if you’re interested in helping the feature film, based on Arab in America, come to fruition, please contact me at nabouharb@fiveonfifty.com.  We have a really great feature screenplay and a comprehensive investor memorandum that goes in to further detail.

-Nabil

State of Belief: Religion and Radio Done Differently.

Air America’s weekend religion program, State of Belief, was kind enough to interview me, yesterday.  I discussed our Link TV One Nation win along with our plans to expand Arab in America into a feature film.  I want to encourage all of you guys out there to tune in (or steam) to Air America this Saturday, March 28th, at 10:00 AM Eastern -OR- Sunday, March 29th, at 7:00 PM Eastern to listen to the interview!  Tell your friends!

-Nabil

Arab in America: Featured

Well, it’s official.  The folks at LinkTV, One Nation, and Fenton Communications are PR wizards.  First, an awesome press release (located after the jump), then a writeup in USA Today, and now…  A FEATURED YOUTUBE VIDEO!  BAM! I mean, how can this be topped?!?  I have no idea – but I hope they can surprise us some more!

Please, please, please, please, please…  Watch our movie on Youtube! Vote for it!  Comment on it!  Not many people get the chance of having their film featured on Youtube, and what better way is there to gain exposure?  I hate always asking our internet minions to do our bidding – but one more time, I’m asking you guys again.  We need your help!

Link TV

We’ve been with this project for two long years – we’ve experienced the good (winning the LinkTV Contest/Audience Award at Filmfest DC/Cannes) and the bad (financing falling through/financing falling through/financing falling through)…  If we’re going to make this feature film happen – we need to jump on it now, while it’s still hot.  Hopefully there will be a lot more press on this in coming weeks (keep checking daily for more info on that front) – so if we can blow this thing up, if we can get the word out that we’re trying to make this into a feature, and if we can get people excited about this project again – I think this pretty much our last chance at making this thing happen.

I’d like to thank you all for diligently following us this far.  I know it’s annoying, aggravating, and arduous – but we’re getting so close that I can almost taste it…

<BAD EPIC CALL TO ARMS>This film is for Arabs!  This film is for Muslims!  This film is for anyone that’s treated differently!  This film is for you!  Lets get the word out!  Lets vote on Youtube!  Lets send the press release to all your favorite newspapers and blogs!  Lets do this for Uncle Sam!</BAD EPIC CALL TO ARMS>

Thank you!

-Nabil

________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ON

March 17, 2009

Media contact:

Yasmin Hamidi, 212-584-5000 x 227, yhamidi@fenton.com

Winners of “One Nation, Many Voices” Online Film Contest Offer
Insights into Lives of American Muslims

SAN FRANCISCO — One Nation, a philanthropic collaborative aimed at challenging stereotypes of American Muslims, and Link TV, the first national television channel dedicated to providing global perspectives, announced today the five winners of the “One Nation, Many Voices” online film contest; the contest is aimed at promoting tolerance, understanding, and respect for religious freedom among all Americans.

“Since its inception in 2007, the ‘One Nation, Many Voices’ film contest continues to grow as a safe space where Americans can explore what it means to be Muslim today,” said Link TV President Kim Spencer. “What’s more, the high volume of submissions by Muslim filmmakers provides us with unique insights into the way U.S. Muslims perceive themselves.”

The five winning films, each running five minutes or less and available online, are a mix of fictional and true stories and explore: job discrimination, religious conversion, Islam’s take on the environment, finding allies in unlikely places and the impact of a small town Muslim high school teacher on his non-Muslim students.

The grand prize winning-film, “Arab in America,” parodies the real-life experiences of filmmaker and Georgia native Nabil Abou-Harb, whose name has posed challenges for him when seeking jobs.

“When I thought of this idea in 2006 my intention was to put the audience in the shoes of this Muslim guy who just wants to find a decent job but his name keeps getting in the way,” said Abou-Harb. “Now, with the millions of Americans out of work, it’s a situation that many can relate to, but for different reasons. My hope was to tell a serious story in a funny way, so that people could laugh and maybe even say, ‘man, that’s happened to me before’.”

Voters in the U.S. cast thousands of online ballots on the contest’s site (www.linktv.org/onenation) to choose the 29 finalists from among over 150 entries and then a panel of distinguished judges narrowed the pool down to five winners. The judges are Grammy-winning songwriter Kenneth Gamble, country singer Kareem Salama, comedian Preacher Moss, Muslim Girl Magazine editor-in-chief Ausma Khan, writer and former Jesuit seminarian Chris Lowney, and the grand prize winner of last year’s film contest, Lena Khan.

Abou-Harb will receive a $25,000 cash prize and a broadcast debut on Link TV. The winner in each of the other four categories will receive $5,000 and a FLIP camera. Last year’s grand-prize-winning music video by Lena Khan, “A Land Called Paradise,” has been licensed by the State Department for use on its America.gov Web site and for presentation to 30 foreign embassies. It has since become an Internet sensation, noted on Jordanian Queen Rania’s Web site as a “Favorite” and receiving hundreds of thousands of hits on YouTube and various blogs.

The winners’ entries are viewable online at http://www.linktv.org/onenation. The full list of winners follows:

1.  “Arab in America” by Nabil Abou-Harb in Athens, Georgia

Grand Prize Winner – $20,000 Cash Award

The American Muslim Life Category Winner – $5,000 Cash Award

“Arab in America” humorously chronicles the journey of an American-born character named, “Osama Ahmed Abou-Bakr” and his plight to find a job in America’s post-9/11 atmosphere. The story highlights the hardships of Arabs and Muslims living in the United States of America. The character, “Osama,” a recent college graduate, cannot get anyone to hire him so he resorts to a drastic measure: changing his name from “Osama Ahmed Abou-Bakr” to the more appealing “Samuel Adam Baker.” Instantly, he’s offered a high-paying job. However, concealing his true identity turns into a daunting task that unfortunately “Sam” cannot keep up; he eventually comes clean. The script is loosely based on real-life events that continue to plague Nabil and his family members. Watch it here: http://www.linktv.org/onenation/films/view/419.

2.  “The Colors of Veil” by Jehan S. Harney in Alexandria, VA

American Muslim Women – $5,000 Cash Award

“The Colors of Veil” tells the true story of Kimberly King, a former US soldier who ultimately found her identity by converting to Islam and choosing to wear a headscarf. She has since become an interfaith leader working in partnership with her husband, a well-known imam in Maryland.

Watch it here: http://www.linktv.org/onenation/films/view/414.

3.  “Ladylike” by Safiya Songhai in New York, NY

Two Faiths, One Film – $5,000 Cash Award

“Ladylike” shows what happens when a scantily clad Brooklynite encounters her (much) more modest Muslim neighbor. Sometimes it is the person you least expect who will give you the shirt off of their back. Watch it here: http://www.linktv.org/onenation/films/view/434.

4.  “The Teacher” by Scott P. Harris in Flower Mound, TX

60-Second Spot Category Winner – $5,000 Cash Award

“The Teacher” is a brief documentary profile of a dynamic high school physics teacher who provides his small-town students with a different view of Muslims. Watch it here: http://www.linktv.org/onenation/films/view/444.

5.  “Green Blue Sea” by Rolla Selbak in San Francisco, CA

Youth Story – $5,000 Cash Award

“Green Blue Sea” is an inspirational profile of a young Muslim Scuba diver whose faith gives him a deep reverence for the sea and the natural world around him.

Watch it here: http://www.linktv.org/onenation/films/view/384.

# # #

About One Nation: One Nation is a philanthropic collaborative that invests in ideas, people and organizations working to fulfill America’s promise of liberty and justice for all. One Nation works to foster a national conversation about the common values we share as Americans, regardless of how we choose to express our spirituality. The initiative has sponsored projects such as this film contest that challenge stereotypes and misperceptions of Muslims and Islam by shining a spotlight on our shared values, beliefs and responsibilities. For more information, visit: www.onenationforall.org.

About Link TV: Link TV is a non-commercial network devoted to global issues, available in more than 30 million U.S. homes receiving DIRECTV and DISH Network, and on select urban cable and university campus channels. Link connects Americans with the world by engaging, informing, and motivating people to become involved. Visit www.linktv.org.

USA Today

WE DID IT!!!  Arab In America is now OFFICIALLY the Grand Prize Winner of the 2008 Link TV One Nation Many Voices Film Competition!!!!  YAY!!!  And if that wasn’t amazing in itself, USA Today has written a story covering the event which will run in tomorrow’s newspaper and online!!!  You can check out the article by clicking this link!  All of this is really overwhelming and there’s many, many people to thank – so I’ll try to do the best I can.

First and foremost, I’d like to thank all of you for believing in the project and voting for it!  Without your constant interest, friendship, support, and encouragement – we wouldn’t be here today…

Secondly, I’d like to thank my AMAZING cast & crew for putting together one hell of a film.  You guys put in a lot of hard hours to see this project get to where it is, and I’m eternally grateful.

VICTORY!!!!!

Thirdly, I’d like to thank my buddys – Colin Ferri, Tim Bryan, Thomas Verrette, and Michael Brubaker…  Without you all, this project would be lost.

Fourthly, I’d like to thank my family…  They really are the rock of my existence and my work.  That goes double for you, Sam.

Fifthly (what a weird word), I’d like to thank Nic Applegate for believing in us when no one else did.  We’re gonna go all the way this time!

Keep checking back for more info and press!  As soon as we get it, we’re gonna post it!  Thanks again everybody!!!

-Nabil

PS – (If you have lots of money and you want to make a feature film based on our multi-award winning short film, Arab in America, please give me an email at nabouharb@fiveonfifty.com as soon as you can!) 

Oh – and if you still haven’t seen the short yet, you can click this link and watch it at Link TV.org!

Muxlim.com - They Know Good Work

Yay!

For those of you who don’t know, Muxlim.com is an internet Muslim lifestyle community that tries to bring Muslims from all around the world together in a positive setting promoting Muslim values… The web network, much like a Facebook/Myspace media sharing hub for Muslims, has become one of the fastest social networks on the internet. If you haven’t checked it out yet, I highly recommend that you do! And while you’re there, leave a comment on the Arab in America Trailer!

-Nabil

Among the films in competition, Arab In America tells the story of Osama Ahmed Abou-Bakr who became Samuel Adams Baker, vegetarian and former alcoholic to work up to their skills and integrate into American society.

It’s just a little tid-bit, but every little thing helps!  To read the entire article (Google Translated From French) click the link below.

http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=hp&hl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saphirnews.com%2FL-islam-et-les-musulmans-americains-en-video-sur-le-web-_a9792.html&sl=fr&tl=en

-Nabil

Y'all Rawk!

I just wanted to thank everyone for voting in the Link TV One Nation Many Voices Film Competition!  We have OFFICIALLY made it as a finalist!  Thanks to your hard work, we’ll be judged against 24 the other top films for the top spot!

We wouldn’t have made it this far without all your hard voting work and I just wanted to let you guys know that we’re indebted to you all!  If you need anything – let us know.

(Colin is good at doing dishes, Tim is good at changing tires, Tom likes to vaccum, and Mike is good at looking important!)

Look out in March when they declare the winners!  Hopefully Arab in America will be on television!  Yay!

-Nabil

We Can Do It!!!

I know you guys are really sick of all my posts about this Film Contest, but something’s happening…  I don’t know if it was my last post, or if it was the amazing prowess of one of our dedicated fans, but Arab in America is now 3 places away from making it into the FINALS!!!  I don’t know how we jumped 20 films in less than a day, but it happened, and it’s AMAZING!!!

We are so close to making Arab in America a finalist in the One Nation Many Voices Film Competition!  So, please, if you haven’t voted yet, please go to http://www.linktv.org/onenation/films/view/419 and sign up to Link TV and VOTE 5 Stars!!!!

If you’d like to leave a comment, that’d be fantastic too!  I want to thank everyone who’s voted and commented so far!!!  And if you’ve already voted, you can sign up and vote again with another email address I guess (wink, wink) -OR- you can email the link to a bunch of friends and get them to do it…  We’re SOOO Close!!!  We can do it!

-Nabil

This Far, and No Further!

“The Line Must Be Drawn….  HERE!”

Everyone!  Please take the time to go to http://www.linktv.org/onenation/films/view/419, register, vote 5 stars, and comment on our film!  People of the Internet…  “You’re my only hope!”