hollywood

Muslim Cinematic Movements: Transforming Obstacles into Opportunities

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film
hollywood
media
muslim
On February 1, 2022 By MPAC
This conversation at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival was presented by the Muslim Public Affairs Council's Hollywood Bureau and the Islamic Scholarship Fund (ISF) for the second annual Muslim House. The panel brought together invited participants from Islamic Scholarship Fund (ISF) and MPAC - Hakeem Khaaliq, Iman Zawahry, Sami Khan, Muna Deria, Queen Muhammad Ali, and Tarek Albaba. Together these filmmakers discussed their film journey from start to finish, including how they got their projects financed while navigating the inherent barriers that all unrepresented creatives face. Also discussed was how both organizations work to build creative pipelines in order to reframe the narrative and transform the industry. Moderated by Sireen Sawaf with opening remarks by Sue Obeidi, Director of MPAC's Hollywood Bureau. ---------- Subscribe to MPAC's channel: http://bit.ly/MPACYouTube Like MPAC on Facebook: http://fb.com/mpacnational Follow MPAC on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mpac_national Follow MPAC on Instagram: http://instagram.com/mpac_national Visit MPAC's website: http://mpac.org About the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) We improve public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media, and communities. Help us to continue this work by making a donation today: http://mpac.org/give.
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Intersectional Solidarity in Animation: Telling BIPOC Stories Together

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film
hollywood
media
muslim
On January 28, 2022 By MPAC
BIPOC creators joined MPAC's Hollywood Bureau at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival for a conversation exploring how we harness intersectionality and use it as a superpower. This panel featured Taylor K. Shaw (Founder & CEO, BWA Studios), Priya Desai (BWA Executive Producer & Independent Creator), Fatimah Abdullah (Executive Producer), and Moderator Rukayat Giwa (Creative Artists Agency). The conversation explored how we harness intersectionality, using it as a superpower to unite us around bolder and culture-shifting storytelling. Opening remarks by Sue Obeidi, Director of MPAC's Hollywood Bureau. ---------- Subscribe to MPAC's channel: http://bit.ly/MPACYouTube Like MPAC on Facebook: http://fb.com/mpacnational Follow MPAC on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mpac_national Follow MPAC on Instagram: http://instagram.com/mpac_national Visit MPAC's website: http://mpac.org About the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) We improve public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media, and communities. Help us to continue this work by making a donation today: http://mpac.org/give.
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Q&A session: Black Muslim Narratives in Entertainment | MPAC Hollywood Bureau

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african american muslims
black muslims
black narratives
black voices
challenges
directors
entertainment
filmmakers
hollywood
movies
muslim culture
muslim love
narratives
Q & A
questions
questions and answers
storytelling
writers
On September 18, 2019 By MPAC
The MPAC Hollywood Bureau partnered with the Writers Guild Foundation and MuslimARC for a discussion that challenges the damaging tropes seen on screen by highlighting more authentic depictions of Black Muslim identities created by talented Black Muslim screenwriters. Watch the full panel: https://youtu.be/17IW-33g1-o SKIP AHEAD IN THIS VIDEO 0:10 -- How do you address when you get blowback about sharia law and other questions that don’t even relate to the story you are trying to tell? 2:26 -- Black Muslim love is not translated onto the small screen which will not end up making it to the big screen. Is there anything in the pipeline with a story about black Muslim love? 8:08 -- How do you raise funds for your work? 10:48 -- What are the challenges that you face dealing with the white executives that don’t understand the nuances of black Muslim culture as you create content? 13:57 -- Have you felt like the community criticizes your work? How are you dealing with the support or criticism of the community when trying to create authentic stories? 19:52 -- What are your takeaways from this conversation? Are you working on any projects that we can support? ---------- Subscribe to MPAC's YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/MPACYouTube Like MPAC on Facebook: http://fb.com/mpacnational Follow MPAC on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mpac_national Follow MPAC on Instagram: http://instagram.com/mpac_national Visit MPAC's website: http://mpac.org About the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) We improve public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media, and communities. Help us to continue this work by making a donation today: http://mpac.org/give
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Black Muslim Narratives in Entertainment | MPAC Hollywood Bureau

Videos
african american muslims
black muslims
black narratives
black voices
directors
entertainment
filmmakers
hollywood
movies
narratives
storytelling
writers
On September 18, 2019 By MPAC
The MPAC Hollywood Bureau partnered with the Writers Guild Foundation and MuslimARC for a discussion that challenges the damaging tropes seen on screen by highlighting more authentic depictions of Black Muslim identities created by talented Black Muslim screenwriters. Watch the Q&A after this panel: https://youtu.be/Tg1vfvnMjPQ SKIP AHEAD IN THIS VIDEO 0:00 -- Sue Obeidi introduction 3:44 -- How did you you enter entertainment and what have you done to lift up the black Muslim narrative? 23:26 -- Why are stories that don’t represent the demographics of Africa and African Muslims shared in the industry? Why is it that there is a challenge in the industry of telling Black Muslims' stories that represent the diversity of Black Muslim cultures? 34:53 -- Certain black Muslims in the industry are celebrated due to name recognition. How were you received in the Muslim community without having the name recognition? Are you being celebrated? What are the challenges? 39:01 -- For those who are interested in writing and want to write diverse characters, what are some of the challenges for both non-black Muslims and also non-Muslim African-Americans in developing authentic roles? 48:47 -- How can we help creatives and executives expand their concept of Muslim narratives in a way that expands the space for those narratives to breathe? 59:26 -- Can you speak on some emerging things that are happening in entertainment that are helping get Muslim narratives talked about? ----- Panelists: Aminah Bakeer Abdul-Jabaar - Writer and Director (Muslimah’s Guide to Marriage) Qasim Basir - Writer and Director (A Boy. A Girl. A Dream., Destined, Mooz-Lum) Nijla Mu’min - Writer and Director (Jinn, Dream, Deluge) Travina Springer - Actress & Comedienne (The Mule, Strange Angel, Comic View, Travel Ban) Moderated by Margari Hill, co-founder and Executive Director of MuslimARC. Opening remarks by Sue Obeidi, Director of MPAC’s Hollywood Bureau. ---------- Subscribe to MPAC's YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/MPACYouTube Like MPAC on Facebook: http://fb.com/mpacnational Follow MPAC on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mpac_national Follow MPAC on Instagram: http://instagram.com/mpac_national Visit MPAC's website: http://mpac.org About the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) We improve public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media, and communities. Help us to continue this work by making a donation today: http://mpac.org/give
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Creating Better, More Accurate Stories about Muslims and Islam

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abc
commercials
entertainment
film
fox
fx
greys anatomy
hollywood
media
mpac
mpac national
starz
tv
On May 24, 2019 By MPAC
Diversity and inclusion are growing within Hollywood and efforts to create better, more accurate stories are now coming from the entertainment industry itself. We’ve been asked to consult on a wide range of projects; from groundbreaking ones like Coca-Cola’s Superbowl commercial to controversial TV shows like FX’s Tyrant. But, our work is nowhere near done. Problematic and stereotypical portrayals of Muslims still exist. Law and Order: SVU, NCIS, and Homeland are just a few examples of shows where we can spread our influence and expertise.
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Justin Marks & Betty Gabriel accept for Counterpart | MPAC Media Awards

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#actor
#actress
#counterpart
#creator
#HollywoodBureau
#MPACMediaAwards
#MPACsHollywoodBureau
#TheBeverlyHilton
#writer
awards
hollywood
inclusion
islam
muslim
starz
On April 17, 2019 By MPAC
Created by Justin Marks, Starz’ series, Counterpart, transports viewers to a mysterious world hidden beneath the surface of everyday existence. Betty Gabriel’s character, Naya Temple, doesn’t conform to the usual media portrayals of Muslims. That is what made her character and this series so impactful. ---------- Watch all videos from the 2019 MPAC Media Awards playlist. http://bit.ly/2VVEE8Y Presented by the Muslim Public Affairs Council's (MPAC) Hollywood Bureau. Subscribe to MPAC's channel http://bit.ly/MPACYouTube Visit MPAC's Hollywood Bureau's website http://mpachollywoodbureau.org Like MPAC's Hollywood Bureau on Facebook http://fb.com/mpachollywoodbureau Follow MPAC on Twitter http://twitter.com/mpac_national Follow MPAC on Instagram http://instagram.com/mpac_national ---------- The MPAC Hollywood Bureau serves as a bridge between the Muslim community and the entertainment industry. Our goal is to increase the number of authentic stories of Muslims and Islam on film and TV by engaging the industry and developing relationships with studio executives, screenwriters, and filmmakers. We also work to nurture creative talent and connect American Muslims with industry professionals.
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Storytelling as a bold and courageous act of resistance | MPAC Media Awards

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#AmericanMuslims
#Conscience
#Courage
#Director
#HollywoodBureau
#LosAngeles
#MPACMediaAwards
#MPACsHollywoodBureau
#Producer
#Screenwriter
#Television
#TheBeverlyHilton
awards
entertainment
film
hollywood
inclusion
islam
mpac
muslims
On April 17, 2019 By MPAC
Nijla Mu’min, Writer/Director/Producer of the feature film Jinn, tells stories about herself and her community not from the outside in, but from the inside out. As a black Muslim filmmaker, she illustrates the impact of empowered authorship. ---------- Watch all videos from the 2019 MPAC Media Awards playlist. http://bit.ly/2VVEE8Y Presented by the Muslim Public Affairs Council's (MPAC) Hollywood Bureau. Subscribe to MPAC's channel http://bit.ly/MPACYouTube Visit MPAC's Hollywood Bureau's website http://mpachollywoodbureau.org Like MPAC's Hollywood Bureau on Facebook http://fb.com/mpachollywoodbureau Follow MPAC on Twitter http://twitter.com/mpac_national Follow MPAC on Instagram http://instagram.com/mpac_national ---------- The MPAC Hollywood Bureau serves as a bridge between the Muslim community and the entertainment industry. Our goal is to increase the number of authentic stories of Muslims and Islam on film and TV by engaging the industry and developing relationships with studio executives, screenwriters, and filmmakers. We also work to nurture creative talent and connect American Muslims with industry professionals.
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