Decolonizing Cinema: Unapologetic Filmmaker Takes On Hollywood

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Hey, wonderful super Humanizer friends.
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This is Dr. Hani Chaabo.
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Before we dive into this awesome episode, I wanted to take a moment and be real with you.
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So much work goes into bringing you these conversations, the research, the preparation, the production.
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Thank you.
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Now let's get into it.
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Welcome to Super Humanizer Podcast, where we promote empathy and understanding in polarizing viewpoints through stories told by people living them.
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Hello everyone.
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I have Rolla Selbak here with me today on Super Humanizer.
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She is a multi-award winning Palestinian American filmmaker who's also queer and Muslim.
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Her films have been critically acclaimed for shedding light on experiences of immigrant Arabs and their marginalized communities and challenge stereotypes related to sexual and gender identity.
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Her stories also tackle mental health and the Israeli Palestinian conflict.
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She's a Sundance Alumna 2022 winner of the prestigious Blacklist Muslim list, and is currently working on developing television series for Sony Pictures and Disney's freeform.
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I found Rolla on Instagram when she was calling on all storytellers and filmmakers to channel their art into humanizing Palestinians and telling their truth.
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Rolla's work goes far beyond entertainment.
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She's the founder of the Sena Filmmaker Project, which provides free mentorship to Palestinian filmmakers around the world.
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And right now she's working on The Visitor, a Palestinian folk horror film that's being produced by Watermelon Pictures, A project that's breaking new ground by bringing Palestinian folk core to the horror genre.
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What's remarkable about Rolla is how she's used her platform, not just to tell her own story, but to amplify Palestinian voices at a time when that comes with real professional risks.
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Since October 7th, she's become one of the most prominent Palestinian voices in Hollywood, appearing on podcasts and using social media to educate people about Palestinian history and the ongoing struggle for justice.
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She's unapologetic and remarkably gifted.
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A true super humanizer empowering Arabs, minorities, and women.
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Rolla, thank you so much.
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It's truly an honor to spend precious time with you today.
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No, thank you.
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Thank you for this, and thank you for such a beautiful uplifting and hopeful platform.
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I'm happy to be here,
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Habibti.
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Thank you so much.
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So before we begin and get to know all your awesomeness, I'm gonna play a game with you called, what Brings you Joy that I play with all my guests.
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Are you okay with that?
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Yeah, let's do it.
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Rolla habibti what brings you joy?
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Uh shoof a'oullak(look ill tell you), it's hard.
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I want to acknowledge off the bat that it's hard to feel joy when your people, cannot feel joy when your people are not joyful.
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But, there are things that, do bring me hope, and hope is, adjacent to joy.
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So, I think what brings me hope and joy,
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um,
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is
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I love that,
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thank you, habibi.
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What brings me hope and joy is the beautiful global, movement and community that we have, found ourselves in.
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it's something that you only kind of, dream about in a way, that we all collectively come together, not just for Falasteen, but for oppression, and marginalized people around the world.
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and it's really brought people from all walks of life, no matter what land language you speak, no matter where you're from, no matter who you are.
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And, and that brings me a lot of hope, which in turn brings me joy.
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Beautiful.
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So beautiful.
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Thank you.
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What brings you joy?
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Music, uplifts me, which brings me joy.
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Mm-hmm.
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with music, you even see like in Gaza, and in Falasteen itself, it's a way, to really, spark your inner hope, which again brings joy.
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I really have been leaning into music a lot.
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even when I do, like my Instagram lives, I always have music in the background because I feel, again, it, it's a way that we collectively experience and something we can collectively share.
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Again, no matter what language, no matter who you are, where you're from.
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So I think music also brings me hope and joy.
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Beautiful.
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And I did see you're a wonderful, accomplished piano player.
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How'd you find that?
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I told you I went into the Rolla vortex.
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A'am betbahbish(you went digging).
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Okay.
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I did.
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I went into the of Vortex and it was wonderful.
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Thank you, my dear.
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One last one.
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What brings you joy?
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I'll do something simple.
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What brings me joy is really the simple things that, Are people and Gaza and a lot of places around the world, don't get to experience, which is, just taking a breath without pain.
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physical pain, drinking water, having a meal when you feel like having a meal, drinking shea when you're feeling a little chilly now in the winter.
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Those are things that, it's not necessarily that they make me feel joyful.
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But it's that I always feel with our friends and family who cannot have that at the moment.
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And I always, hope, I hope that, changes, in the future and hope that we are part of that change
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thank you so much.
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I really enjoyed listening to those joys, and I've learned more about your heart.
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would you mind doing that for me?
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Let's do it.
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I love it.
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So Hani afandi (sir), what brings you Joy
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being here with you, my dear.
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It's bringing me a lot of joy.
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I was so happy to connect with you.
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Like you said, like us coming together and all of this has been truly a miracle and a blessing.
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And when I found you and started learning more about you, I was, I thought, wow, an Arab that is really out.
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Spoken and sharing all these stories that need to be talked about in the Arab world, especially for me as also a gay man and an Arab.
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To see somebody telling stories that on some level also tell my story.
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So that really brought me a lot of joy.
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I love that.
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That actually means, means the world to me.
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and what else brings you joy?
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So I am also a piano player and
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I love it.
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That has been my saving grace these days.
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Absolutely and I definitely need, that interstellar, sheet music from you.
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'cause you played it so beautifully.
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You're very,
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and that's a very complex one.
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Very sweet
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watching that brought me a joy as well.
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I love that.
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I'll tell you a secret about that, after I ask you.
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One more time.
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Hani, what brings you joy?
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I'm gonna, echo you on when I see that our family in Palestine are getting some aid that there's so many people advocating for them, people that you would never think would be advocating for them, like actors in Hollywood.
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Like politicians in South Africa.
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Like just people like me and you, regular people who, just can't see this anymore.
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They can't see oppression.
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And what brings me even more joy is that standing up for the Palestinian cause has also allowed us to stand up for the people in Sudan, the people in Congo.
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And we're seeing those voices amplified as well, which, which also brought me joy.
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Thank you.
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Yes, thank for playing that game with me.
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I love this, because it's easy for us to get into despair especially now, and so I love that this r eally makes you look inward and be like, not all of it should be, or could be despair because then we'll destroy ourselves.
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And without hope and without joy, then, we can't give other people hope and joy.
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So I love, I love this game.
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Do you wanna hear a, a secret about the interstellar?
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yes.
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Sheet music?
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Yes, please.
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Here's a secret.
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I don't know how to read sheet music.
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What?
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I don't, I play by ear, so
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mind blowing.
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Mind blowing.
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Wow.
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So
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I listen to something and then I, I play it, but I don't know how to read.
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Yeah.
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That's amazing.
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Even more telling of your genius and your creativity and the art that lives within you.
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Thank you for telling us that secret.
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I encourage all our listeners to go immediately to Rolla's profile and listen to her playing interstellar that she learned without sheet music.
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So tell us more about you.
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You're so awesome.
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Where are you from and what is your background?
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my background, my family's Palestinian, my mom and my dad.
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so my mom's family is min l Kuds (from Jerusalem).
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So from Jerusalem, and my dad and his family, is from Amer, which is kind of, I'd say next to Haifa is maybe a good way to think of it.
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so that's where they're from.
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and then I grew up in Abu Dhabi, in the UAE and yeah, and then after the first Gulf War, we came here to the United States.
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Because, things were unstable, opportunity, all that type of stuff.
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So I came here, to the US for high school, university, and yeah.
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Nice.
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And how did you get into filmmaking?
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Ooh, filmmaking.
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I have been obsessed with filmmaking since I was a kid.
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So when I was in Abu Dhabi, my dad, brought home like one of those big, like VHS cameras, you know, like it was the size of my head.
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Yes.
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Uh, and uh, originally he got it for what do you call it, like birthday parties and all that type of events, events.
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I immediately took it over and I would, do all sorts of, like, I'd dress up my little sibling, my younger siblings, sorry.
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Oh, they hate that I said that.
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My younger siblings, in funny outfits and music videos and stories and movies and, I did my first short film, official short film, when I was like 10 and it was called Never Give Up.
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Uh, and my mom was my dp'cause I also acted in it.
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don't worry, like no one will ever see that, ever.
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So I'll never show it to anyone.
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I wanna see even more now.
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No, it's eager and as, as a title, right?
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Like never give up.
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So ridiculous.
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yeah, so I, I fell in love with it, but you know, when I was younger, There was a place called, uh, Dukkan(shop), so like a little bodega it's called AlKamal.
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and it used to sell, hummus sandwiches but, they also sold bootleg VHS tapes.
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So you'd just leaf through these folders of these American movies and TV shows and all that stuff.
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And you'd be like, oh yeah, I wanna watch, The Simpsons or the Sound of Music or, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and then they'dliterally record it on a VHS tape for you and then you take it home, so,
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wow.
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Mm-hmm.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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So that's was, I was obsessed with movies, tv, all that stuff, but I never thought in a million years that I'd be able to do, it.
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Wow.
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Right.
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It's like, oh, you're playing around with a camera and your friends and your siblings and your family, but I never thought that.
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It's oh, filmmaking is for people like Spielberg or for people like James Cameron or for, Scorsese.
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Like, I can't do it.
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Mm-hmm.
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or not that I can't do it, it's not for me.
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It's not meant for me.
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I'm only the audience.
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I'm not the creator.
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I'm not the maker.
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I'm not the whatever.
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So when we came to the US, I love technology, so, I got my computer science degree, but as, as I was getting my degree, just, it kept nagging at me.
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I'm like, I just love writing.
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If I can't direct, why don't I just write?
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So that's how it started.
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How do I write maba3ref (I don't know)?
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I literally went to the library and I got like screenwriting one-on-one.
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I didn't know anything about it.
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I just.
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Started writing and trying and do this, do that, and I got scammed.
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I got scammed some Hollywood's like, oh, pitch your script to Hollywood for like, something crazy, like $10,000.
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It was some big scam that like, like 7awwashet kol hal masare (hoarded all this money) Like, saved up, and I went to LA and I tried to whatever and took my money and.
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I know this, you live and learn.
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this is what I learned.
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In Arabic we would say, what a ba3sa (screw over).
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Yeah, right.
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Yeah.
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like they screwed you over.
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Totally
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screwed you over for definite ba3sa.
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So this was a lesson I learned, which is I'm like, look, if no one's gonna make my stuff, I should learn how to do it.
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Okay.
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Halla2 (now) I did writing.
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Let me try and direct.
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So I wrote some short film.
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I went on Craigslist.
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I didn't know what I was doing.
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I just, I'm like, what's in a crew?
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I guess you need a camera person.
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Let me get a camera.
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But yeah, and I just started literally making up, you know what I mean, looking, da, da, da.
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So I got my first crew.
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I did my first short film.
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I actually snuck into my, my place of work.
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I was working at a technology company at the time.
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And then the weekend I used my badge, my security badge to go in and, use the office as a office location.
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Thankfully the security didn't catch us.
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But I did that.
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I did a short film and then I'm like, huh.
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I saw my editor editing.
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I'm like, I need to learn how to edit.
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So I paid him extra.
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I'm like, listen, if I pay you a little extra, do, do you mind if I just sit here literally over your shoulder, nag you, every day, ask you questions, he's like, yeah, go for it.
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So that's how I learned to edit.
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And that's, that's literally how it started.
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Like writing, directing, editing, producing and I just kept going and going and going I made another and another, and another until I started getting into film festivals and, you know, getting bigger and bigger and bigger.
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And then finally the, the kind of big moment was when I did three veils, which was,
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mmhmm.
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My, my second feature film.
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And that kind of really catapulted me into the.
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Kind of international like film festival scene and Yes.
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Yeah.
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And I never looked back after that.
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So
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beautiful.
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So you, you basically did the same thing you did with your piano playing.
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You got crafty, you taught yourself, and you did so amazingly well.
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And I'm, I'm definitely going to explore some of your films with you 'cause they're mind blowing.
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But before I do that, you are a triple minority.
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Especially in the film world, you are a queer Palestinian and Muslim.
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How do you reconcile being queer and Muslim?
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I don't think that there's any reconciling for me.
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I don't know what there is to reconcile really.
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But maybe other people, it makes other people have to reconcile with whatever they need to reconcile with.
00:15:48.635 --> 00:15:51.096
faith and who you love really, I.
00:15:51.096 --> 00:15:51.155
Mm,
00:15:52.365 --> 00:15:55.145
don't have anything to do with each other in, in some way.
00:15:55.196 --> 00:15:59.915
I understand that, maybe, different interpretations of holy books, whatever they are, right.
00:16:00.456 --> 00:16:01.385
I understand that.
00:16:01.865 --> 00:16:04.505
There are people whose job it is, is to interpret these things.
00:16:04.505 --> 00:16:10.905
And very specifically, and this is what it says, but I also know that, there's a pick and choose type of a thing that's going on, right?
00:16:10.905 --> 00:16:28.365
I think in the end, it's between you and the universe or you and the maker and And kind of live and let live as long as not only as long as you are not hurting anyone else, but as long as you are helping people and in service of people and in humanity, I feel comfortable putting my head on my pillow at night, and that's the most important thing.
00:16:28.365 --> 00:16:28.635
So.
00:16:29.461 --> 00:16:30.181
Beautiful.
00:16:30.670 --> 00:16:43.951
I wish, as a child I knew of you because it would've been so important for me to see that and to help me, come into myself and to also reconcile my Muslim upbringing with being gay.
00:16:43.951 --> 00:16:54.211
And I know your movies are so important for both Arabs and all people, really, all people that are experiencing having to wear a different mask.
00:16:54.216 --> 00:16:54.385
Mm-hmm.
00:16:54.466 --> 00:16:55.505
Or having to conform.
00:16:55.885 --> 00:16:56.306
Mm-hmm.
00:16:56.390 --> 00:17:05.881
Um, and so I'm so grateful for you, and I wanted to ask you that question because I thought it was so important for people that didn't have that like me and you.
00:17:06.341 --> 00:17:12.401
Uh, to, to hear that from you because they can be reconciled and it's between you and your maker.
00:17:12.611 --> 00:17:12.701
Mm-hmm.
00:17:12.701 --> 00:17:18.510
And spirituality is, not about who you love, it's about how you move in the world.
00:17:18.691 --> 00:17:18.780
Mm-hmm.
00:17:18.780 --> 00:17:20.681
And how you interact with others.
00:17:20.681 --> 00:17:26.951
And I definitely think Islam is something that can exist at the same time as being queer.
00:17:26.951 --> 00:17:29.801
So thank you so much for answering that for us.
00:17:30.121 --> 00:17:35.221
How has being a triple minority, given you opportunity in the world that you're in
00:17:36.121 --> 00:17:36.961
opportunity?
00:17:37.186 --> 00:17:38.865
I think the stories are more interesting.
00:17:39.145 --> 00:17:47.296
there is something to walking in world, being able to not just relate, but to experience different ways of moving through the world, right?
00:17:47.296 --> 00:18:05.030
Whether, it's, as a woman or as a, Falastiniyye (Palestinian) or as a queer person, I think there's something, that I'm very thankful for, to be able to relate and experience so many different types of ways of moving through the world, and that makes my empathy even grow more to other experiences that are not my own.
00:18:05.030 --> 00:18:07.711
So, I think that's really important as a storyteller.
00:18:07.711 --> 00:18:17.580
The, the point is to show, stories and characters and journeys and experiences, that people don't usually see, or that people don't usually connect with.
00:18:17.691 --> 00:18:23.340
And that is, is something that I wouldn't be able to get if I wasn't, as you say, like a triple minority.
00:18:23.340 --> 00:18:23.580
So
00:18:23.971 --> 00:18:24.421
Beautiful.
00:18:24.421 --> 00:18:24.570
Yeah.
00:18:24.941 --> 00:18:33.221
What would you say to those who would argue that the only reason you're able to tell these stories, which tackle touchy Arab subjects is because you live in the US?
00:18:35.725 --> 00:18:42.375
Look, I can't say that it is not, helpful, to be, in the US I cannot say that at all.
00:18:42.375 --> 00:18:56.435
Especially because, in Los Angeles specifically, there are a lot of resources, that I am afforded that I have a privilege, to access that other people even within the US cannot access and certainly around the world.
00:18:56.675 --> 00:19:06.365
So I would like to acknowledge that privilege a hundred percent, but I would also like to acknowledge the phenomenal artists in the Arab world, who I look up to.
00:19:06.496 --> 00:19:09.175
You know, like Nadine Labaki, um,
00:19:09.236 --> 00:19:09.355
yes.
00:19:10.316 --> 00:19:10.705
Right.
00:19:10.705 --> 00:19:11.965
I mean, just that alone.
00:19:11.965 --> 00:19:13.205
Like, she's phenomenal.
00:19:13.506 --> 00:19:16.865
Like, and I'm just mentioning one person, there's so many.
00:19:16.915 --> 00:19:18.256
So yes, absolutely.
00:19:18.290 --> 00:19:38.290
I would like to acknowledge that, the privilege that I have, but I do not think that just because I'm here, that there are not artists in the Arab world and around the world, that are doing just work that I aspire to, that I look up to, and I hope to one day even hold a candle to the flame that that they are.
00:19:34.780 --> 00:19:44.230
Dr. Hani Chaabo: I know that you conversation is being had in the Arab world through your movies and just the way you tell your stories.
00:19:44.590 --> 00:19:57.490
Uh, I know many are looking up to you in the Arab world that want to get into filmmaking, and I love that you mentioned Nadine Labaki, because actually one of her most famous movies also tackles, the queer identity, even though it was made in Lebanon.
00:19:57.800 --> 00:20:05.631
I loved everything you said, and I agree like there is much openness and freedom in the Arab world, even if it's not in your face.
00:20:05.780 --> 00:20:05.990
Yes.
00:20:06.040 --> 00:20:10.151
And it does show in the way that artists express themselves, especially in film.
00:20:10.661 --> 00:20:10.780
Yes.
00:20:10.780 --> 00:20:14.171
So, let's explore some of your amazing films.
00:20:14.560 --> 00:20:24.421
The common thread that I found really, and please correct me if I'm wrong, is advocacy of representation and challenging stereotypes through storytelling.
00:20:24.536 --> 00:20:25.796
Why is that important to you?
00:20:25.846 --> 00:20:28.830
I would say that that's certainly a big aspect of my work.
00:20:28.881 --> 00:20:38.671
But the way that I like to kind of categorize it is, is I really like to tell stories that push boundaries, but that unite audiences at the same time.
00:20:38.780 --> 00:20:38.871
Hmm.
00:20:39.631 --> 00:20:42.480
That, that really is what I would like to do.
00:20:42.671 --> 00:20:44.320
And I hope to do that in my work.
00:20:44.740 --> 00:21:03.111
You know, whether that's through representation or characters or storylines you don't usually hear about, or something that makes you think or something that makes audiences who are watching it be like, oh, I never, I never thought I'd connect with someone like that, or a character like that, or, I didn't really understand and now I kind of, do you know what I mean?
00:21:03.111 --> 00:21:10.800
It's not about trying to convince anyone or trying to preach to anyone, but it is trying to, kind of express and show experiences.
00:21:10.861 --> 00:21:19.520
And you'd be surprised how many people connect with things they don't think that they would have ever connected with, when you present it in that way.
00:21:19.570 --> 00:21:23.550
I don't think anyone likes to be preached to, or kind of hit over the head with that stuff.
00:21:23.550 --> 00:21:24.330
Not even me.
00:21:24.330 --> 00:21:25.461
Like I don't enjoy it.
00:21:25.461 --> 00:21:27.020
I don't actually think it's,
00:21:27.691 --> 00:21:27.871
me neither.
00:21:28.096 --> 00:21:28.560
And you feel it.
00:21:28.560 --> 00:21:28.951
Right?
00:21:28.951 --> 00:21:29.191
Right.
00:21:29.191 --> 00:21:30.391
You, you have this feeling
00:21:30.441 --> 00:21:30.711
yes.
00:21:30.800 --> 00:21:32.631
Humans are very sensitive.
00:21:32.871 --> 00:21:35.060
We're more sensitive than we give ourselves credit for.
00:21:35.060 --> 00:21:47.986
Like we understand when we are being preached to and we understand when we are simply being told a, a story that we are then invited to listen in on, and that's what I try to do,
00:21:48.036 --> 00:21:59.536
so beautiful and I definitely feel like in, in the stories you're sharing, it's about us being inspired through their journeys rather than us being told, this is how you must live.
00:21:59.536 --> 00:21:59.625
Yes.
00:21:59.625 --> 00:22:01.276
Or this is wrong, or this is right.
00:22:01.336 --> 00:22:01.395
Yeah.
00:22:01.875 --> 00:22:03.225
And I definitely felt that.
00:22:03.225 --> 00:22:05.056
So thank you for sharing that.
00:22:05.056 --> 00:22:16.191
your second feature film was three veils, which you released in 2011, but that was kind of your debut into where you're at right now, and it's won many awards.
00:22:16.191 --> 00:22:31.401
It follows the story of three young Muslim women who, to the outside world appear to be typical young college students dealing with the challenges of growing up and finding their place, but they each have complicated brimming desires.
00:22:31.820 --> 00:22:34.760
Layla is engaged to be married, but has cold feet.
00:22:34.820 --> 00:22:42.230
Amira is a devout Muslim, repressing her lesbianism, and Nikki copes after a tragic death in her family with promiscuity.
00:22:42.796 --> 00:22:44.836
So how did that story come about?
00:22:46.135 --> 00:22:54.296
I love this idea of these three characters who really seemingly have nothing to do with one another.
00:22:54.736 --> 00:22:56.445
But that each of them is going through you.
00:22:56.475 --> 00:23:04.375
You mentioned masks a little bit ago, and I think that's actually something that is probably a very, Theme in a lot of my work, right?
00:23:04.375 --> 00:23:12.955
So each of them has this, these masks because of these secrets that they have to hide about who they are or what they're going through and so, somehow their, their lives intertwine.
00:23:12.986 --> 00:23:18.935
There was these stories that I had from my own life, and from life of, friends, as well and, and people in my community.
00:23:18.935 --> 00:23:24.996
So I thought ambitiously, let me try and meld them all together in this like tabkha (dish), and see what comes out.
00:23:25.540 --> 00:23:27.205
And so that's how it came to be
00:23:28.786 --> 00:23:33.195
What did it mean to you to tell these, these particular stories for these women?
00:23:34.230 --> 00:23:41.280
I think they, they, each of them had this journey of realizing who they are and, in the end, coming into their own right.
00:23:41.310 --> 00:23:44.631
kind of like turning into butterflies in a way in their, each with their own journey.
00:23:44.631 --> 00:24:01.230
And I thought it was, you know, we don't, we don't all get to do that in our life, but If I showed the journeys of these three women and how they actually came into their own, like it might inspire and do keep in mind that I have no, no spoilers, but it's not like all of it is, is happy endings or anything the point isn't to be happy.
00:24:01.230 --> 00:24:03.490
the point is to be yourself and.
00:24:04.915 --> 00:24:06.776
That's actually even more important than happiness.
00:24:06.776 --> 00:24:08.306
I think so.
00:24:08.355 --> 00:24:08.776
Beautiful.
00:24:08.776 --> 00:24:10.036
Very inspirational.
00:24:10.425 --> 00:24:18.736
I definitely recognize these three stories also in my upbringing in the Arab world and in Arab communities that I see here.
00:24:18.971 --> 00:24:31.391
It's so important to be able to see the story, where it goes to completion, to authenticity, to coming into yourself so that it empowers us to do the same whether we are there or we are here.
00:24:31.990 --> 00:24:35.770
So Choke was the one you released in 2018.
00:24:36.221 --> 00:24:50.480
It is about a young Arab American woman who struggles with anxiety and OCD as she becomes a well celebrated MMA fighting champion, struggling to hide her refugee status from her small American town and the world.
00:24:50.810 --> 00:24:52.161
How did this one come about?
00:24:53.435 --> 00:24:55.836
So she's a Syrian refugee specifically.
00:24:55.840 --> 00:24:55.901
Mm-hmm.
00:24:56.385 --> 00:25:04.846
And I had this thought of, I wanted to do a film about identity, but I wanted to do it in reverse.
00:25:05.205 --> 00:25:14.695
So instead of someone who has their identity that they're proud of, that they, wanna come out about, what if they were ashamed of their identity?
00:25:14.935 --> 00:25:18.461
And so you see this very strong young woman, right?
00:25:18.461 --> 00:25:19.600
She's an MMA fighter.
00:25:19.600 --> 00:25:21.911
Like you can't get more physically strong than that, right?
00:25:21.911 --> 00:25:22.181
Yeah.
00:25:22.840 --> 00:25:35.905
She's a strong MMA fighter who, is hiding the fact that she's a Syria refugee because she can pass, she can pass as American, she can pass and her parents cannot, her parents, they have accents, her mothers hijabi, like all that stuff.
00:25:35.905 --> 00:25:39.146
So, I just found it a interesting subject to tackle.
00:25:39.146 --> 00:25:44.761
What if someone can pass, should they pass, uh, as uh, the privileged class, mm-hmm.
00:25:45.342 --> 00:25:47.081
Uh, yeah.
00:25:47.267 --> 00:25:48.465
So that's kind of my idea.
00:25:48.465 --> 00:25:53.795
One theme that you tackle is the mental health OCD and anxiety in this film.
00:25:53.795 --> 00:25:58.535
What insights can you share with us about specifically tackling mental health in that way?
00:25:59.474 --> 00:26:04.214
I'll be honest, I don't have a lot of, official experience with, with mental health subjects.
00:26:04.214 --> 00:26:08.184
Obviously they're subject matter experts that are way more, way more versed than I am.
00:26:08.414 --> 00:26:13.785
But I can at least, express, what I think someone might be going through.
00:26:14.134 --> 00:26:21.004
I myself have experienced a lot of repression and repression can really, really mess you up in a lot of ways.
00:26:21.004 --> 00:26:32.789
And I think one of the ways is, it can come out as, someone being neurotic or having anxiety or something like that because there's something you are actually actively repressing every second, every minute of the day.
00:26:33.184 --> 00:26:33.424
Absolutely.
00:26:33.984 --> 00:26:34.265
Absolutely.
00:26:34.335 --> 00:26:34.625
Yeah.
00:26:34.964 --> 00:26:49.535
So if you are hiding who you are from your small town, if hiding, you know, her being a Syrian refugee, if she's hiding who she is in front of her, parents, as, as being a, having a girlfriend, being a lesbian, like she's hiding something from everyone.
00:26:49.535 --> 00:26:51.214
So there's no safe space for her.
00:26:51.214 --> 00:26:59.464
So I can only imagine, I mean, I myself, had a lot of feelings of repression that really, ended up messing me up in a lot of ways.
00:26:59.515 --> 00:27:07.904
Hamdullah (Thank God), I'm, much more at peace now, but, but yeah, especially when you're younger and, so yeah, so that's what I wanted to express, someone who's going through that.
00:27:08.595 --> 00:27:09.105
Beautiful.
00:27:09.105 --> 00:27:14.805
I love that aspect of that film because I felt the same like that, that repression.
00:27:14.855 --> 00:27:16.565
All the way through my childhood.
00:27:16.565 --> 00:27:19.355
I grew up in Saudi Arabia and then I moved to Lebanon.
00:27:20.315 --> 00:27:23.345
So all that repression, even in medical school.
00:27:23.734 --> 00:27:28.295
Mm. when I was doing my internships, like it just, I was, I always had to wear that mask.
00:27:28.295 --> 00:27:35.464
And I myself have been medicated for anxiety and I've seen OCD tendencies within myself.
00:27:35.464 --> 00:27:59.795
And it wasn't until I took off that mask and was able to be myself, was able to practice that authenticity piece that, that for me was very important because, and what I tell my patients, so I'm a doctor in mental health, and what I tell my patients is that the antidote to to most mental health issues is being yourself, practicing authenticity..
00:27:59.815 --> 00:27:59.875
Mm.
00:28:01.509 --> 00:28:06.369
And so I really, really enjoyed hearing you talk about that, especially in the context of her story.
00:28:07.059 --> 00:28:07.539
Wow.
00:28:07.539 --> 00:28:07.779
Wow.
00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:08.559
That's very powerful.
00:28:08.625 --> 00:28:09.825
I love that.
00:28:09.924 --> 00:28:12.474
Yeah, I would've loved to have you when I was growing up as well.
00:28:14.815 --> 00:28:15.629
Thank you so much.
00:28:16.254 --> 00:28:16.704
Thank you.
00:28:16.944 --> 00:28:21.033
So for our viewers, would you tell us how she eventually came into herself?
00:28:22.544 --> 00:28:23.713
Feel free to watch the movie.
00:28:23.743 --> 00:28:25.574
it is, it is on Vimeo and it is,
00:28:25.574 --> 00:28:26.953
is it a spoiler if we do that?
00:28:27.523 --> 00:28:28.513
Uh, maybe a little bit.
00:28:28.783 --> 00:28:28.903
Okay.
00:28:28.903 --> 00:28:29.173
Yeah.
00:28:29.179 --> 00:28:29.653
Nevermind, nevermind.
00:28:29.804 --> 00:28:32.263
Watch, watch the movie.
00:28:32.263 --> 00:28:33.074
Watch the movie.
00:28:33.283 --> 00:28:38.594
I'll say, I'll say that there is kind of a, I feel like a triumphant note at the end.
00:28:38.594 --> 00:28:39.493
So how about that?
00:28:39.493 --> 00:28:42.584
Like, you're not gonna be watching a depressing, a depressing movie.
00:28:42.584 --> 00:28:42.854
So
00:28:43.453 --> 00:28:44.173
amazing.
00:28:44.173 --> 00:28:44.384
I love that.
00:28:45.884 --> 00:28:50.064
And your next movie was in 2021, which was Fenjan.
00:28:50.084 --> 00:28:51.433
This was a short film.
00:28:51.433 --> 00:28:59.233
Fenjan means cup of coffee, and it's about a young woman who lets a coffee cup reader decide her fate and what she'll do next.
00:28:59.969 --> 00:29:12.929
Which in the Arab world, I feel like all of us have had contact with a coffee cup being read on some level, whether it's our own mothers or their friends, or actually going to a fortune teller.
00:29:13.618 --> 00:29:15.169
So this really tickled me.
00:29:15.538 --> 00:29:17.598
How did this one come about?
00:29:18.709 --> 00:29:19.919
That's exactly what you said.
00:29:19.919 --> 00:29:22.499
it started with, it's exactly what you said.
00:29:22.499 --> 00:29:34.979
I think a lot of us, whether we're, whether our culture is Arab culture and like you said, like, you grew up with like your mom's friends, like reading your cup or like all that fun stuff, or whether you're in other cultures.
00:29:34.979 --> 00:29:37.378
I think we're all looking for answers.
00:29:37.538 --> 00:29:43.203
it, there's some sort of, comfort or security in believing that someone else has the answers for you.
00:29:43.483 --> 00:29:53.338
Because it's easy to feel lost in this world, and so you have this this young woman who, is, is experiencing ghorbeh (feeling far from home), right?
00:29:53.338 --> 00:29:57.989
So she's away from her, her dad, who is in Palestine, she's in, in, UCLA.
00:29:57.989 --> 00:30:00.298
She just got into, med school, so on and so forth.
00:30:00.298 --> 00:30:04.088
But her ailing dad is in Palestine and, not doing very well.
00:30:04.088 --> 00:30:06.489
And so she's experiencing this ghorbeh(feeling far from home), right?
00:30:06.489 --> 00:30:12.163
So it's a very, Palestinian term, not just Palestinian term, I think arabic term, right, of being away from your Yes.
00:30:12.233 --> 00:30:12.653
Family.
00:30:13.203 --> 00:30:13.493
Yeah.
00:30:13.739 --> 00:30:16.308
Your root, your core, being outside of it.
00:30:16.358 --> 00:30:18.669
and so she's experiencing this, like, what do I do?
00:30:18.999 --> 00:30:21.929
Do I go back, to Palestine and be with him?
00:30:22.388 --> 00:30:24.098
and of course her dad would never want that.
00:30:24.098 --> 00:30:26.769
Her dad's like, you, you are, you need to.
00:30:27.098 --> 00:30:31.648
Excel and, and succeed and, and, and, you know, have a full life and don't worry about me.
00:30:32.318 --> 00:30:33.669
So it's this kind of push and pull.
00:30:33.669 --> 00:30:39.729
And so she decides to go to a fortune teller, and be like what should I do?
00:30:39.729 --> 00:30:40.538
What do I do?
00:30:41.528 --> 00:30:44.828
And so I'm not gonna tell you what happens next because that for sure is well
00:30:44.828 --> 00:30:46.378
no spoilers, no spoilers
00:30:46.403 --> 00:30:49.429
However, However yeah.
00:30:49.429 --> 00:31:01.618
I will say, that there is kind of a Nizar Qabbani, poem, that I included in the, um, in the movie, that really talks about your sense of place, your sense of home.
00:31:02.294 --> 00:31:03.044
In this world.
00:31:03.203 --> 00:31:04.283
and that's really what it's about.
00:31:04.344 --> 00:31:05.544
It's about, where is home?
00:31:06.624 --> 00:31:06.953
Beautiful.
00:31:07.614 --> 00:31:12.394
That was gonna be my next question is what did you want us to walk away with after seeing fenjan?
00:31:12.413 --> 00:31:21.503
And the theme of home is so important, especially now when we're talking about forced displacement and ethnic cleansing.
00:31:21.564 --> 00:31:26.213
And for us who are living in the West as immigrants.
00:31:26.453 --> 00:31:33.263
Disconnected from our families and the communities that bring us joy and support us in all of this.
00:31:33.263 --> 00:31:38.243
Home is important to, to really feel connected to.
00:31:38.814 --> 00:31:38.874
yeah.
00:31:38.933 --> 00:31:45.384
Especially for Palestinians who are watching their homes go into non-existence.
00:31:45.384 --> 00:31:45.683
Really?
00:31:45.683 --> 00:31:45.743
Yeah.
00:31:45.804 --> 00:31:50.003
And so thank you for tackling that, that subject.
00:31:50.663 --> 00:31:56.683
So your your films tackle so many, topics that are touchy in the Arab world.
00:31:57.013 --> 00:31:59.834
I'm curious, how have you been received in your family?
00:32:01.213 --> 00:32:05.743
Yeah, at the beginning, let's say, let's say.
00:32:06.493 --> 00:32:10.094
When Three Veils came out, right, like 2011, it was pretty tumultuous.
00:32:10.144 --> 00:32:12.193
the world was also different, as well.
00:32:12.193 --> 00:32:13.304
I mean, the world is changing.
00:32:13.304 --> 00:32:14.653
I'm not saying anything is.
00:32:14.903 --> 00:32:17.003
It's great or perfect or anything like that.
00:32:17.003 --> 00:32:24.433
But there are changes and, and, and I wanna acknowledge those changes because I used to get, death threats, even for fundraising, my movies.
00:32:24.834 --> 00:32:27.304
And now I don't get as many, if any.
00:32:27.903 --> 00:32:28.384
Um,
00:32:28.384 --> 00:32:29.219
so not as many.
00:32:29.598 --> 00:32:31.058
That's a good thing, I guess.
00:32:34.269 --> 00:32:37.108
But yeah, I also do a good job locking people.
00:32:37.108 --> 00:32:40.888
I, I don't even, I don't even give, pay them any mind, ya3ny(i mean) I really, really don't.
00:32:40.908 --> 00:32:41.568
It's such a waste.
00:32:41.568 --> 00:32:45.898
I think when you're younger you feel, oh my gosh, I'm being personally attacked.
00:32:45.898 --> 00:32:52.798
You feel this, you feel that, and then as you grow up, you realize it's a complete waste of time and to just focus on people.
00:32:53.669 --> 00:32:56.669
On people who you wanna reach and people who are curious.
00:32:56.798 --> 00:32:58.028
that's the most important part.
00:32:58.028 --> 00:33:00.459
yeah, at the beginning it was, it was quite tumultuous.
00:33:00.538 --> 00:33:03.989
you know, I didn't maybe feel extremely, supported in some ways.
00:33:04.538 --> 00:33:08.919
But I think we all grow and, and I always leave room for people to grow.
00:33:09.098 --> 00:33:13.209
for them to grow on their own time, and they did and, and hamdulillah (thank God).
00:33:13.298 --> 00:33:13.778
I'm good.
00:33:13.778 --> 00:33:19.719
Like, it's, like I said, it's not perfect, but, in some ways it actually doesn't matter, in a weird way.
00:33:19.719 --> 00:33:30.788
Like, I feel like if I just focus my heart and my energy and, and who I give reverence to and who I am in service of.
00:33:30.788 --> 00:33:30.878
Mm-hmm.
00:33:31.449 --> 00:33:45.469
If I just focus on people who, also do that for me, then that's the most ya3ny (i mean), that's the privilege of a lifetime and those who are not and those who don't wanna come on the ride or whatever.
00:33:45.469 --> 00:33:46.038
I literally.
00:33:47.088 --> 00:33:47.719
Don't care.
00:33:47.884 --> 00:33:54.618
So if, for lack of a better answer phrase, I literally, I'm over it.
00:33:54.618 --> 00:33:57.808
So, and I think that comes with, with experience, right?
00:33:57.808 --> 00:34:03.598
Like, like we said, right when we were younger, maybe we, we were more hurt or more vulnerable or more sensitive.
00:34:03.598 --> 00:34:08.159
now we understand stand, what's a waste and, what's the value?
00:34:08.249 --> 00:34:08.309
So
00:34:09.179 --> 00:34:23.429
We all, it's the common experience of us being queer, whether we're in the Arab world or here, that we have to go through the hater's gonna hate and the developing the thick skin and the anchoring in our sense of self-worth.
00:34:23.818 --> 00:34:27.389
And I love that you, your movies do that for us.
00:34:27.689 --> 00:34:32.489
It's really come out of a very personal journey that you've had to go through that.
00:34:32.929 --> 00:34:35.539
How have your films been received in the Arab world?
00:34:35.539 --> 00:34:38.179
I know you said you, you still get death threats.
00:34:38.619 --> 00:34:41.979
but let's focus on the people that you wanted to reach.
00:34:42.309 --> 00:34:45.969
What kind of feedback have you gotten from those people in the Arab world?
00:34:46.423 --> 00:34:48.764
Honestly, I, I've gotten meaningful.
00:34:48.764 --> 00:35:00.209
extremely meaningful and it's the reason why I do this, and even, just as meaningful are the not, so there's two, there's two spheres of people that it means a lot to me.
00:35:00.209 --> 00:35:10.004
One of them is I saw myself, I connected, thank you for for me being up on, for me being able to see myself on screen, da, right?
00:35:10.544 --> 00:35:12.644
So that's one beautiful sphere.
00:35:12.704 --> 00:35:22.874
And then the other sphere is, wow I didn't think I'd ever connect with a character like this, or I didn't think I'd understand or I didn't think I would feel with someone.
00:35:23.684 --> 00:35:25.274
Who I thought I would never feel with.
00:35:25.274 --> 00:35:27.849
And that also means a tremendous amount to me.
00:35:27.854 --> 00:35:29.528
And, and that's really what I get mostly.
00:35:29.679 --> 00:35:33.064
And like I said, probably because I'm not afraid of the block button.
00:35:33.114 --> 00:35:33.984
I'm not interested.
00:35:34.314 --> 00:35:35.994
I never engage online.
00:35:36.534 --> 00:35:45.384
And like I said, unless someone's curious, if someone's really genuinely asking questions or really doesn't know, curious is very important, right?
00:35:45.384 --> 00:35:45.594
Because.
00:35:48.069 --> 00:35:52.699
They're not, aggressively, violently staunch in their, in their ways.
00:35:53.189 --> 00:35:57.299
But they also don't know enough about, other experiences to know how they feel about it.
00:35:57.299 --> 00:35:58.729
So I'm happy to.
00:35:59.374 --> 00:36:04.954
To engage with anyone curious, but haters block immediately,
00:36:06.994 --> 00:36:08.104
That's all that matters.
00:36:08.104 --> 00:36:18.374
I actually ran, some ads to promote the episodes, on Facebook and Instagram, and the comments are just absolutely atrocious.
00:36:18.374 --> 00:36:20.834
Racist comments, hateful.
00:36:21.084 --> 00:36:23.184
Misinformation, propaganda.
00:36:23.184 --> 00:36:26.874
And in the beginning as I was reading all this, I'm like, this is a labor of love.
00:36:26.874 --> 00:36:28.524
I don't wanna see all these comments.
00:36:29.304 --> 00:36:35.934
And then at some point, I was like, okay, well I'm gonna focus on the likes that are coming on these videos.
00:36:35.934 --> 00:36:37.254
And you're absolutely right.
00:36:37.254 --> 00:36:42.539
Like we, we all have to learn to just block, delete, block, delete, moving on, block, delete.
00:36:45.364 --> 00:36:55.209
Yes a 100% because look, im asking you Hani inta sou2al (you, a question), Have you ever been able to change anyone's mind arguing with them online?
00:36:55.659 --> 00:36:56.139
No.
00:36:56.439 --> 00:36:56.709
No.
00:36:57.399 --> 00:36:57.789
That's it.
00:36:57.849 --> 00:36:59.079
That's the only data point you need.
00:36:59.619 --> 00:37:04.789
And for me that's, I see it like there's no if, ands or buts.
00:37:04.789 --> 00:37:09.469
So, so that's why I always say I'm open to the curious, but never for the.
00:37:10.114 --> 00:37:10.534
Haters.
00:37:10.534 --> 00:37:12.964
So it literally means zero.
00:37:13.724 --> 00:37:16.574
That's exactly why I feel you're a super humanizer.
00:37:16.574 --> 00:37:29.594
Not only do you feel for people who are in difficult situations and tell their stories, but you're also able to anchor in your humanity enough to be able to be the kryptonite to all this hate.
00:37:30.194 --> 00:37:30.704
Absolutely.
00:37:30.704 --> 00:37:31.214
Wonderful.
00:37:31.214 --> 00:37:32.899
Thank you.
00:37:32.949 --> 00:37:34.869
so let's go a little bit into.
00:37:36.329 --> 00:37:41.819
a sad subject right now that we're all devastated and consumed with.
00:37:41.869 --> 00:37:44.239
We've all been destroyed by the horrific events.
00:37:44.239 --> 00:37:48.449
We're witnessing now why is this nightmare continuing to get worse?
00:37:48.539 --> 00:37:51.149
And there's no end in sight.
00:37:51.149 --> 00:37:52.199
It's so awful.
00:37:52.809 --> 00:37:54.129
how have you been affected?
00:37:55.629 --> 00:38:03.159
I will start by saying, it almost doesn't matter how I've been affected, as compared to, and you know this, I'm not, I'm not saying anything you don't feel.
00:38:03.189 --> 00:38:14.439
but I do wanna vocalize it too out loud, which is, it doesn't actually matter how I feel compared to the Palestinians in Gaza And then also the Occupied Palestinians.
00:38:14.459 --> 00:38:14.729
Mm-hmm.
00:38:15.889 --> 00:38:18.049
But since you are asking Yeah.
00:38:18.049 --> 00:38:18.809
Occupied Palestinians.
00:38:18.809 --> 00:38:19.339
Exactly.
00:38:20.009 --> 00:38:27.179
since you're asking, yeah, I think like all of us, exactly what you said destroyed is, is for sure, a perfect term.
00:38:27.329 --> 00:38:28.139
Very destroyed.
00:38:28.239 --> 00:38:34.179
I think what we're all feeling, Is exactly again what you said, which is it seems never ending.
00:38:34.179 --> 00:38:46.219
It seems like there's no end in sight and that comes from a feeling of why is no one stopping this on one hand, we're very used to the imperial powers.
00:38:46.869 --> 00:38:50.609
Attacking oppressed people, taking lands, doing what they want.
00:38:51.299 --> 00:38:51.389
Right.
00:38:51.389 --> 00:38:54.389
We're used to it, so it's not a shock to us.
00:38:54.449 --> 00:38:55.859
Yes, absolutely.
00:38:56.879 --> 00:39:02.309
A genocide like this has never been quote unquote televised as it has and as documented as it has.
00:39:02.669 --> 00:39:07.849
And certainly this is the worst atrocities that Palestinians have seen since the Nakba.
00:39:07.979 --> 00:39:08.909
That's without a doubt.
00:39:09.179 --> 00:39:09.689
Yes.
00:39:11.564 --> 00:39:13.304
But we are not shocked.
00:39:13.514 --> 00:39:14.774
It's not a shock.
00:39:14.834 --> 00:39:21.314
The shock comes with why is no one stopping this?
00:39:21.374 --> 00:39:22.724
That's the shock.
00:39:23.114 --> 00:39:24.403
We expect it from Israel.
00:39:24.494 --> 00:39:29.174
We expect it from America and the UK and maybe Western Europe in some ways.
00:39:29.179 --> 00:39:29.589
Mm-hmm.
00:39:30.249 --> 00:39:31.844
But the rest of the world.
00:39:31.844 --> 00:39:31.994
Yeah.
00:39:32.979 --> 00:39:33.269
What?
00:39:34.559 --> 00:39:34.849
Yeah.
00:39:35.504 --> 00:39:36.403
What is happening?
00:39:36.403 --> 00:39:39.014
So that is where we are.
00:39:39.624 --> 00:39:40.794
that's the biggest shock.
00:39:40.794 --> 00:39:44.574
And that's, and that goes along with the gaslighting, right?
00:39:44.794 --> 00:39:45.394
the gaslighting.
00:39:45.394 --> 00:39:46.684
You're not seeing what you're seeing.
00:39:46.834 --> 00:39:47.704
it's not happening.
00:39:47.903 --> 00:39:48.924
nothing to see here.
00:39:48.924 --> 00:39:50.544
It's like, what are you talking about?
00:39:50.544 --> 00:40:01.024
And you, you marry that with just how violent and aggressive and inhumane and.
00:40:01.624 --> 00:40:02.674
Destructive.
00:40:02.704 --> 00:40:07.814
This has been, the gas lighting feels even, even more insidious.
00:40:07.814 --> 00:40:10.334
And it's enough to make you, and you, you're in mental health, right?
00:40:10.334 --> 00:40:13.694
It's enough to make you truly question your sanity, truly.
00:40:14.714 --> 00:40:15.884
It really has been quite awful.
00:40:15.884 --> 00:40:21.764
But, but I think that's where social media has come in and that's what has been connecting all of us.
00:40:21.769 --> 00:40:21.839
Mm-hmm.
00:40:22.059 --> 00:40:30.614
And I feel like first and foremost, what it has done is made us ask each other, forgive me for this term, right, especially the men mental health expert.
00:40:30.614 --> 00:40:31.964
But like, Am I crazy?
00:40:31.964 --> 00:40:32.844
Is this nuts?
00:40:33.344 --> 00:40:33.644
And then
00:40:33.644 --> 00:40:34.454
I felt, felt that too.
00:40:34.694 --> 00:40:34.844
Yeah.
00:40:34.909 --> 00:40:37.399
And then, so for others to validate, no, you're not crazy.
00:40:37.399 --> 00:40:38.479
I, I'm seeing this too.
00:40:38.479 --> 00:40:39.109
Are you seeing that?
00:40:39.109 --> 00:40:39.589
I'm seeing.
00:40:39.649 --> 00:40:42.629
And so you start, collectively coming together.
00:40:42.629 --> 00:40:46.409
Like, wait a minute, we know what's happening, don't tell us what's not happening.
00:40:46.829 --> 00:40:53.599
And that's grown and grown and grown and, and like you said, like bringing in, to light, so many other important, atrocities.
00:40:53.699 --> 00:40:54.599
Happening in the world.
00:40:54.599 --> 00:40:58.929
And so, but yeah, that's kind of where, where I'm at mentally at this point.
00:41:00.039 --> 00:41:00.459
Me too.
00:41:00.459 --> 00:41:03.639
I've really questioned my sanity in the last three months.
00:41:03.969 --> 00:41:07.539
I found myself for the first time in, in my career.
00:41:07.599 --> 00:41:11.619
I've been practicing medicine for about eight years now, and
00:41:11.619 --> 00:41:11.620
mm-hmm
00:41:12.754 --> 00:41:18.789
I found myself for the first time being comforted by my patients instead of me being comfort.
00:41:18.789 --> 00:41:19.394
That's so profound.
00:41:21.204 --> 00:41:29.024
And, it's, it's beautiful that a lot of them are curious and want to know, and when they learn about it, they're angry and they want to be involved and
00:41:29.384 --> 00:41:29.474
mm-hmm.
00:41:29.474 --> 00:41:35.294
That's been helpful to me, to feel like people care and want to do something about it.
00:41:35.294 --> 00:41:40.844
But I myself have had to restart my antidepressant because I was just so consumed.
00:41:41.114 --> 00:41:41.144
Mm.
00:41:41.144 --> 00:41:42.914
And not able to regulate that.
00:41:42.914 --> 00:41:46.724
And I had to use my own tools to help myself navigate all of this.
00:41:46.729 --> 00:41:46.789
Mm.
00:41:46.969 --> 00:41:52.049
And then, starting this podcast has also been helpful, so trying to do everything I can.
00:41:52.528 --> 00:41:52.559
Mm.
00:41:52.559 --> 00:41:52.799
To help.
00:41:53.364 --> 00:41:56.184
Instead of just sit and simmer in what I'm feeling.
00:41:56.334 --> 00:41:56.544
Yes.
00:41:56.574 --> 00:41:58.164
And I know you've been doing the same.
00:41:58.164 --> 00:41:59.184
That's how I found you.
00:41:59.184 --> 00:42:08.184
your profile is full of activism and what people can do, and one really powerful video was your message to other filmmakers and storytellers.
00:42:08.184 --> 00:42:11.784
So would you mind saying that message on here so that people can hear it?
00:42:12.653 --> 00:42:13.584
Yeah, certainly.
00:42:13.634 --> 00:42:26.329
I've been in the studio system for a few years now, so I moved from independent film to the studio system for a few years now, I have some insight into how projects get green lit, how projects are made, what projects are made, and what I was saying.
00:42:26.914 --> 00:42:32.403
Is that right now, Hollywood, and I'll say Hollywood, but I'm not talking about independent film, right?
00:42:32.403 --> 00:42:34.384
I'm talking about studio system, Hollywood system.
00:42:34.564 --> 00:42:35.434
I call it corporate.
00:42:35.494 --> 00:42:36.334
the corporate system.
00:42:36.334 --> 00:42:42.064
Essentially, the types of projects that are being circulated are so.
00:42:43.504 --> 00:42:44.434
Ignorant mm-hmm.
00:42:44.734 --> 00:42:46.114
Are so harmful.
00:42:46.494 --> 00:42:51.924
To, to Palestinians, to Arabs, to Muslims, to brown people in general.
00:42:52.004 --> 00:42:53.534
Quote unquote people with beards.
00:42:53.584 --> 00:42:55.653
it's, it's, it's really, really awful.
00:42:55.653 --> 00:43:05.344
And so what I was saying is that, keep your eye out 'cause these projects are being greenlit, There's gonna be this whole swell, and I was saying that because it takes, a year or two to make TV shows and movies.
00:43:05.344 --> 00:43:10.064
So saying, keeping an eye out, for the next year or two, just the swell.
00:43:10.604 --> 00:43:14.464
Of, movies and TV shows that are gonna vilify who they wanna vilify.
00:43:15.094 --> 00:43:19.564
Put up as virtuous who they wanna put up as virtuous, amplify voices that they wanna amplify.
00:43:19.903 --> 00:43:24.394
and that it was a call to all artists, filmmakers, writers, directors, even musicians.
00:43:24.809 --> 00:43:28.289
To write the stories that they wanna write, make the movies that they wanna make.
00:43:28.629 --> 00:43:35.419
I myself am going back into independent film as well, because that's where you truly are able to speak your voice and your truth.
00:43:35.479 --> 00:43:41.099
And, we need something to counteract what's, what is happening and what's about to happen, in Hollywood.
00:43:41.099 --> 00:43:42.778
So that was my message.
00:43:43.634 --> 00:43:56.944
You yourself are now taking your activism even deeper and really standing up against this vehemoth machine that manipulates the narrative, however, is politically convenient with ulterior motives.
00:43:56.944 --> 00:43:57.034
Yes.
00:43:57.064 --> 00:44:12.774
And unfortunately, if people like you don't step up and tell more stories about our truths and who we are, we are going to be painted in a negative light again, which has already happened to us, especially since nine 11.
00:44:13.074 --> 00:44:13.284
Yes.
00:44:13.284 --> 00:44:20.514
And it's so important for us to do everything we can to humanize, arabs and brown people and anybody who's really minoritized
00:44:20.514 --> 00:44:20.604
Yes.
00:44:20.874 --> 00:44:21.324
Anybody exactly.
00:44:22.284 --> 00:44:28.844
For us to be part of the people that are being defended, just like we're standing up for black rights right now in America.
00:44:29.114 --> 00:44:33.524
You know, it's, that also means our rights and we should all be contributing to that.
00:44:33.524 --> 00:44:36.614
So thank you so much for that powerful message.
00:44:37.039 --> 00:44:39.844
Rolla, you're not just sending a message to others to do more.
00:44:39.844 --> 00:44:43.774
You've also been so busy yourself practicing what you preach more than anyone.
00:44:44.104 --> 00:44:52.774
Since October 7th, you've become increasingly vocal about Palestinian rights, appearing on podcasts and creating educational content on social media.
00:44:53.144 --> 00:45:05.354
You've talked about how Netanyahu himself said that the battlefield is now on social media and how the purchase of TikTok would help address problems with a Zionist narrative, which unfortunately they've been successful in doing that.
00:45:05.774 --> 00:45:08.144
You've also faced professional consequences.
00:45:08.204 --> 00:45:10.364
CAA dropped you as a client.
00:45:11.019 --> 00:45:18.789
You've been offered countless projects over the years to quote unquote humanize Palestinian terrorists or write the Wives and Sisters of terrorists.
00:45:19.089 --> 00:45:32.199
Roles you've consistently turned down, but now you're working on "The Visitor", a Palestinian folk horror film about a young man in Jerusalem who must save his family from a "Ghouleh", a female demon from his Grandmother's folktales.
00:45:32.564 --> 00:45:41.254
The film is produced by Watermelon Pics and stars, prominent journalist, Ahmed Shehab El-Din and Gazan journalist who escaped the genocide Plestia Al-Aqad.
00:45:41.804 --> 00:45:50.487
You've said the film is about erasure and the deep human need to be seen and that living under occupation can be scarier than the monsters in our folk tales.
00:45:50.787 --> 00:45:55.148
How does it feel to finally be telling a Palestinian story on your own terms?
00:45:55.178 --> 00:45:58.983
And what do you hope this film will show the world about Palestinian culture and experience?
00:46:01.333 --> 00:46:02.143
How does it feel?
00:46:02.143 --> 00:46:08.593
I feel very humbled and proud to be working with such Falastini (Palestinian) talent telling our own stories.
00:46:08.593 --> 00:46:10.753
I feel so, so humbled and proud about it.
00:46:10.833 --> 00:46:17.163
You mentioned me being dropped by CAA, I want to say that wasn't a small thing for me, meaning.
00:46:17.703 --> 00:46:22.693
In general, like as a kid, I had always dreamed about being part of the Hollywood studio system.
00:46:23.283 --> 00:46:33.903
And so, rising up in the ranks in indie filmmaking and then finally getting signed to CAA in 2018, it was a big deal to me because it meant like, oh, I was achieving the dreams.
00:46:33.903 --> 00:46:38.763
The, these filmmaking dreams that I had is like, I am finally part of Hollywood.
00:46:39.003 --> 00:46:39.393
Right.
00:46:39.932 --> 00:46:49.893
Then and at the time, like you mentioned, like at the time being Falastiniyye(Palestinian), 'cause I was always like very mish bas (not just) open about who I was, but very proud.
00:46:49.893 --> 00:47:01.453
But at the time, like you mentioned I started realizing that I was a token, so they only want fini voices or filmmakers, whatever, if you are a token to them.
00:47:01.453 --> 00:47:10.103
So they can either parade you around or some sort of diversity box, or they have already stories that they have put in place that they want you to come and validate.
00:47:10.103 --> 00:47:14.523
To your point, masalan (for example), I remember like my agents called me up and they said, oh.
00:47:15.248 --> 00:47:19.508
We have this project and they're looking specifically for a Falastini (Palestinian) writer.
00:47:19.758 --> 00:47:20.988
You wanna come on board?
00:47:21.268 --> 00:47:26.348
So I was so excited and I, I said, wow, who is, what, what, what story is this?
00:47:26.348 --> 00:47:27.458
This sounds amazing.
00:47:27.458 --> 00:47:29.048
And Hollywood, Palestinian story.
00:47:29.048 --> 00:47:32.938
They're like, oh, and then just come to find, it's not a Palestinian story at all.
00:47:32.938 --> 00:47:35.098
It's a Israeli filmmaker who was making
00:47:35.098 --> 00:47:35.578
Oh my God.
00:47:35.648 --> 00:47:44.648
Israeli story about this sort of double agent who was like Israeli civilian by day and like some sort of like infiltrator by night.
00:47:44.738 --> 00:47:54.623
And I was gonna be coming on board as a writer to "humanize" the terrorists and then the wife of the terrorists as well, and then the sister of the terrorist as well.
00:47:54.713 --> 00:47:58.663
And so it like, quite literally was that.
00:47:59.053 --> 00:48:00.913
And so I declined it.
00:48:01.243 --> 00:48:01.693
Yeah.
00:48:01.693 --> 00:48:02.682
And so I declined it.
00:48:02.682 --> 00:48:03.358
Thank you for doing that.
00:48:04.063 --> 00:48:04.863
dude, shoo.
00:48:04.923 --> 00:48:05.403
Thank you.
00:48:05.432 --> 00:48:06.423
Ah, my gosh.
00:48:06.423 --> 00:48:07.383
Like, imagine.
00:48:08.013 --> 00:48:09.663
Imagine I couldn't sleep at night.
00:48:09.663 --> 00:48:11.343
Imagine doing that to your own people.
00:48:11.348 --> 00:48:11.968
I don't know.
00:48:12.458 --> 00:48:13.598
I know some people do.
00:48:13.648 --> 00:48:18.238
And I would like to say, Hey, no shade to them, but full shade to them.
00:48:18.718 --> 00:48:19.738
shade and shame.
00:48:20.188 --> 00:48:20.995
Of course.
00:48:21.054 --> 00:48:21.924
Shame with three bells.
00:48:22.644 --> 00:48:24.653
Shame, shame, shame.
00:48:25.044 --> 00:48:25.794
How?
00:48:26.514 --> 00:48:27.354
It's shameful.
00:48:27.354 --> 00:48:39.954
And you're just like, enslaved by this system that just wants to use you for, anyway, my whole point is to say that even when I came into Hollywood and I realized I was a token, I'm like, huh, yemken(maybe) Okay, I'm getting these things.
00:48:39.954 --> 00:48:43.554
I'm gonna reject them, but maybe I can write my own stories and my own things.
00:48:43.554 --> 00:48:48.960
And maybe then they will, and then of course I started speaking up about the genocide because how could you not?
00:48:50.475 --> 00:48:59.065
Then they dropped me and it was the biggest gift in the world to me because something that I thought I wanted, I thought this was my dream.
00:48:59.065 --> 00:49:00.535
I thought this was the pinnacle.
00:49:00.535 --> 00:49:03.455
I thought this means you are validated as a filmmaker.
00:49:03.455 --> 00:49:08.165
You're in the same agency as Tom Cruise and whoever else, like you've made it.
00:49:08.765 --> 00:49:13.085
And then come to find out that it's all just vapor, it's all smoke and mirrors.
00:49:13.085 --> 00:49:14.945
It doesn't, it's meaningless.
00:49:14.975 --> 00:49:16.385
Meaningless.
00:49:16.470 --> 00:49:21.770
So, my only regret, as I like to say, is that I didn't call them up and drop them first.
00:49:21.770 --> 00:49:22.670
I should have done that.
00:49:23.630 --> 00:49:25.400
I should have done that, but I didn't.
00:49:25.500 --> 00:49:28.860
But every week I would like joke with my, like, family and friends.
00:49:28.860 --> 00:49:32.550
I'd be like, oh, it's they CAA still hasn't called to drop me.
00:49:32.550 --> 00:49:33.720
I wonder what's gonna happen.
00:49:33.723 --> 00:49:35.432
I'm so sorry that happened to you.
00:49:35.432 --> 00:49:37.203
You know that absolutely sucks.
00:49:37.233 --> 00:49:38.013
It's wrong.
00:49:38.193 --> 00:49:48.123
On one hand, you worked so hard to even be in that agency and really in that space and then on the other hand, you've become larger than them.
00:49:48.243 --> 00:49:55.173
You've become larger than that, and your humanity, your message, your mission is larger than that space.
00:49:55.203 --> 00:50:05.731
And you're a free woman and you're a free filmmaker, and here you are using your talent and your awesomeness and the reason you were even in that agency, you're using it without limits.
00:50:06.106 --> 00:50:09.586
On this new film and a horror film of all things.
00:50:10.036 --> 00:50:23.936
You know, When I think about people making films about Palestine, I think like, make films about the occupation, make films about 1948, make educational films, show what's happening there, but a horror film that's so special.
00:50:24.296 --> 00:50:25.556
How did you even get there?
00:50:26.651 --> 00:50:28.241
Yeah, I love that question.
00:50:28.731 --> 00:50:34.821
So, so what I was trying to do, and by the way, I wrote this I dried the ink on it at the top of January, 2023.
00:50:35.211 --> 00:50:36.891
So I wrote this even before the genocide.
00:50:37.361 --> 00:50:39.701
And it's by, like you mentioned, it's set in Jerusalem.
00:50:39.791 --> 00:50:42.671
So my whole mom's side of the family is from Jerusalem.
00:50:42.671 --> 00:50:44.371
My whole dad's side is from Shefa-Amer.
00:50:44.831 --> 00:50:51.241
So anyway, so, so it was like basically based on, obviously what we've been seeing in, in Al-Quds(Jerusalem) and everything going on.
00:50:51.511 --> 00:50:54.991
The world started understanding when they saw Sheikh Jarrah, right.
00:50:55.381 --> 00:50:57.631
So I'm like, okay, the world's starting to understand.
00:50:58.281 --> 00:51:01.641
And then what really inspired me actually was two films.
00:51:02.271 --> 00:51:07.911
One of them was Get Out, Jordan Peels Get Out, and the other one was the film Parasite.
00:51:09.396 --> 00:51:12.696
So I was thinking like, first of all, this is horrific.
00:51:12.696 --> 00:51:16.416
It's an actual horror that is happening in front of our eyes.
00:51:16.726 --> 00:51:19.066
And I want, by the way, I want audiences to be very clear.
00:51:19.066 --> 00:51:20.356
This is not trauma porn.
00:51:20.416 --> 00:51:23.556
This is not body horror and limbs and blood.
00:51:23.586 --> 00:51:25.146
This is not that This is.
00:51:25.521 --> 00:51:36.681
Sinister, more creepy, more very similar to like get out, very similar to parasite in the sense that it's a movie about something much deeper, but it is very compelling and it is scary.
00:51:36.801 --> 00:51:39.231
So, so yeah.
00:51:39.231 --> 00:51:43.771
So, so anyway, so it was set in, it's set in a and I wrote it January, 2023.
00:51:44.251 --> 00:51:50.851
I was inspired by Get Out because I myself am not a horror movie fan, but I remember what Get Out did.
00:51:50.941 --> 00:51:55.046
It brought people in to the universal experience of fear.
00:51:55.691 --> 00:51:59.901
Experiencing fear and the fear of someone else or the fear of something else.
00:51:59.906 --> 00:52:09.326
And so it's a very universal feeling, this feeling of fear and for you to be able to process that fear and go through that fear, while just sitting down watching a film.
00:52:09.786 --> 00:52:09.936
mmm,
00:52:10.256 --> 00:52:17.306
And I loved what Get Out did to, to really show the deep seated sinister, white supremacy in America, essentially.
00:52:17.336 --> 00:52:22.636
But of course when you watch the movie, you don't think, you think, oh, it's about a guy, his white girlfriend takes him to his family.
00:52:22.636 --> 00:52:24.526
His family turns out to be like, psychos.
00:52:24.526 --> 00:52:29.206
So on the surface it's just a, an amazing horror film on its own.
00:52:29.206 --> 00:52:32.086
And deeper, just like, oh my God.
00:52:32.086 --> 00:52:36.496
It shows the darkness of what this country and the United States was built on.
00:52:37.151 --> 00:52:38.831
Parasite was similar, right?
00:52:38.831 --> 00:52:52.241
Similar in the sense that it takes the horror genre, but it's talking about the complete violence that it, that is enacted upon a society when you have the 0.1% owning all the wealth.
00:52:53.066 --> 00:52:55.616
all the rest of us, right.
00:52:55.646 --> 00:52:58.586
Trying to make it, it's violence on us.
00:52:58.586 --> 00:53:08.746
Mm. But of course you watch the movie and it's about the, these two, this family who tries to calm this rich family and then, they found this whole family in the basement that like, it doesn't, yeah.
00:53:08.746 --> 00:53:10.036
It's a compelling.
00:53:10.851 --> 00:53:13.371
Horror movie or social thriller, let's say on
00:53:13.581 --> 00:53:14.241
yes.
00:53:14.446 --> 00:53:19.026
And the last thing I'll say is the thing about parasite is that it was all in Korean.
00:53:20.211 --> 00:53:25.511
A complete foreign language film that won the best picture at Oscars.
00:53:25.801 --> 00:53:28.611
Not just best inter right, not just best inter,
00:53:28.791 --> 00:53:29.481
Oh yeah.
00:53:30.171 --> 00:53:30.351
Oh
00:53:30.531 --> 00:53:32.511
not just best international film.
00:53:32.511 --> 00:53:34.221
Just best film flat out.
00:53:34.731 --> 00:53:42.096
So with those two films, it signaled to me that the audience is ready for something compelling, for something entertaining as heck.
00:53:42.096 --> 00:53:52.766
For something bold for something that says the thing that's not just dancing around and two sides and nuance, oh, we have to have this character be good and nice, and this character be, la2 khalas (no enough).
00:53:52.786 --> 00:53:59.686
It's just a bold, compelling, entertaining as hell film that's also talking about something very deep about the human condition.
00:54:00.266 --> 00:54:03.566
And that's really what the, and it's in Arabic so
00:54:03.736 --> 00:54:04.576
It's in Arabic.
00:54:04.576 --> 00:54:05.626
Wow.
00:54:05.966 --> 00:54:06.296
Yeah.
00:54:06.486 --> 00:54:13.056
that's why parasite inspired me because I'm like, dude if the world can, the world's ready, the world's just ready for all.
00:54:14.616 --> 00:54:17.996
You know what doesn't need to be English, And it needs to be authentic.
00:54:17.996 --> 00:54:20.726
It can't just be for specific audience.
00:54:20.726 --> 00:54:22.016
It just has to be what it is.
00:54:22.016 --> 00:54:24.251
So, and Inshallah (God willing), that's the vision of The Visitor.
00:54:25.006 --> 00:54:31.666
I will say the thing about the Ghouleh, so each village in Falastin (Palestine) has its own kind of folk monster,
00:54:32.146 --> 00:54:32.506
huh?
00:54:32.596 --> 00:54:34.456
So has the Ghouleh that, right?
00:54:34.526 --> 00:54:34.826
Yes.
00:54:34.916 --> 00:54:35.636
I didn't know that.
00:54:35.636 --> 00:54:36.146
Mm-hmm.
00:54:37.226 --> 00:54:37.236
Mm-hmm.
00:54:37.256 --> 00:54:42.266
And you can imagine, and it's of course even pre-Islamic, like you can imagine in a place that's already so.
00:54:43.121 --> 00:54:49.801
So spiritually, like there's something about that land, which is why, we all find it very sacred.
00:54:49.801 --> 00:54:57.091
And even if you're not religious, there's something so sacred and beloved and precious about that part of the earth.
00:54:57.751 --> 00:55:03.781
And so you can, and so there's lots of, folk tales, like even pre-Islamic that are around the Falastini villages.
00:55:03.841 --> 00:55:07.861
This Ghouleh lives in the well if you go to her and you give her a ring, she'll do this for you.
00:55:07.861 --> 00:55:09.421
Or this Ghouleh is a good one.
00:55:09.421 --> 00:55:14.791
This Ghouleh is a bad, but this one, this one's mischievous, this one, you know, so each one has its own kind of character.
00:55:15.151 --> 00:55:23.351
So this Ghouleh in the visitor one, look at her, they say one look at her will erase the memories all from your mind.
00:55:23.381 --> 00:55:25.871
So one, look at her and you'll forget everything.
00:55:26.601 --> 00:55:26.991
Wow
00:55:27.281 --> 00:55:28.211
And that could be a bad thing.
00:55:28.211 --> 00:55:34.151
That could be a good thing so there's a lot to it but it is in essence about the horror of erasure.
00:55:34.691 --> 00:55:34.781
So.
00:55:35.936 --> 00:55:36.926
Oh my goodness.
00:55:37.436 --> 00:55:37.916
Wow.
00:55:37.976 --> 00:55:39.026
That blew my mind.
00:55:39.266 --> 00:55:53.796
I loved hearing you reflect on how it came together from like what was the source of the inspiration, and of course like bringing in this heritage of Palestinian, almost like ridiculousity, which really exists all over the Arab world.
00:55:53.796 --> 00:55:58.486
Even me growing up, just like with your movie finjan, with like looking at the coffee cup, right?
00:55:58.486 --> 00:56:04.746
This is another thing that we all grew up with where my mom's like"byeklak el ghoul", the ghoul will eat you, the monster will eat you.
00:56:04.796 --> 00:56:07.826
All of us grew up with some form of this folkloric horror.
00:56:08.331 --> 00:56:10.521
That you've turned into storytelling here.
00:56:10.521 --> 00:56:20.111
And of course, brought together the faces, two big faces of Palestinian excellence and bravery and courage and and watermelon pictures of course
00:56:20.531 --> 00:56:21.276
Yes, of course.
00:56:21.276 --> 00:56:22.026
Big shout out.
00:56:22.026 --> 00:56:22.746
Big shout out.
00:56:22.751 --> 00:56:22.911
Yes.
00:56:24.336 --> 00:56:33.106
Yeah, so we actually got to interview both Watermelon Pics, president Hamza Ali amazing human being, and of course, the amazing journalist, Ahmed Chehab El-Din.
00:56:33.316 --> 00:56:35.686
So for our listeners, check out those episodes.
00:56:35.866 --> 00:56:48.636
Really important work, and it brings me great joy and pride to see all you mammoth humans collaborate with each other for the greater good of humanity and not just Middle East, but humanity in general because you're doing so much out there.
00:56:48.786 --> 00:56:56.496
And in 2024, you founded the Safina Filmmaker Project, which provides free mentorship to Palestinian filmmakers around the world.
00:56:56.826 --> 00:57:05.586
The name Safina means ship in Arabic, like a vessel carrying people to new shores, you're literally training the next generation of Palestinian storytellers.
00:57:05.716 --> 00:57:12.106
What do you hope this new generation of filmmakers will be able to accomplish that maybe wasn't possible for you and your generation?
00:57:13.806 --> 00:57:17.586
Like I mentioned, my dream was to be in Hollywood, right?
00:57:17.616 --> 00:57:18.486
Oh, I'm in Hollywood.
00:57:18.486 --> 00:57:18.756
Why?
00:57:18.756 --> 00:57:24.936
Because I thought, oh, this way we can tell stories that we wanna tell whether Falastini (Palestinian) stories, whether or not whatever, right?
00:57:24.936 --> 00:57:27.936
It's like, oh, I wanna tell my story because you wanna be seen.
00:57:28.251 --> 00:57:28.551
Right.
00:57:29.451 --> 00:57:44.181
And so what I want to really impart on not just for the Falastini (Palestinian) filmmakers, but anyone who is looking to get into filmmaking or has a story and wants to tell you don't need Hollywood to tell story what Hollywood like, there's no, it's unnecessary.
00:57:44.211 --> 00:57:44.991
It's an un.
00:57:45.381 --> 00:57:54.441
Not only is it un an unnecessary part of the whole global kind of venture of storytelling, it's actually dangerous.
00:57:55.731 --> 00:58:02.121
Toxic and insidious, and it's not to be trusted with your story.
00:58:02.601 --> 00:58:10.011
So what I wanna do is I wanna take everything I've learned from the studio system the real craft of filmmaking, of writing, of directing,
00:58:10.011 --> 00:58:10.071
um.
00:58:10.174 --> 00:58:11.194
and I wanna take that.
00:58:11.194 --> 00:58:13.324
And as I say, I wanna liberate that knowledge.
00:58:13.354 --> 00:58:15.934
'cause that knowledge is usually gate kept right behind a gate.
00:58:16.474 --> 00:58:17.194
How do I,
00:58:17.194 --> 00:58:17.464
you know,
00:58:17.464 --> 00:58:17.914
write a script?
00:58:17.914 --> 00:58:19.204
What happens after I write a script?
00:58:19.204 --> 00:58:21.624
How do I, what does even a producer do?
00:58:21.653 --> 00:58:24.064
Like what, what do these people on the crew do?
00:58:24.064 --> 00:58:26.854
How am I supposed to, get my films out afterwards?
00:58:26.854 --> 00:58:27.964
What's a distributor?
00:58:27.994 --> 00:58:29.044
How much should they take?
00:58:29.044 --> 00:58:35.854
Like all this type of knowledge that I've learned in the Hollywood system is gate kept behind the gate.
00:58:36.319 --> 00:58:37.519
And I just wanna liberate it.
00:58:37.549 --> 00:58:39.649
I'm like, look, here's all the tools you need.
00:58:40.039 --> 00:58:44.389
You have your stories go forth and tell the stories because that's what the world needs.
00:58:44.389 --> 00:58:49.519
It doesn't need someone gatekeeping a story deciding what story's worthy, what's not worthy.
00:58:50.159 --> 00:58:51.899
So that's really the precipice behind it.
00:58:51.899 --> 00:58:56.419
So not just, like I said we have specific programs for Falastini(Palestinian) filmmakers specifically.
00:58:56.419 --> 00:59:00.569
Like example we launched our our fellowship year, where they literally like.
00:59:00.739 --> 00:59:07.069
Five filmmakers, literally got both funds as well as mentorship, like direct mentorship to make their films and stuff.
00:59:07.539 --> 00:59:10.434
But all of our workshops are free for anyone.
00:59:11.403 --> 00:59:14.584
So our workshops are free for anyone around the world.
00:59:14.584 --> 00:59:17.454
We try to make it in a time zone that covers almost all the world.
00:59:17.454 --> 00:59:21.744
The only one that gets a little shafted a little bit is unfortunately Australia.
00:59:21.804 --> 00:59:22.554
Australia and a
00:59:22.674 --> 00:59:23.524
Of course.
00:59:23.524 --> 00:59:23.954
Oh my God
00:59:24.024 --> 00:59:26.004
But, But I know I'm so sad
00:59:26.214 --> 00:59:27.084
But we love them.
00:59:27.084 --> 00:59:33.094
We love them even though their the opposite side of the world of us, but we love them and we want them in our circles, yes..
00:59:33.384 --> 00:59:35.524
know, I just like, just put an alarm on.
00:59:35.524 --> 00:59:36.764
I swear be worth it.
00:59:36.807 --> 00:59:38.657
Can people see the recording somewhere?
00:59:39.252 --> 00:59:41.412
No they can't and why is that?
00:59:41.572 --> 00:59:44.672
I've been, yeah, I've been asked that a lot by the way, like, oh,
00:59:44.672 --> 00:59:45.392
you know what I mean?
00:59:45.692 --> 00:59:51.772
because the point isn't to make content and the point isn't just to disseminate information.
00:59:51.802 --> 00:59:53.932
The point is to be in community other.
00:59:54.242 --> 00:59:56.462
And to have moments with each other.
00:59:56.462 --> 01:00:00.752
It isn't just, hey, it isn't a passive act.
01:00:01.022 --> 01:00:03.572
The act of working on your craft shouldn't be passive.
01:00:03.572 --> 01:00:06.302
It should be communal, and it should be very active.
01:00:07.172 --> 01:00:07.712
Um,
01:00:07.982 --> 01:00:08.252
Yeah.
01:00:08.282 --> 01:00:12.932
So that's really the idea behind why we should all be together, learning from each other.
01:00:13.457 --> 01:00:14.267
Talking to each other.
01:00:14.267 --> 01:00:22.187
And then after the workshop, commiserating with even the people who are at the workshop, that's not me, for instance, talking to each other, Hey, oh, I have a film idea.
01:00:22.187 --> 01:00:37.737
Would you be interested in reading it, giving me feedback, and then doing the other way around actors who are trying to work on their reels, find editors, like, so it's really meant to be a community and not just a one way street of here's information, go and passively watch it.
01:00:38.457 --> 01:00:39.147
You know what I mean?
01:00:39.207 --> 01:00:41.187
Without any support, without any community.
01:00:41.213 --> 01:00:41.866
Beautiful.
01:00:41.866 --> 01:00:43.216
So important.
01:00:43.696 --> 01:00:46.126
It's the way we're going to reclaim the narrative.
01:00:46.216 --> 01:00:50.506
It's the way we're going to paint our own picture and spread that to the world.
01:00:50.536 --> 01:01:06.666
And community is so important on so many levels, whether it's in filmmaking and crafting and art or mental health, and just basic humanity and there's nothing more important than finding your people and reflecting off of them learning from each other.
01:01:06.666 --> 01:01:11.886
And thank you so much for creating that circle of people that can do that with you.
01:01:11.946 --> 01:01:20.406
You in particular with all your talents and gifts and the knowledge you know, It's going to pave the way for people to get there quicker.
01:01:20.406 --> 01:01:33.381
I know like for you, and you told us at the beginning of this episode how it started for you and it was a rocky ride and here you are not wanting that same experience for others by creating this avenue so thank you so much for that.
01:01:33.621 --> 01:01:36.951
How would people be able to apply for this or find Safina?
01:01:37.551 --> 01:01:40.161
Yeah, no, no application necessary at all.
01:01:40.191 --> 01:01:46.076
Either follow us Instagram Safina Filmmaker project, or go to www dot safina filmmaker project.com.
01:01:46.436 --> 01:01:48.086
Um, yeah, not necessarily.
01:01:48.086 --> 01:01:49.976
so we announce we go seasonally.
01:01:50.306 --> 01:01:55.446
So we should be announcing our next kind of slate of free workshops like for January to March.
01:01:55.696 --> 01:01:55.786
And.
01:01:56.826 --> 01:02:03.296
I just wanna give a huge shout out to every single mentor who's come on board, shared their craft with people.
01:02:03.296 --> 01:02:08.896
We we've people from previous Disney animators, you know, do a workshop in animation.
01:02:09.256 --> 01:02:13.876
We've had people who, you know, Sundance winners of documentary filmmaking.
01:02:13.876 --> 01:02:16.431
Tell us about, how to start, making documentaries.
01:02:16.966 --> 01:02:22.476
What are the steps to think about, we've had people teach us how to pitch in a room to producers, investors, so on and so forth.
01:02:22.746 --> 01:02:25.326
We've had, like, it literally runs the gamut.
01:02:25.356 --> 01:02:34.691
And so I just wanna take this second, just to say thank you to every single person who has come and help us mentor and be mentors to this community.
01:02:34.721 --> 01:02:36.551
And they do it by the way, voluntarily.
01:02:36.641 --> 01:02:37.991
They do it completely voluntarily.
01:02:37.991 --> 01:02:44.301
They volunteer their time , and it means the world to me, and I know it means the world to us, as a community of independent filmmakers.
01:02:44.301 --> 01:02:46.706
So big shout out to the Safina filmmaker mentors.
01:02:47.646 --> 01:02:48.546
Such a gift.
01:02:48.546 --> 01:02:49.461
A gift to all of us.
01:02:49.831 --> 01:02:52.921
we are almost at the end of our time together.
01:02:54.091 --> 01:02:55.591
I don't like endings, by the way.
01:02:55.591 --> 01:02:56.581
I don't like them.
01:02:58.616 --> 01:02:58.906
Yeah.
01:03:01.861 --> 01:03:10.971
But to wrap up our time together, would you share with us a notable post poem or piece of writing that helped you navigate all this or a stress management practice that's been helpful?
01:03:12.291 --> 01:03:14.321
I'll be honest with you, that's you.
01:03:14.871 --> 01:03:20.351
I knew that you were gonna ask that question and I am, 0% prepared.
01:03:20.561 --> 01:03:31.181
Um, So I'll say, um, and, and the reason why I feel overwhelmed is because there have been so much, in fact, in fact.
01:03:32.171 --> 01:03:36.686
messages through social media, which is the main way that I'm connecting with people like you.
01:03:36.686 --> 01:03:36.776
Mm-hmm.
01:03:37.056 --> 01:03:38.676
And people around the world.
01:03:39.096 --> 01:03:39.186
Mm-hmm.
01:03:39.426 --> 01:03:43.176
Ha has been, it's gonna sound very, very counterintuitive.
01:03:43.276 --> 01:03:45.706
But it has been my saving grace.
01:03:45.706 --> 01:03:46.246
It's, it's been.
01:03:47.236 --> 01:03:51.766
The place where I go to, to, to, like we said, it's am I going crazy?
01:03:51.766 --> 01:03:52.996
It's like, no, you're not.
01:03:53.176 --> 01:03:54.496
We are all feeling the same thing.
01:03:54.496 --> 01:03:55.366
We're seeing the same thing.
01:03:55.366 --> 01:04:01.256
And then secondly, lifting each other up, educating each other, keeping each other vigilant.
01:04:01.476 --> 01:04:10.946
Hey, I, I, I saw this piece of information is not cross-referencing this, holding each other accountable, making sure we're, we're really getting the clean, information.
01:04:11.286 --> 01:04:13.536
That we can then use, and to empower us.
01:04:13.536 --> 01:04:29.586
So, so to be honest, I can't think of just one, one post, but it has been, it has been my saving grace and it has been the thing that I go to in order to feel solidarity, to feel, hopeful to be honest with you.
01:04:30.096 --> 01:04:35.846
So it sounds like your, your stress management practice has really been activism and, and worldwide community.
01:04:35.846 --> 01:04:38.586
And connecting, which is really beautiful.
01:04:39.096 --> 01:04:39.216
Yes.
01:04:39.246 --> 01:04:41.756
I have, one post for you to share.
01:04:41.911 --> 01:04:42.201
Yeah.
01:04:42.621 --> 01:04:44.421
Oh, see, you're prepared.
01:04:44.521 --> 01:04:49.101
Ana fashleh (I'm a failure)
01:04:49.101 --> 01:04:57.191
(abadan mesh feshleh) You're not a failure, you're an inspiration and a mentor to so many of us.
01:04:58.561 --> 01:05:08.761
So this one was, I've act, I actually heard this one, while Interstellar was being played in the background, and it says, don't be afraid to say what you want to say.
01:05:09.061 --> 01:05:10.951
Create what you want to create.
01:05:11.221 --> 01:05:14.551
They got us out thinking that art is just expression.
01:05:14.911 --> 01:05:18.481
It's a product that can be copy and pasted on an assembly line.
01:05:18.801 --> 01:05:20.091
That's not what art is.
01:05:20.391 --> 01:05:23.121
Art by definition is a unique expression.
01:05:23.151 --> 01:05:27.441
A copy of something great doesn't make it great, just a commodity.
01:05:27.861 --> 01:05:32.211
Art is being bought and sold by people who've never created anything in their life.
01:05:32.691 --> 01:05:34.311
People can tell the difference.
01:05:34.521 --> 01:05:38.331
By the time this is all done, people will be hungry for something real.
01:05:38.631 --> 01:05:40.161
So keep creating your art.
01:05:40.251 --> 01:05:41.241
Don't be afraid.
01:05:41.721 --> 01:05:44.991
Don't let them make you afraid to create.
01:05:46.081 --> 01:05:46.771
Who's that one from?
01:05:50.251 --> 01:05:51.241
You got me blushing.
01:05:51.241 --> 01:05:53.131
Oh, yes.
01:05:53.181 --> 01:05:54.736
That's, that was so beautiful.
01:05:54.736 --> 01:05:56.026
Thank you for making that.
01:05:56.026 --> 01:06:00.976
So for our audience, you were playing interstellar in the background and your voice was narrating what I just read.
01:06:01.486 --> 01:06:04.726
So beautiful and inspirational and the comments really.
01:06:05.281 --> 01:06:07.381
Just pure love in the comments.
01:06:07.631 --> 01:06:08.001
Thank you.
01:06:08.001 --> 01:06:08.291
Habibi.
01:06:08.321 --> 01:06:09.071
It means a lot to me.
01:06:09.071 --> 01:06:09.821
All the Thank you.
01:06:10.481 --> 01:06:11.051
Thank you.
01:06:11.481 --> 01:06:17.151
This was such an honor and pleasure and so many will learn from everything you've said today.
01:06:17.151 --> 01:06:18.201
I certainly learned.
01:06:18.201 --> 01:06:19.701
So thank you so much for being here.
01:06:19.701 --> 01:06:20.211
Thank you.
01:06:20.211 --> 01:06:25.041
And thank you for having me on and for this beautiful, uplifting, helpful platform that means a lot to me, so thank you.
01:06:25.041 --> 01:06:26.961
I'm gonna end our time together with a little prayer.
01:06:26.961 --> 01:06:27.891
Is that okay with you?
01:06:28.341 --> 01:06:28.971
Yes, for sure.
01:06:28.971 --> 01:06:29.421
Please.
01:06:29.926 --> 01:06:35.146
May all beings everywhere thrive in peace and dignity and share in all our joys.
01:06:35.566 --> 01:06:39.496
And may we see true peace in the Middle East for all in our lifetime.
01:06:43.400 --> 01:06:46.040
Hey, super Humanizer, it's Katie Bogen here.
01:06:46.280 --> 01:06:48.170
Before you go, I have a quick ask.
01:06:48.560 --> 01:06:54.440
If today's conversation moved you, would you please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Pod chaser.
01:06:54.800 --> 01:07:01.100
Both links are in the show notes and your reviews really help us to reach more people who need to hear these stories.
01:07:01.460 --> 01:07:07.670
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend, a loved one, or anyone who you think would benefit from it.
01:07:08.075 --> 01:07:11.735
Your reviews and sharing help us inspire more humanity in our world.
01:07:12.155 --> 01:07:14.345
Thank you for being a friend of Super Humanizer.
01:07:14.595 --> 01:07:15.715
See you next episode..