World Cinema Fund

“The World Cinema Fund works to develop and support cinema in regions with a weak film infrastructure, while fostering cultural diversity in German cinemas. The World Cinema Fundsupports films that could not be made without additional funding: films that stand out with an unconventional aesthetic approach, that tell powerful stories and transmit an authentic image of their cultural roots.

The World Cinema Fund has an annual budget of approximately 400,000 EUR and supports exclusively the production and distribution of feature films and feature-length documentaries. The support is focused on the following regions: Latin America, Central America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, Southeast Asia and the Caucasus.”

Find out more about grants and funding in the grants and funding category.

To purchase a download of the Funding Your Dream Documentary seminar, click here.

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Casting for interviewee to discuss “Arab Spring”

Park Triangle Production is looking to interview people from the Middle East and North Africa about their thoughts and feelings about the recent “Arab Spring.”  Interviews will take place this Monday – Thursday from 10am-4pm. Interviews will be used as part of a new series exploring humanity in all of its forms. Email Gemal@parktriangle.com for more information.

People from other countries seeking democratic rights are also welcome.

Hubert Balls Fund supports films in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe

“International Film Festival Rotterdam’s (IFFR) Hubert Bals Fund supports remarkable or urgent feature films by innovative and talented filmmakers from developing countries. Since its establishment in 1988, close to 900 projects from independent filmmakers in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and parts of Eastern Europe have received support. Approximately 80% of these projects have been realized or are currently in production.”

Find out more about grants and funding in the grants and funding category.

To purchase a download of the Funding Your Dream Documentary seminar, click here.

Even More Free B-Roll Sources

Here are some more sources of free b-roll that I have used lately.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has b-roll from their missions in Asia & Pacific, Africa, Americas, Europe & C. Asia and MENA.  http://www.ifrc.org/en/news-and-media/newsroom/

The International Committee of the Red Cross has different video than above also highlighting their activities in Asia & Pacific, Africa, Europe & Americas and the Middle East. http://www.icrcvideonewsroom.org/content/embed.asp?ID=8b56617.5m1352245hn53914.26

The United Nations Offices of Drugs and Crimes has b-roll from around the world highlighting their anti-drug activities.  http://www.unodc.org/unodc/video.html

Bing has a lot of product videos of their product being used on other products such as cell phones, I-Pads and computers.  http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/bing/videoGallery.aspx#channel_contentListTop

Walmart has b-roll of their stores which often show merchandise. I got some good shots of television sets here. http://walmartstores.com/Video/?id=1525

For more b-roll sources and information, visit the B-roll category.

“Just Like Us” – A Review

It turns out that everyone likes to laugh – even in the Arab world.  Egyptian-American comic Ahmed Ahmed has been working as a successful stand-up comedian for many years.  When I interviewed him 10-years ago, he talked about having a dream to bring comedy to the Middle East as a way to open hearts and minds.  10 years may seem like a long time to realize a dream but the documentary “Just Like Us” following Ahmed’s comedy review tour of  Dubai, Lebanon, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Egypt shows that it was well worth the wait.

Although “Just Like Us”  is Ahmed Ahmed journey to help bring Western style stand-up to a new part of the world, he is joined by a merry band of ethnically diverse comedians who, for the most part, are not sure what to expect from their sold out audiences.  Ahmed, who had been banned from Dubai a year before for making religious jokes, does not keep his fellow comedians on a short leash.  When Omid Djalili slips into making dick jokes and Whitney Cummings talks about men’s balls, they both sheepishly apologize  back stage.  Ahmed reassures them that the crowd loved it and that if they are banned, they are in good company.

The journey is peppered with man-on-the -street interviews in America – many of whom wonder if American comedy will translate in the Middle East.  Some of the comics wondered the same thing as did I.  But when Tommy Davidson jokes about African-American leaders and Angelo Tsarouchas talks about his Greek upbringing in Canada, you begin to realize that comedy, much like music, has few boundaries.

It takes guts to be a stand-up comedian.  But it takes balls to crack jokes to a crowd in Saudi Arabia knowing that the culture police may crack down on you at any time.  And it takes heart to bring local comedians to the stage in order to help them get a start in a career that many people in their countries have never heard of.  “What, you want to be a clown?”

In between the laughs are poignant moments that were captured, effectively, to highlight our shared humanity.  A Female comic from Egypt talks about telling her grandchildren about performing with Ahmed and Maz Jobrani. Ahmed’s uncle hugs him goodbye as if he can’t bear to let him go.  Ahmed brings the film full circle by stopping in New York where he meets an out-of-work Egyptian trying to give his family a better life.  After the show, Ahmed tells the man how much he reminds Ahmed of his own father who moved to Los Angeles. He tells the man to keep it up; it will all work out.  My eyes welled up – the last thing that I would expect from a comedy documentary.

Ahmed Ahmed is not the only American comic to do stand up in the Middle East. Nor is this his first Middle Eastern tour.  In the past, has brought Arab and Jewish comedians together on stage both in the States and in the Middle East.  In that way, one can view Ahmed as a sort of global activist.  Even with it’s kumbaya and softer moments, it must be said that the comedy is funny in “Just Like Us.”  And, the message was on point.  The shooting was a little bit more rough than I would have liked.  I am not one who subscribes to the idea that a gritty look adds to an edgy feel.  But the movie left me wanting more in a good way.  Did any of the comedians get banned from Dubai?  Has the out-of-work Dad found work? I also wonder if this tour would have been possible had it been shot after the Arab Spring.  Are people in the countries rocked by the struggle for freedom in the mood to sit down and laugh? If they can’t now, I sure hope they will be to soon.

For other reviews, visit the Reviews category.

Shasha Scripting $100,000 Competition Grant

The Shasha Scriptwriting Competition Grant is open for citizens of the United Arab Emirates, the Middle East or North Africa.  The grant, offered by the Abu Dhabi Film Commission, is for $100,000.  Scripts are accepted in Arabic and English.

“The Shasha Grant brings much needed exposure to emerging talent in the fast-growing Middle Eastern film market and underlines our commitment to develop and promote the next generation of filmmakers from the region, and by accepting Arabic language scripts we aim to encourage more Arabic entries,” said Eissa Saif Al Mazrouei, Special Projects Director, Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage.”

Find out more about grants and funding in the grants and funding category.

To purchase a download of the Funding Your Dream Documentary seminar, click here.

Dalai Lama on “Ideas In Action”

Here is a press release for the Dalai Lama’s appearence on Ideas In Action.  I worked on this episode as shoot coordinator and post production producer.  The Dalai Lama spoke about seeking “meaningful autonomy” for Tibet in relation to China, Middle East uprisings and his decision to step down from political leadership.  Click here to learn more about the Dalai Lama’s interview.

For Immediate Release

DALAI LAMA CALLS CHINESE OCCUPATION OF TIBET A” RULE OF FEAR AND TERROR,” SAYS THERE IS A “SEMI-CULTURAL REVOLUTION” IN TIBET

Annapolis, MD June 1, 2011 – An exclusive thirty-minute interview with His Holiness the Dalai Lama will air on public television and the Voice of America over the weekend of June 3-5, 2011 as part of the weekly television series, Ideas In Action with Jim Glassman.

During the interview the Dalai Lama candidly discussed his views on the future of his people, the struggle for freedom by people in the Middle East, how he plans to remain as spiritual leader while giving up his role as the political leader of his people and his desire for Tibet to be an autonomous region within China.

With the increase in Chinese military and security personnel in Tibet, His Holiness commented, there is a “rule of fear, rule of terror there.”

In discussing the systematic efforts by the Chinese government to stamp out the Tibetan culture, the Dalai Lama says local Tibetans tell him that now a “semi-Cultural Revolution [is] returning,” a reference to the Cultural Revolution in China in the 1960’s and 70’s when the communist authorities waged a reign of terror against the Chinese people and instituted a strict regime of political indoctrination.

On the recent wave of Middle East uprisings His Holiness said that he supports the people fighting for freedom, saying that once their goal of changing the system is achieved, they should avoid criticizing each other and “…. work together and build [a] new society.”

The Dalai Lama interview is part of the Freedom Collection, a repository of video histories and documents from the hallmark freedom movements of the twentieth century up to the present that is being created by the George W. Bush Institute in Dallas, TX.  Videotaped interviews and important documents will be available at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas and on the Freedom Collection website later this year.

Ambassador James K. Glassman is the Executive Director of the George W. Bush Institute, the public policy arm of the George W. Bush Presidential Center.  Ideas in Action with Jim Glassman airs on public television stations across the country.  Viewers should consult their local listings for times, or can visit the www.ideasinactiontv.com website to watch the program or look up program schedules.

Ideas in Action with Jim Glassman is a co-production of Grace Creek Media and the George W. Bush Institute.

ABOUT GRACE CREEK MEDIA (www.gracecreek.com)

Grace Creek Media, Inc. is an independent production and distribution company based in Annapolis, MD that specializes in the development, production and distribution of documentaries, series and educational television programming.

THE GEORGE W. BUSH INSTITUTE (www.georgewbushinstitute.com)

The George W. Bush Institute is an independent, nonpartisan think tank engaged in policy, research, and action guided by the principles of freedom, opportunity, responsibility, and compassion.  Working with philanthropic-minded individuals, social entrepreneurs, other non-profit private institutions, businesses, and international and domestic government agencies, the Bush Institute’s goal is to transform ideas into action, producing results that can be tested, proven, and replicated in the real world.

Press Contact: Christina Mazzanti – christina.mazzanti@gracecreek.com

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