Posted by BeautyandtheEast on 11-21-2011 | Comments | Share | Filed under: Entertainment, Film/TV
TLC’s new series, All-American Muslim, scored solid ratings for the network with close to two million viewers tuning in to last week’s season premiere. At the same time, it has attracted a lot of attention from viewers about the show’s Dearborn, Mich. cast members and how they reflect the lifestyles of American Muslims.
On the series premiere, we saw Jeff, an Irish Catholic, convert to Islam, so that he can marry Muslim fiancé Shadia. On Sunday’s episode, we saw another example of how the religion is expressed in the cast members’ lives when the Islamic month of fasting, Ramadan, arrives.
In The Hollywood Reporter’s exclusive clip above, Fouad, the coach of the predominately Muslim Fordson High School football team, creates a novel way of continuing practice around the fasting rules of Ramadan. We also see how that affects one of the few non-Muslim athletes.
All-American Muslim airs Sundays at 10 p.m. on TLC.
Tags: tlc, all american muslim, fordson high school
Posted by BeautyandtheEast on 11-17-2011 | Comments | Share | Filed under: Entertainment, Film/TV
TMZ: Ryan Seacrest is being sued by a woman who claims she was “humiliated” in a taping of the new reality show he’s producing called “Shahs of Sunset” ... insisting she was “forced against her will” to play the role of the “bad girl.”
The show is being hailed as the “Persian Jersey Shore”—featuring a bunch of young, rich Persians galavanting around Los Angeles.
But according to a new lawsuit, filed by a woman named Kathy Salem, the show is just as insane and violent as every other reality show in TV ... a lesson she claims she learned at a fancy Hollywood party back in July. Salem claims she signed a waiver before entering the shindig and understood she would appear on the show ... but “she did not understand that she might be blind sided and forced against her will to play a demeaning and humiliating role.”
Salem claims when she was inside the party, she was confronted by the stars of the show—who began to bully her and become “verbally abusive” because she was talking to a man who was allegedly engaged.
Salem claims things escalated quickly—and she was attacked by multiple people—one of whom tried to rip her top off and another who threw a cup of water in her face. Salem claims the show is set to air in February—but she wants a judge to force Ryan to pull any footage in which she appears.
Salem is suing Seacrest, his production company and Bravo—demanding at least $100,000 in damages.
Calls to Seacrest’s people have not been returned. rep for Bravo tells us, “Bravo has not seen a copy of the complaint, and thus we cannot comment.”
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Posted by BeautyandtheEast on 11-14-2011 | Comments | Share | Filed under: Entertainment, Film/TV
Following the international hit The Boy who Plays on the Buddhas of Bamiyan, The Boy Mir covers not just one year but ten years in Afghanistan. It tracks an 8-year old Afghan boy as he journeys into early adulthood in one of the toughest places on earth. It is a film that is unmatched in mirroring and unveiling the vitally important story of modern Afghanistan. The film has won numerous awards at over a dozen film festivals around the world including “Best Documentary” and “Winner: Audience Award”. Media coverage includes CNN, LA Times, NY Times, Washington City Paper, The Independent, Evening Standard, Village Voice, NY Times and more. The Village Voice says the film ‘makes you laugh and breaks your heart in equal measure’ and the LA Times says ‘Mir gets under your skin in ways that are memorable and poignantly real’.
On November 10th, 2011, PlanetPix Media & Entertainment Group organized a special film screening of The Boy Mir – Ten Years in Afghanistan at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) from 1-3 pm. The screening was followed by a 30 minute panel discussion about Afghanistan with the film’s director Phil Grabsky and USIP’s Barmak Pazhwak (Senior Program Officer, Afghanistan & Pakistan). Following the USIP screening & panel discussion, the National Press Club hosted a news conference featuring Mr. Grabsky. At the conference, a historic moment took place when the Embassy of Afghanistan offered the Afghan flag to the National Press Club as a gift, which was coordinated by PlanetPix.
On Saturday, November 12th at 8 pm, the second Washington D.C. screening of The Boy Mir took place at George Washington University’s Jack Morton auditorium. PlanetPix produced the screening and promoted it to the Afghan-American community, as well diplomatic, non-profit, government, corporate, media contacts in D.C. resulting in a sold-out RSVP list the day before the screening. The screening was also followed by a panel discussion led by attorney, social entrepreneur and Afghanistan expert Mariam Atash Nawabi. Panelists included Phil Grabsky and special guest Christina Lamb, a best-selling author and journalist (Sewing Circles of Herat), who accepted the invitation to speak through PlanetPix.
The Boy Mir’s D.C. events were made possible by PlanetPix Media & Entertainment Group, a multicultural media, marketing and entertainment productions company. The screenings were co-sponsored by United States Institute of Peace (USIP), Afghan Student Association at George Washington University (ASA-GWU), author of “Blue Blood Mirage” Nasrat Esmaty, The Westin Georgetown, Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (YPFP), and Beauty and the East TV.
PlanetPix’s media outreach included inquiries from Voice of America, American Abroad Media, and U.S.A. Today. Media coverage included National Press Club, BBC Pashto, Al Hurra TV, Ariana Afghanistan TV, and the Embassy of Afghanistan.
Award-winning British film-maker Phil Grabsky decided in 2002 to follow Mir for a decade and see what happened to him and his country. Overcoming difficult and sometimes dangerous obstacles, Grabsky has made what many are calling an extraordinary and unique film. Despite the poverty, despite the slow recovery from war, despite the ever-present Taliban threat, Mir shows a determination and resolve that offers a somewhat optimistic face of Afghanistan. Soldiers returning from combat that have seen the film have commented, “We wish we’d seen this before we went to Afghanistan”.
For April 2012 screening & sponsorship requests for “The Boy Mir”, please e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
VIEW ALL “BOY MIR” EVENT PHOTOS HERE: http://www.facebook.com/pages/PlanetPix-Media-and-Entertainment-Group/165913950088776
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Posted by BeautyandtheEast on 11-01-2011 | Comments | Share | Filed under: Entertainment, Film/TV
Enjoy a FREE film screening for “Boy Mir: Ten Years in Afghanistan” on Sat. Nov. 12th at GWU’s Jack Morton Auditorium at 7 pm. Reserve your seats today but hurry seats are filling fast: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Get more info about the screening here: http://www.planetpixproductions.com/news/
Tags: boy mir, phil grabsky, asa, george washington university
Posted by BeautyandtheEast on 10-26-2011 | Comments | Share | Filed under: Entertainment, Film/TV
LA Times: Angelina Jolie’s new trailer for “In the Land of Blood and Honey” has hit the internet, and fans can finally see what all the hubbub is about.
At first the clip reveals two lovers, a Serbian man and Bosnian-Muslim woman, before a darker storyline emerges. It appears the couple was forced apart during the Bosnian war in 1992 and he’s taken her captive. “Am I a prisoner?” she asks. “You are not a prisoner if you want to be here,” is his chilling reply.
Bosnian actors Zana Marjanovic and Goran Kostic star in the movie that was filmed in English and Serbo-Croat languages.
The drama marks Jolie’s debut as writer and director, but getting the film made hasn’t been easy. In late 2010, “Blood and Honey” caused an uproar with female war victims in Bosnia over rumors that the film portrayed a love story between a rapist and his victim.
Jolie’s filming permit was pulled by Sarajevo city officials over the controversy, but later reinstated after they reviewed the script. In the end, Jolie sent a second-unit director to film only three or four days in Bosnia instead of eight or 10, and opted to shoot more of the film in Hungary instead.
“There are many twists in the plot that address the sensitive nature of the relationship between the main characters and that will be revealed once the film is released,” Jolie told Reuters at the time.
“In the Land of Blood and Honey’ opens Dec. 23, just in time for awards season.
Tags: angelina jolie, in land of blood honey, serbian, bosnian muslim
Posted by BeautyandtheEast on 10-24-2011 | Comments | Share | Filed under: Entertainment, Film/TV
By Michael Arbeiter (Hollywood.com) NBC’s newest prospect is a series called The Infidel: a comedy about a devout Muslim (star and executive producer Omid Djalili) who finds out as an adult that he was adopted and is, in fact, Jewish by birth. The premise alone might make you shudder, but there are a few things to consider before immediately casting this project aside.
Comedy is a very good way to approach controversial subject matter. It is often the only means to look at a tense situation without the severity that the real world applies to it. As a result, one might leave a piece of comedic work with a new, more open perspective on the topic at hand. Additionally, comedy might shed light on the inherent silliness in a point of view, or an entire controversy, held with a great deal of gravity by society. All in the Family is television’s poster boy for this, although many other series have attempted, and succeeded, in tackling issues in a humorous way.
The Infidel was originally a British comedy film with the same plot: Djalili’s character struggles with an identity crisis after finding out he is Jewish, and immerses himself in both Muslim and Jewish lifestyles.
Whether the series will attempt to use jokes to smooth the jagged edges of this subject matter, or will simply vie for surface value jokes, is yet to be seen. Either way, this is a risky move—some people will be put off by this. But hopefully it is indeed the show’s motive to get a message through to someone. And hopefully, that message will get through.
Tags: NBC, The Infidel, Omid Djalili, Muslims, Jews
Posted by BeautyandtheEast on 10-20-2011 | Comments | Share | Filed under: Entertainment, Film/TV
Hollywood Reporter: TLC announced on Wednesday that its new eight-episode reality series, All-American Muslim, will premiere on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 10 p.m. It follows five Muslim families who live in Dearborn, Mich. and how they balance their faith’s customs and celebrations alongside the misconceptions, challenges, and differences they encounter living in the U.S.
“All-American Muslim is a perfect fit for TLC, inviting viewers into a world they might not otherwise experience,” says TLC GM Amy Winter. “Through these families and their diverse experiences, we will explore how they blend their values and traditions with everyday life in America.”
Dearborn apparently has one of the largest American Muslim communities in the nation and the largest mosque in the United States.
Below, here’s a sampling of the people who are featured in the series from TLC.
Suehaila and Shadia: Suehaila wears a traditional headscarf and follows daily prayer rituals—while Shadia, her outspoken sister, is decorated with piercings and tattoos and recently married Jeff, an Irish Catholic who is converting to Islam.
Nader and Nawal: Newlyweds expecting their first baby, Nader and Nawal are working to strike the right balance between their traditional Muslim roots and American culture.
Fouad: As head coach of the Fordson High School football team, Fouad has pioneered a shift in his team’s summer practice schedule by flipping to night workouts from 11pm-5am since a majority of his team are Muslim and fasting for Ramadan.
Mike and Angela: Mike, a deputy chief sheriff, and his wife Angela, a consultant to a major auto manufacturer, are juggling their busy careers with raising their four children in a modern Muslim family.
Nina: A strong independent Muslim businesswoman, Nina’s family runs the premier wedding and banquet hall in Dearborn—but against their advice, she is trying to venture off on her own to open a nightclub.
Samira and Ali: Samira and her husband of seven years Ali struggle with fertility issues and are pursuing numerous options including conventional fertility techniques, dietary alternatives and Muslim supplication prayers. After years of unsuccessful attempts, Samira considers putting on the Hijab in order to be closer to God and hopefully blessed with a child.
Tags: tlc, all american muslims, dearborn
Posted by BeautyandtheEast on 10-16-2011 | Comments | Share | Filed under: Entertainment, Film/TV
A newly released film in France depicts for the first time how the Paris Mosque saved Jews and Muslim resistance fighters during World War II.
Troves of books, movies and articles have been released over the years in France describing almost every facet of World War II and the Nazi occupation here. But one historical nugget has been largely overlooked - the role played by Muslims during that dark period of French history. A new movie aims to right the record. Released two weeks ago in cinemas across the country, “Les Homme Libres” - “Free Men” in English - describes how the former rector of the Paris Mosque, Si Kaddour Ben Gabrit, offered shelter and Muslim identity to Jews and resistance fighters. Just how many Jews is a matter of dispute. Some say very few. What is certain, is that gesture saved them from deportation and death.
The current rector of the Paris Mosque, Dalil Boubakeur, is no stranger to this story. Boubakeur says he has tried for years to focus public attention to Ben Gabrit’s acts through public conferences and the media. But he says he has had a hard time digging into the past. Many first-hand witnesses have died. Documents remain buried in government offices.There have been a handful of accounts of the role played by the Paris mosque and Muslims in wartime France. But this is the first time it has been depicted in a movie. Benjamin Stora, a North Africa expert who was a consultant for the film, say it is a first in other ways.
“Through the movie, French have learned that nearly 100,000 North Africans lived in France in the 1930s and ‘40s,” Stora says. “Most were from Algeria. Some collaborated with the Nazis, but others joined the French resistance. Many French are only aware of the massive immigration of North African workers here after the war.” Stora says one reason that French know so little about the Muslim community of that era is that many later became resistance fighters during Algeria’s war of liberation from France. Their World War II past was buried.
“Sephardic, or North African Jews, also lived in Paris during Nazi occupation. Like their Muslim counterparts, they spoke Arabic,” said Stora. “The two communities shared the same food and love of Andalusian music.”
Today, the relationship between French Jews and Muslims has deteriorated - reflecting the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Paris Mosque rector Boubakeur is among a number of religious leaders trying to improve ties between the two communities. Boubakeur believes the movie might improve relations between Muslims and Jews here - changing the way each looks at the other. And for French citizens in general, it highlights a time when Muslims here reached out a hand to help those in great danger.
Tags: less homme libres, free men
Posted by BeautyandtheEast on 10-11-2011 | Comments | Share | Filed under: Entertainment, Film/TV
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An Iranian actress has been sentenced to 90 lashes and a year in jail for starring in an Australian movie with a shaved head—and no head-covering.
Marzieh Vafamehr, who appeared in “My Tehran for Sale,” has appealed the sentence. According to Amnesty International, Vafamehr also appears to drink alcohol in the movie. Consuming alcohol is banned under Iranian law. The penalty is 80 lashes—for the first offense.
The Australian movie, oddly enough, is about an actress in Iran who is forced to live a secret life in order to express herself. In a written statement to TheWrap, producers Julie Ryan and Kate Croser said Tuesday that the actress’s involvement in the film “was limited to her role as an actress and she was not in any other way involved in the behind-the-scenes filmmaking.”
“As producers of the film ‘My Tehran for Sale’ we would like to express our deep shock and sadness at the sentence imposed by the Iranian government,” they wrote.
Richard Harris, CEO of the South Australian Film Corp., wrote, “We are deeply disturbed by Marzieh Vafamehr’s sentence for appearing in Granaz Moussavi’s groundbreaking film, which is itself about the risks that artists are prepared to take for creative expression.” Amnesty International on Tuesday criticized the sentence—and flogging in general. “If Vafamehr is held solely on account of the peaceful exercise of her right to freedom of expression, she should be released immediately and unconditionally,” the human rights organization said in a written statement.
Vafamehr’s sentence is only the most recent example of the Iranian regime’s ongoing crackdown on the entertainment industry. On September 17, Iran arrested five documentary directors and a producer and distributor. Among them was Mojtaba Mirtahmasb, who was detained at the Tehran airport as he prepared to go to the Toronto Film Festival. And in December 2010, director Jafar Panahi was arrested. He has been sentenced to six years in prison and was banned from filmmaking and from speaking with the foreign press for 20 years.
Tags: marzieh vafamehr, my tehran for sale, iranian actress sentenced, lashed
Posted by BeautyandtheEast on 10-10-2011 | Comments | Share | Filed under: Entertainment, Film/TV
There’s a long history of Hollywood plundering Asian action stars for their own, from Bruce Lee to Jay Chou, but aside from the occasional exception (who could forget Paul Rudd in “Gen-Y Cops?” Answer: everyone), the exchange rarely works the other way. But with investment from China and elsewhere becoming more and more important, the balance is starting to tip a little. Kevin Spacey is starring in Chinese picture “Inseparable” and Christian Bale took the lead in Zhang Yimou‘s “The Flowers Of War,” while Nicolas Winding Refn and Ryan Gosling are heading East for the Bangkok-set “Only God Forgives.”
And now two more are continuing the trend, as a press release from Margate House Films reveals that Oscar-nominee Mickey Rourke and “Twilight” star Kellan Lutz, who are about to appear together in the swords-and-sandals epic “Immortals,” are starring in “Java Heat,” a South-East Asia-set action-thriller from the Indonesia-based company.
The film is written and directed by Conor Allyn, who wrote the “Red & White” trilogy, some of the most successful films ever in Indonesia, as well as directing the second and third installments, “Blood of Eagles” and “Hearts of Freedom,” and filming began on September 22nd. The plot doesn’t suggest anything particularly mold-breaking, as you can see from the official synopsis:
At a time when relations between the West and Islam are hot topics , Java Heat stars Lutz as Jake, a reckless tough guy who – like America after 9/11—is bent on vengeance against Islamic terrorists, but finds the world a more complicated place than he can solve with violence alone. Lost in the religious and cultural shock of the palaces, mosques, temples, subterranean labyrinths and red-light districts of Southeast Asia’s criminal underworld, Jake must ally with a cerebral, suspicious Muslim detective. Together they play a cat-and-mouse game against a decadent jewel thief, Malik (Mickey Rourke), who masterminds bombings and kidnappings to collect art, jewels, even little boys and a princess – all in a desperate search for the faded beauty of his own lost youth.
Rourke’s career continues to puzzle us somewhat: having been given a chance at a true comeback, and bagging a villainous role in a blockbuster superhero sequel, he seems to have reverted to the kind of easy paycheck that he was doing before Robert Rodriguez and Darren Aronofsky brought him back from the abyss. It is, however, about what we expect from Lutz. Maybe we’re being unfair, but we suspect that the next time we hear about this movie, it’ll be catching it at 4am on a Sunday morning on Starz, sometime in 2014.
Written by: Oliver Lyttelton
Tags: java heat, mickey rourke, kellan lutz, margate house films, indonesia
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