Movies, Music, and Muslims Part One: An Interview with Imam Zaid Shakir January 30, 2010
Posted by muslimouttakes in Uncategorized.Tags: cinema, film, forbidden, haram, islam, lawful, movies, music. halal, muslim
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As the presence and reach of media increases by leaps and bounds, we as a Muslim community here in America are still a silent minority. We have not made the inroads that other communities have. There is a small but growing film making community that is budding, but little to guide it. The subject of Muslim Cinema and film-making is hardly covered. I am in the process of finishing a whitepaper on the subject. Most of this is new ground and so we as both consumers and producers of film have little to no guidance. Through this interview I would like to help start a dialogue on this critical subject.
Imam Zaid Shakir
Imam Zaid Shakir is well known in the Muslim community. Just incase for those who do not know, here is a brief bio on him. Imam Zaid Shakir is a prominent and respected American Islamic Scholar, and Writer, who serves as a Professor and Lecturer at Zaytuna Institute in California, where he now teaches regular courses on Arabic, Law, History, and Islamic Spirituality. He is one of the signatories of A Common Word Between Us and You, an open letter by Islamic Scholars to Christian Leaders, calling for peace and understanding. His bio is long but to cut to the chase I am interviewing him because he is a mentor to many of us who are intiating or making inroads to the media from Illume magazine to MeccaOne Radio.
JM It is a reality that our community including our youth watch movies. The ratings of a film by the MPAA are useful but not always on the mark in terms of what we may deem to be acceptable to watch. Although we are still a ways off of having the H for Halal rating, films contain scenes that are graphic. What guidelines would you give to both parents and youth, about discerning about what to watch or not and how to watch?
ZS Guidelines for parents and youth are important. I would encourage them to minimize watching movies and TV. I’m not saying avoid it but you don’t want them to become an addict. There are more productive things to do with your time and mind. Parents should preview any film they are going to expose their children to. Eg Kite Runner was supposed to be a good film, yet it has a rape scene which has been traumatic for both children and youth to watch. You child has to process all that. Do not just count on some one else’s word that a film is good. You should watch it from beginning to end before you decide you are going to expose your child to it.
JM Of course once you have seen and you deem a film worth of watching you can skip those scenes also. What about adults. Films like Syriana or lets take Babel where the story has a Muslim theme of how a remote event in a desert can be blown out of proportion and start a chain reaction that triggers an international crisis. But the film has a couple of graphic scenes?
ZS My Question would be, did those two scenes add anything substantial to the film?
JM Looks like the interview got reversed. No, I wish they hadn’t put it in there.
ZS Did anybody recommend that film because of those two scenes? Probably not a single person who watched it said you have to watch this film because of these two scenes. But by avoiding them, it helps to keep to our Muslim standards and integrity and it forces the viewer to really value the film for its message, and not for the token nude scene or token love scene or whatever.
JM What are your thoughts on using entertainment to educate and whether you thinks it’s worth it? How do you think people should navigate their consumption of entertainment given that sometimes it may not have bad scenes but may have women wearing midriffs (as people wear in public) or the like.
ZS There is no substitute for education. We need to encourage our community to be readers. But film does have a teaching impact. You can give the message without it being an in your face endeavor. Try to avoid the other stuff.
JM There is no definition of Islamic Film and Muslim film. I came up with these as working definitions. . “Islamic Cinema is film that conforms to Islamic laws, customs and values.” It is a high ideal, and due to the vagaries of film a sensitive and difficult subject to address. Any art-form by its nature is subjective. “Muslim Cinema is a film movement by or about Muslims.” Are these acceptable and if not what would be a better definition?
ZS It is an acceptable definition.
JM From the Muslim majority countries, Iran is the most respected of all in terms of the films that it produces on the global stage. It seems like an interesting dichotomy whereas on one side politically they are considered the bad boys, in cinema they are highly respected. Any thoughts as to why that may be?
ZS Iran is portrayed as this reactionary bastion, a lot of that is part of a campaign to demonize Iran. In reality there are a lot of positive things going on in Iran. There are things that need improvement. The election may have been a sham. The opposition was Islamic and that is why so many people rallied around Ayatollah Hussein-Ali Montazeri?
Ayatollah Montazeri
He became a symbol. People are not out in the street, to get rid of the Islamic republic and asking instead, give us American style hypocrisy, I meant democracy. They are saying live up to the Islamic principles that the republic was founded on. Give us real elections. Iran is a very nuanced, sophisticated place, politically, culturally, socially and I think that sophistication spreads into the realm of film.
JM It is interesting to see that the Chinese before and now the Indians have made huge inroads into the media and have a strong presence in Television and film. Although we talk about the large number of Muslims in the US, we still appear to be an invisible minority. Is this just because of 9/11 and or discrimination, or is there something more to it?
ZS (My recorder jammed here so the following is a summary of the answer.) As the community matures and we move to the second and third generations who are not just concerned about survival you are seeing the youth moving over to the liberal arts and film making. Now some Muslims think that being involved in film is Haram. Again this is a healthy tension and it is good to see that they are taking the religion seriously.
JM Spike Lee’s Malcolm X and the award winning documentary “When we were Kings” about Muhammad Ali are two films that stand out, where the protagonist is a Muslim. Both the subjects have been a profound part of American history and are African-American. Going forward who or what are the subjects that you think film makers should consider shedding light on?
(Imam Zaid described the first story in detail. I couldn’t capture it verbatim so again this is just a summary).
ZS The following are people that it would be good to see films made on.
- Ayuba Suleiman Diallo also known as Job ben Solomon, in 1731 was a famous Muslim from Timbuktu who was sold into slavery. When he made it to the US because of his education and status he was able to be freed in America.
Ayuba Suleiman Diallo
- The narrative is a long one but suffice it to say it is a powerful one.
- Wali Akram in the early 1900s was founder of the First Cleveland Mosque, the first official home to Muslims in Cleveland. . He was its imam for 52 years. Amongst other things he was an inventor and invented the railroad track changing mechanism
- Sufi Abdul Hamid was a labor organizer in the 1920s first in Chicago and then New York.
- Ida B Wells was an early leader in the civil rights movement, she documented the extent of lynching in the United States, and single handedly helped to stop it.
- She was also active in the women’s rights movement and the women’s suffrage movement.
- Mamie Till was the mother of Emmett Till, a 14 year old boy who was murdered for supposedly whistling at a white woman, mobilized the civil rights movement. His killing was so brutal Mamie Till decided to hold an open funeral to show what racism had produced. When asked about why she was not angry, she replied she had no time to be angry or hate. She spent her life pursuing justice.
These are a few of many examples that would make a great narrative for film.
Part two of this blog is a Q&A which should be of interest to Muslim film makers.
Movies, Music, and the Muslim Film maker:Part two: An Interview with Imam Zaid Shakir January 30, 2010
Posted by muslimouttakes in Muslim Cinema.Tags: cinema, film, filmmaker, halal, haram, islam, movies, muslim
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This is the second part of the interview with Imam Zaid Shakir with a focus on film making.
Imam Zaid Shakir
Although Cinema has been around for the last century, the presence of Muslim filmmakers in the US and the west is relatively new. We are slowly shifting from being doctors, and engineers into unchartered waters, that of media and specifically film. The following are the insights and guidelines Imam Zaid shared.
JM Now to get into the filmmaking part. We as a community have come a long way in terms of what appears to be acceptable in terms of media. At one extreme some scholars questioned the validity of having pictures taken, and now it is interesting when you go eg to UK and watch satellite TV, there are so many Islamic or Muslim channels that have moving pictures of various scholars, giving their sermons. Can you give some parameters of what is or not acceptable to young film makers as they make films for the theater, DVD/video, internet, and mobile applications media is pervasive.
ZS You should not show pornographic images. There are many successful films that do not show pornography. Don’t promote racism. You can show examples of racism to show how bad it is, or dangerous it is, but not to promote it. Similarly don’t promote misogyny, the hatred and denigration of girls and women, like some rappers do. Don’t show or promote denigration of other religions. Again if you are making a film on the partition of India and the violence that took place, it is OK to show what the non-Muslims did with Muslims, but you don’t want to promote hatred of Hindus. You have to be balanced and also show the wrongs that Muslims did too. Again the purpose is not to promote this just like you don’t want to promote racism or misogyny. Pornography just to repeat is something you don’t want to show period. There are many films that are successful that avoid using profane language and swearing etc.
JM If you look at the major milestones in “Muslim Cinema” and again this is a 50,000 foot view, we have The Message by Mustaf Akad
The Message
which was made in the mid seventies to the documentaries made by Michael Wolfe. Of course there are the films that are made in major film-making countries like Egypt, Iran, and Turkey, but leaving those aside for now, what kind of films would you like to see Muslims making. Do they always need to have a Muslim theme?
ZS They don’t need to have a Muslim theme. It is greater dawah when Muslims don’t have a particular Muslim theme. But in the sense that there is a dearth of good Muslim films that Muslims are making quality Muslim films there is nothing wrong with that as it is filling a void. But every film from a Muslim film maker doesn’t have to be a Salahudin or the story of Bilal the caller. Muslims should be making films about hardship that people are going through. Many of the Iranian films are good at this, eg the Persian film Children of Heaven, shows the hardship a brother and sister go through when they only have one pair of shoes to share. It doesn’t have to be about the revolution around the corner or a figure from history. It can be just about humanizing Muslims. By the way did you see the New Muslim Cool?
New Muslim Cool
JM No, but I have interviewed the director.
ZS Well you have to see that. That film on PBS did more to humanize Muslims than any other film or documentary made about Muslims. It is a film about a Puerto Rican convert that smashes stereotypes where people think all Muslims are Arabs or blacks. It shows how his mother is happy that he is a Muslim. He was a drug dealer and gangster in the making. Now he is a nice guy sitting at home rubbing his mothers feet. People are watching that and seeing how he evolved from a fire bred radical and see the intricacies and connections that join us to other people. It is a powerful narrative.
JM In Hollywood, Muslims and Arabs since the early days have been the other, or the outsiders usually portrayed as the villain. In the nineties we had all the Muslims equals terrorists films like True Lies and a host of other films. With the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, there seems to be a more positive portrayal of the Muslim in films like Rendition, Syriana, and others which give another point of view. Do you see this trend continuing or is this an aberration based on what is going on in the bigger scenario?
ZS That will continue. As people realize they are being schooled by the same forces there will be more of a tendency for people to see that Muslims are getting a bad rap. On KPFA radio they interviewed Jeremy Scahill who did a documentary on a nine year old kid who was shot amongst 17 civilians by Blackwater guards. A massacre by any standards and it follows the fathers quest to get justice. You will see more of this.
JM Movies by their nature usually have a music component from the score to some theme songs etc. I have asked the question to some of our well known brothers who write and sing Nasheeds about what is acceptable in terms of music (assuming there is), but never got a clear answer. Can you give any guidelines to our future film makers as music is an integral part of making film?
ZS If you are trying to use to use this medium effectively to portray a message, music is a part of that. While I personally may not listen to music at home, when I go to the movies I don’t wear earplugs and just watch the images. If you are going to engage in this genre effectively it will need a musical score so you have a competitive product. But you don’t want to force Muslims who are averse to music, to say that you have to go and see my movie or that you’re old fashioned or whatever. You always want a healthy tension in the community around issues like music, films, and pictures because this is how we will grow. Everyone will reassess their position. Once you lose that tension and it’s all one way or another the growth stops.
JM What are your thoughts on the logistics of how mixed gender scenes should be shot. Do you think it’s okay for non-Muslim actors touching other non-Muslim opposite gender actors, in a scene let’s say between two adult siblings?
ZS Whatever is considered normal and natural is allowed. Of course there should not be anything lewd.
An Interview with Hollywood Writer-Director, Richard Shepard January 12, 2010
Posted by muslimouttakes in Muslim Cinema.Tags: richard shepard hollywood writer director matador hunting party
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Q Please share growing up and your relationship to TV and film?
A I grew up in NYC. MY father was a huge movie fan, and I distinctly remember him taking me to revival theatres to see the two Godfather films. Once I realized that i wasn’t good enough to play third base for the New York Mets, I
Richard Shepard
started thinking about making movies. Seeing Apocalypse Now when I was 14, sealed the deal. it was the first movie that made me realize that movies were an art form along with something just entertaining. Rocky. Star Wars The first Raiders of
the lost Ark. The original King Kong. These are movies from my youth that lifted my imagination…
Q At what point did you realize you were destined to be a film-maker?
A I got my first super 8 camera as a 6th grade graduation present. But I was a little older before I put it all together. Once i decided I had no choice. i really wasn’t prepared– nor am I now- to do much of anything else.
Q How well did attending NYU prepare you for Hollywood and what have been the hardest lessons you’ve learnt?
A NYU was great. I met amazing people.They taught me about cameras, and lighting, but they ignored mostly the two most important parts of directing: Working with actors, and managing the business side of a business filled with sharks.
Your films, Mexico City, The Matador, and The Hunting Party are global and gritty with the first two being based in Mexico and the Hunting Party in Bosnia. Can you share any insights as to what drew you to these kind of projects?
Every movie is different. Mexico City was a million dollar thriller that is deeply flawed. However, I loved my experience in Mexico so much I decided to write another script set there so I could go back and film in that country correctly. Thus, the Matador. The first script I wrote without an outline. Just followed my gut.
Q What was the genesis of The Hunting Party?
A I loved the original article in Esquire by Scott Anderson and was challenged by doing a true story. I also wanted to make a movie in a post-war environment like my favorite movie of all time, The Third Man. So Hunting Party filled all those requirements.
Hunting Party: A film about post-war Bosnia
Q In your thought process what makes a great story for film? How did you know The Hunting Party was a story worth pursuing?
A The article hooked me. And I felt like I could make a great 1940′s Warner Brothers like B-movie adventure– That’s what I told everybody on the crew. Lets not be too serious. Lets make a fun film, and make a very important point about the way we hunt, or don’t hunt for war criminals, but hide it in the way we tell the story.
Q I don’t know if you can say there is some irony in that your story juxtaposed and became a reality in Bosnia, with the capture of Radovan Karadic. Your storyline is similar where a war criminal is caught by the protagonists and handed over to the victims families. Was your film a projection of what you thought may happen and if so any reflections on this?
A All the thinks we say about the Fox, the stand in our movie for Karadzic, was based on what I heard in Bosnia. Tat he had a beard. That he was hiding in the mountains or in Serbia. That he claimed the US made a secret deal with him– all that’s in the movie, and all that’s the truth. Unbelievably fascinating stuff. I’m very interested in whether Karadzic saw a bootleg of my movie. He’s such an egotist it wouldn’t surprise me.
Q You have been quoted as saying “Getting any movie made is a miracle. It’s so hard. Clearly I would love more money, but control — which you normally don’t have when it’s a bigger movie — is more important to me.” Having done large budget studio and lower cost independent films, besides control what do you see as the trade offs?
Well if I did X-Men 3 I’d be living in a bigger house and having an assistant answering these questions for me. But I’d have no soul.
Q The Hunting Party like many of the post Iraq-war films have not done that well in the box office. Even with a gap in space and time, do you think theater audiences prefer escapism and want shut out the realism depicted in these films? If so does this mean films that make social commentary will always be left to niche audiences?
A People aren’t seeking out tough movies, that’s for sure, and that’s a shame because movies like The Hurt Locker are just great. Truth is, the movies audiences are paying for is shifting, and the amount of money you have to spend to get audiences to be aware of your films is staggering. The Weinstein’s barely spent any money releasing The Hunting Party. It’s a shame. I worked my butt off on that movie and am very proud. But it’s had a big life on DVD and cable, so that at least makes me happy.
Q How long did it take for development, production and post-production process?
A The Hunting Party was super fast. A year from page to screen. Most movies take much longer. The Matador took two years. And THAT was also fast.
Q You have worked on Features and Television, writing and directing. Can you share your proudest moment and share reason why?
A I’m proud of every movie and TV show I’ve done. I really am. Ask any director. Their work is like their children. You don’t pick favorites. And I’ve had a great deal of fun and met amazing people on all of them…
Q This is a little off topic but it’s related. How do you view Hollywood and the networks as to how they portrays Muslims.Do you see any interesting trends?
A Hollywood has always been ahead of the curve, and behind the curve at the same time in terms of race, and religion. That said, I’m not a expert. I can only talk about myself. I continue to want to tell interesting stories with interesting characters.
What advice would you have for aspiring film makers?
Write. Write. Rewrite. Rewrite again. Write some more. Rewrite.
Thank you
