"Abraham's Children" Director's Notes

I believe in the power of storytelling to change minds and pre-conceived notions and to grow an understanding of the world around us.

The topic of Islam and Muslims in America is fraught with emotions, fueled by the post 9/11 media frenzy and the negative stereotyping of Muslims, both in the news and in entertainment in general. In contrast, Abraham’s Children gives a non judgmental, apolitical presentation of real stories of Muslim children in America.

When I set out in the fall of 2007 to learn about the lives of Muslim children in America, I knew almost nothing about Islam, whether in America, in the world over, or my own backyard in Central Harlem. I also had little idea of what it meant to grow up in America. I was born and raised in Switzerland and didn’t come to this country until I was in college.

What I did understand was the feeling of displacement, which I felt very much myself, even as a Western-European-Christian with a reasonable command of English transplanted to New York. How much more intense must it be for an adolescent coming to America, like Kasem, with an Eastern-Yemeni-Islamic upbringing.

I also knew that Muslims got the short end of the stick in the media, especially after 9/11. I was curious to find out why Muslims were not speaking up. Where were the leaders and the Muslims that fought the injustice and ignorance about their religion, culture and way of life?
Many of these questions are still unanswered. I had to learn that one documentary can harbor only so many angles and stories, but in the end Abraham’s Children became a study on Islam in America from a youth’s point of view.

I feel very passionate and protective of the kids in Abraham’s Children and I think it comes through in the film. All the families were incredibly courageous to let us into their lives. We are extremely appreciative of the way they spoke to use, gave us access to their homes, schools, and workplaces and also graciously hosted us during the shoot days. This film represents a true collaborative effort from production, to crew and talent.

I discovered that this generation of Muslim-Americans growing up in a post 9/11 era are the future leaders and spokespersons of Islam in America. I very much look forward to seeing what they will be up to in years to come.

NEW Fundraising tool for an educational version of "Abraham's Children"

We are fundraising for an educational version of Abraham's Children.  March 1st we are launching our website anew.  This will allow us total flexibilty with content and we are adding a few new cool features, like a donation page (hint!) and a page with downloadable PDF's for press kits, viewer guide, photos and a "how to host a fundraiser" document (hint!).  We also signed up with IndieGoGo for a fundraising page (hint, hint).  It's a very cool website and an awesome tool.  Check it out; comments are welcome.

What I learned - the abstract stuff continued...

This is something I seem to have to learn over and over again.  I had a teacher once tell me: "if it smells fishy and looks fishy, it is fishy".   Whenever I dismiss my gut feeling I'm in trouble.  Instinct is a fine thing, but you also need to have the guts to follow it.  Right! 

Remember that when making those quick production and slow post production and glacial distribution decisions: instinct and courage.

New Hampshire - x-country skiing

While DC is drowning in snow they don't want, Jackson, NH had close to none and still they managed to very dilligently and lovingly groom fantastic x-country trails.  My friend and I had ample kilometer's of trails to "kill" ourselves on for three days AND there where some awesome restaurants at night... winning combo.

What I learned - distribution, part 2

In the book "Think Outside the Box Office" by John Reiss is an entire section I have been ignoring: "Sanity and the Future".  The first chapter is:  "Keeping Sane".   Last night I took that chapter to bed with me and as I read it I must have had a hundred "AHA" moments.    As in: "Wow, I'm not the only one who feels like she's working into a black abyss of self-distribution" - it was like reading confessions of a "DIY-Distributor's Anonymous" meeting. - DIYDA.

The book talks about other things the fact that creative talent hates to deal with the business side of things, but that's not even it for me.  I'm a producer and I run small business and I actually very much enjoy the business side of things, but what drives me absolutely NUTS is the fact that everything moves at a glacial (as in when glaciers didn't melt yet) pace.   In production decisions are made fast and you get bids, crews, equipment, answers, etc. immediately.    Now everything feels like pulling teeth - and very slowly so.  Consultant Peter Broderick gave me one good piece of advice:  don't rush anything, take your time to decide what to do....  great advice, especially for a producer, but more than not it feels like I don't have a choice either. 

I think a very obvious piece of advice and one I wish I would have gotten from the get go would be: your film is not like any other film and what worked for others will not necessarily work for you - sounds really straight forward, no?  Yes, and no.  There are SO MANY moving variables.  Every decision you make has ramifications for other venues of distribution and some of them demand a very strict sequence of distribution, lest you shoot yourself in the foot and have your world premiere inadvertently with a small screening in a library and the big film festival you've been dreaming about will now no longer consider your film.  

I would say, first and foremost:  learn who likes your film; show your film:  who loves your film, who responds to your film - how do different groups react? Are there common denominators with groups of people, e.g. educators, women, religious groups, professionals? LISTEN....

Rock My Boat

I attended a book event this week.   My friend Salman Ahmad of Junoon fame has come out with his book, "Rock & Roll Jihad" (at Amazon) and he talked about the book and the songs that inspired his live (and the writing of the book).  As I was sitting there, in the last row, with my friend who had his nose deep in his (albeit new) touch screen PDA (at least not an iPhone) and me clutching my BlackBerry - lest I let go and not feel it vibrate when that next (junk) e-mail comes in. It struck me how Salman kept talking about defining moments in his life and how they changed him, touched him, how his boat was rocked. The next morning on an ice cold stroll through Central Park it hit me that in order to have your boat rocked you need to maybe NOT be holding on to your PDA, have your nose in a website and be staring at a screen when interacting with your friends. Maybe the strike misses you if you don't let it find you and how can you let it 'in' if you're buried in your lives’ details - electronic or other.


When was the last time your boat was rocked? What rocked it? What changed?
Tell me once you’re done with that tweet.