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Yours,
A & C Editor
Answer
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Name
Editor
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Profession
Question
Asaalm Alykum brother Belal, thanks for joining IOL's readers in today's session.
Can you tell the readers more about yourself?
Answer
Walaikum Asalaam. Sure. My name is Belal Khan. I'm a 23 year old Indian-born American Muslim.
My parents and I moved to New York when I was almost two years old. Later on we moved to New Jersey where I grew up. Currently I'm a "super-senior" at Montclair State University studying marketing.
I've been studying martial arts since I was in 3rd grade. I love ski and go mountain biking. I'm a geek at heart and have been around computers since I was a baby. I have a professional interest in web and graphic design.
I started a company called Leechon Inc. back in 2004 with which I did consulting work in areas of computers, web and graphic design.
In 2006 I shifter the focus of the company toward film (http://www.leechon.com) and have been progressing in that area since.
I've done promotional videos and short commercials, some of which whom my clients have shown on television.
In 2007 I began moving away from client work and I started my first feature documentary in the Summer of 2007 titled Tufaan (www.tufaanmovie.com) which is currently in post production.
I recently started a project called Message Mastery where the goal is to equip 200 Muslim brothers and sisters on how to develop, write, produce, edit, market and distribute video for the purposes of dawah and/or business.
I think that about sums it up.
Name
Kareem
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Profession
Question
Hi Belal.. this is a good chance to meet you online. I wanna ask you about the experience of Muslims filmmakers so far, how do you find it?
what kind of movies you gonna plan to do in the future? is there a certain theme?
Answer
My experience so far has been great. Ever since I started doing this, the flexibility and the sense of 'adventure' that I've gotten along with the fact that what I'm doing is working for the deen is extremely exciting and exhilarating.
At the moment I'm the post production phase of a documentary titled "Tufaan" (tufaanmovie.com) where I document the Muslims relief efforts in the events after Hurricane Katrina that devastated the New Orleans, Louisiana area.
Personally I've faced quite a few challenges in the process of making this movie, but over all the experience is well worth it.
There are a few things I've got planned for the future.
Currently I'm collaborating with the brothers and sisters over at Ummah Films to produce a short film that I wrote on the Muslim guy's perspective of marriage. It's a short light hearted comedy-drama that should hit at some stereotypes inshaAllah.
I've also got another feature documentary in the development stage. This project is going to be BIG inshaAllah.
Currently I am thinking a budget of $200,000 (I'm being conservative, it might actually be more once the details come through). If everything goes well in the development this may even get a limited theatrical release.
I'm calling this "First Impact" which is only a working title for now.
At this point in time, I don't see a particular theme per say except that generally the films that I produce will be stories about Muslims.
Stories are a means of relating an experience and giving lessons to people. As Allah-wt says in the Quran, "Indeed in their stories, there is a lesson for men of understanding." (Yusuf:111)
They are also a means of strengthening the hearts. Even the Prophet Muhammad salallahu alayhi wa sallam’s heart was strengthened by them.
Allah-swt tells us "And all that We relate to you of the news of the Messengers is in order that We may make strong and firm your heart thereby. And in this has come to you the truth, as well as an admonition and a reminder for the believers." (Hud: 120)
Generally I want to keep that. Movies which work as a mean of strengthening people, movies which work as strong reminders, and warnings.
Speaking of reminders and warnings...One of the things that not just Muslims face, but people in general in urban areas are the issue of Drugs.
Currently I'm in the process of developing the storyline and characters of a 60 minute drama about the issue of drugs and the effect it has had on the youth of a certain Muslim community. Its called "Strangers in New York" -- Its basically gonna involve New York, the suburbs, a Muslim community and the trafficing of drugs
The lesson of this film is how its the small things that make the big difference.
Name
Muslimah
- Australia
Profession
Question
asalam alukum brother,
i have heard about your movies but did not watch any till now.. do u air any of them on Tv channels? or just on the net?
Answer
As of right now, the only thing that has made it to TV are some of the commercials and trailers that I did for AlMaghrib Institute.
My main marketing and distribution strategy has been to use the internet as a means of distribution. It's the best to break into the market as well as reach out to people at the moment.
Name
Rahman
- Pakistan
Profession
Question
Do you think Muslims can have their own cinema productions? can it be a huge industry?
Answer
Totally!
As of right now, there many Muslims in cinema that are working toward this goal. For instance, brother Azhar Usman (some of you may know him as a comedian) is actually producing a film for real production called "the Boundary" starring Alexander Siddig (he starred in the movie Syriana and the Hit TV series 24) -- http://www.theboundaryfilm.com/
Can it be a huge industry? It already is! How many Muslims own their own companies and produce films for Bollywood, Hollywood, Egypt, Dubai. We have "Muslims" as subjects in the films (although negatively portrayed).
The issue currently is, how many of those efforts are being used for good? Not many, but some people are working towards it.
Name
abu-yaqob
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Profession
Question
Asalam alaikum Belal,
What made you to be interested in film making?
Answer
Walaikum Asalam
What really got me truly excited about the medium was the sheer reach it has.
Back in 2004, I had completed my first promotional video for USA based youth organization called Young Muslims (A branch of ICNA). The feedback that I got when ever I went to conventions and places (btw I LOVE to travel, so take every opportunity to go where ever I can) from people I don't even know was quite the experience, I didn't truly realize it's potential until one of the trailers that I was requested to do for AlMaghrib institute was played at the RIS (Reviving the Islamic Spirit) Conference in Toronto, Canada back in December 2005. Where about 15,000 people saw the video.
People who were walking actually stopped in their tracks, and in the traffic that resulted toward the AlMaghrib booth in that conference as a result of the video was quite the realization.
Just imagine how many people can be reached through this medium. How many people can be benefited, reminded, strengthened, warned, taught...all through this medium...something that reaches globally!
I think that realized is more than enough to get someone totally focused, stop wasting time, and getting to work...at least it was for me.
Name
Salimah
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Profession
Question
Many Muslims think that Islam is against arts and it is haram to waste time in doing movies, drawings, or making nasheeds... i wonder how can we get the true picture to those peoples who burden the religion!?! what do you think?
Answer
Those people are a burden to the deen, only if you let them.
I firmly believe that, for the reasons stated earlier that it is imperative that Muslims get into these field.
This is where the reach is. This is where the money is. This is where the progress is.
When YOU are ressurected, on the day of judgment YOU will be held accountable for what you did do or didn't do.
It doesn't matter what other people think, so long as what you do is along the lines of the Quran and the Sunnah and we put our best effort forward and Allah-swt is pleased with you.
At the end of the day, Tawfeeq if from Allah-swt.
Name
Mokhtar
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Profession
Question
in Dramas, What is reason for Arabs being bad guys and never good guys. Is true or false?
Answer
Why?
Allahu Alam. The same reason African Americans were the bad guys before. The same reason Native Americans (Indians as some call them...although I'm the real Indian!) were portrayed as the bad guys. The same reason Russians are portrayed as bad guys.
Its a matter of stereotypes and what the producers and studios think will sell.
Personally, I don't think that will change in these times until we start driving our own vehicles of communication.
Name
ahmed
- Egypt
Profession
Question
Do you watch 'Fitnah" wilder's movie? do u think that kind of 'movies' a free expression of art?
Answer
I haven't seen Wilder's move, although I heard it was quite lame and it backfired on him.
Regarding "art" When someone "expresses" themselves, they should also take responsibility for their actions. If they express themselves in the form of hate speech they should understand that they are responsible for their actions.
Freedom without responsibility is anarchy.
Islamically there is a right way to express yourself and a wrong way. We can learn the appropriate ways from studying the character and the manners of the prophet (SAW) as well as his companions.
They are our example for expression. We should follow it.
Name
abu_yaqob
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Profession
Question
How we can emphasize the importance of this type of media to the ummah?
Answer
How?
Allahu Alam. We can start by getting into it ourselves. Once they see us making progress, others will follow.
At the same time, encourage the youth to get into these things. That is where the energy, drive and enthusiasm is.
Name
theManOfFewWords
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Profession
Question
How did you get to be so awesome dude? Can you tell us about some of your projects? Are you thinking about educating Muslims in marketing and film making. I think a lot of us would be interested.
Answer
Ah, the infamous ManOfFewWords. For those of you who don't know who this brother is, check out http://www.themanoffewwords.com also his social media tool that he started called Islamify.com
Re your question of educating Muslims in marketing and film making; I'm launching a project called Message Mastery (messagemastery.com), where the goal is to equip at least 200 Muslim brothers and sisters in the area of how to developing a movie of any sort, film it, edit it, and put it out there for everyone to see.
The first course will cover just that, and in the future more courses will be conducted as well such as how to work with media and other means of getting your message out.
Personally I feel that this is a very much needed educational resource and many people have approached me in the past to learn how to do what I've been doing. If you want to learn and benefit people in a medium that reaches far and wide, go to messagemastery.com and sign up for the program.
Name
abu_yaqob
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Profession
Question
How did you learn how to make films? Did you go to a film academy or it was something you had to learn by yourself?
Answer
I learned the old school way of learning as you go.
Personally I've always been a geek and and fond of technology, whether it be electronics, programs, internet (the recent rise of social media tools and technology), computers, etc.
When video became digital I naturally gravitated toward it. Today, almost all advances in consumer and corporate technology is happening to integrate and compensate for the rise of video.
I got my first digital camera in 2001 and had quite a bit of fun playing around with it. In 2002 I tried making a video for an English class i took (it failed horribly, never showed it outside of class).
In 2003 I made a couple videos for the same English class, but this time corrected the mistakes. After which the national coordinator of Young Muslims requested me to make a promo video for the organization. With each project I learned and applied those lessons on the next project.
Key is to keep moving forward. Although its always a good idea to learn it from someone who's already done it.
Name
sajith
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Profession
Question
most of our children and youngsters are addicted to cartoons and cartoon films and video games . And most of these are supporting vulgarity,immorality and criminalism . Time is reached to deviate our children from these cartoons and cartoon films and cartoon videos . What is your opinion as a film maker
Answer
Children are active beings. Putting them in a room with a television isn't the best thing you can do for them.
I have two little sisters (ages 9 and 11). We have tight rules as to when they can watch television, and what they can watch on it.
If you want children to grow up to be outstanding, you have to do things out of the norm. Things that are not ordinary Nowadays children growing up watching TV is the norm. Children picking up bad habits, understandings, and language from unrestricted television is a norm.
RasulAllah-saw taught us that we are on the deen of our friends. See who your children's friends are. Are they the type that spend their time watching TV and playing video games or are they spending time doing more beneficial things.
You can't be extraordinary among ordinary people. The key to bring an extraordinary individual is to be ordinary among extraordinary people.
Start with yourself, and surround yourself with people who by your standard extra-ordinary. Have your kids play and interact with kids who by your standard are extra-ordinary.
Name
alissa
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Profession
Question
Salam,
What advice would you give muslims who are ambitious about film making... but are finding it very difficult?
Answer
Walaikum asalaam.
What are they finding difficult? Difficult and easy are relative terms. Difficult compared to what?
Truth is if you REALLY want something, it excites you, it something that has a deep enough purpose, how difficult it is will not matter.
Is there a lack of clarity in what you want to do?
Having clarity in what you want to do leads to total empowerment. Set yourself a deadline as to a particular result you want to achieve (ie; Complete a short film by Sept 30, 2008)
Then ask yourself, "What do I have to do right now to bring me closer to where I want to go?" -- Once you identify the action, you simply DO IT! Keep repeating the process until you get to your destination.
What are you afraid of? If it's fear that holding you back, understand that F.E.A.R. is an acronym. It stands of "False Experience Appearing Real" -- knock out your assumptions and go get what you want.
Name
Editor
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Profession
Question
The session has ended.
I would like to thank Brother Belal Khan for taking the time to answer the questions of IslamOnline.net readers, and all those who participated in this live dialogue.
For comments and suggestions, Feel free to send us at:
artculture At IOLteam Dot Com
