Manaar: “I heard about MPAC from buzz, but never really looked into it. I thought it was just another organization like ISNA. Someone forwarded me an email about the summit, and I saw some [advertising] cards in the musallah on campus.”
What helped you decide to apply?
“I decided to apply because it’s trying to help improve the image of Muslims in Hollywood and the media. If you’re interested in art, it’ll help Muslims break into the biz…I’ve always wanted to do Hollywood stuff, but never put any energy into it.”
Take us through the Hollywood Summit from Day 1.
Saturday: “It’s a four day summit. The first night (Saturday June 25) I attended the MPAC 20th annual Media Awards. I met up with the (13) other delegates ”.
The MPAC Media Awards is a gala event where different members of Hollywood are recognized for partaking in the accurate portrayal of Muslims in the media. “In the past they have honored people like Cherien Dabis (a Palestinian American director, producer, and screenwriter), and Alec Baldwin”.
Sunday: “On Sunday, we spoke with Sameer Gardezi, a screen writer (something I want to do oneday, inshaAllah) who wrote for Mind of Mencia, Modern Family.. etc”
The entire summit was packed with workshops wherein experts in the field, “told their story and gave us advice, then held a Q&A session and a discussion.”
One example that Manaar found enthralling was the Digital Story-Telling Workshop. “We split into three groups; each person took on a role of either actor, director or editor, and made their own mini productions”. Manaar had previous experience, editing MSA movies, but she learned a lot abut final cut at this workshop.
Monday: “On Monday we listened to David Brenner, who wrote for the latest Pirates of the Carribean movies, 2012..etc and met with Farhan Tahir, a Muslim actor, who played the villain in Iron Man, and had a part in Grey’s Anatomy.
They also had a chance to see the business side of Hollywood with Ahmos Hassan. He discussed “how he came to be in the business and how Islam fits into it; what it’s like to manage Louie Anderson, what it’s like to be a manager, producer, and how to get a manager.” He was one of the producers of the animated series Life With Louie. The summit delegates also met with Cherien Dabis who spoke about her film “Amreeka” and discussed her struggles to getting to where she is today.“She gave a lot of inside info on the industry.”
Tuesday: The summit delegates went to the CBS studio where they “spoke with director of diversity, who makes sure there is a wide range of diversity at CBS.” They then went to an independent film organization, “that provides workshops to up-and-coming writers, producers and editors, and helps them get press for their work.” “A more Islamic session” Manaar noted, “was with the senior adviser to MPAC, Maher Hathoot,” who “explained how art fits into Islam.” He also “talked about how Islam is a form of art, and how spirituality fits in”.
For Manaar this Summit was an eye-opening experience. “Usually people think, ‘Hollywood?! Haraam!’. Something many of the speakers emphasized for all of the delegates was to make sure you’re always thinking about the higher purpose…you know what your beliefs are, and stick to them’ otherwise you’ll ‘sink and crash” For Manaar, the most inspiring speaker was Sol Guy (promoter and associate of K’naan), who, “came to all of these realizations by being a rapper, and getting into the biz really young.” She noted a number of inspiring quotes by Guy; such as, “Write your goal in pen and write your plan in pencil.”
Is that it?
Nope! Part of the application to the Young Leaders Summits was to submit a project proposal that related to the summit you attended. Upon applying “you had to answer questions about why you wanted to go to the summit, and what your dreams are. You also had to make a commitment that you would go to the MPAC Annual Conference in December, and lastly you had to submit a project proposal.”
What was your project?
“I decided to start a YouTube channel of comedy sketches that show that Muslims can be not just funny, but out of the box funny, and don’t have to resort to the usual Muslim stereotypes; it gets really old.” In order to complete the project she has set out to write the sketches, and find actors. Once the sketches are complete she will post them on YouTube. Ideally, the sketches will be two to five minutes long. Some of the other delegates decided to create independent documentaries on hijab, or talent in the Muslim community.
Final remarks?
This Summit helped attendees solidify their identity by showing people “how they can be Muslim and American at the same time” – a task that has proven to be difficult in recent times. For Manaar, it helped her gain more knowledge and self-awareness.“When I went there, I had a lot of different Islamic views, so I was able to broaden that spectrum, and find out what different views there are.”
MPAC Young Leaders engaging in discussion during one of the workshop sessions.
