Something to Ponder....

Now when I read a news item online, I'm starting to take a moment and read the comments that people have posted about the article.

There was something I read about the story of the Saudi/Yemeni Romeo and Juliet. The story is amazing, but was not the thing that got my attention, it was the comments. So many negative comments about Arabs, Iranians, Islam, and the region. I mean I know it happens, but I guess because that is so FAR away from how I think, it surprised me.

I have a lot of friends and business associates from the region, and to read the comments...I felt insulted. It's that "How can you say something like that?" feeling, because it implies that people I like and associate with daily are somehow perceived in a negative light for no reason. How can someone make a negative comment when they have no experience with people from the Middle East, and to comment on Islam when they know nothing about it? The same holds true for all races and religions.

I think feeling insulted was a good thing, maybe if we all felt insulted and made that clear when someone attacks with a racial/religious slur, even though it is not aimed at you personally, those that made the comment might learn something. Most people say nothing, as they don't want to be the next one to be profiled/attacked. And the ones who still continue with nasty/negative comments, you know what they say, Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.

Shah the Movie Interview Young Journalists Club, Iran

Good film gets people talking

Tehran, YJC. MENA CineFinance Managing Director discusses the production of a historical film about Iran’s Shah.

Lavender Pictures has said that it is going to produce a historical feature about the late Iranian Shah. YJC has made an interview with Michelle Nickelson, whose company MENA CineFinance works with the production team. 

YJC. What politically oriented motivations are likely to support the production?

M.N. I believe that film, being an art form, should not be politically supported. We as the filmmakers, are looking to tell a story, if there are political connections to the production, it could have an adverse effect. We want to tell the story of who the Shah was, as a politician, husband, father, the Shah, like most people in his position, had many facets to his personality. It does not matter if one is pro or anti Shah, the fact remains he is a historical character, and his involvement in Iran had an effect on world history.

YJC. How is the film indebted to previous production concerning Iran, including films such as Argo and 300?

M.N. With the 300, that was produced as a high concept action adventure, based on a comic series. One would take a lot of liberties in telling that kind of story, as it's a fictionalized story of a historical event, the Battle of Thermopylae. Argo was based on true events, but as a feature film, the story is done in a way that may have content that is fictionalized to grab the audience. It's my understanding the ending scene was not entirely true, but it did work to heighten the suspense of the story. With Shah, while we have in mind the story we want to tell, it is not a documentary, it is a feature film. The story will be based on true events and historical facts, but you have to consider, even with researching what happened and speaking to people who were involved, we can never say for certain what happened regarding the Shah, as we cannot speak directly to him and get his input on why he did certain things. We can surmise from the events that took place what happened, but there will always be that gray area where we really don't know. One could argue that these gray areas may be fictionalized, but we are not setting out to invent a story or events that did not actually happen.

YJC. How is Kingsley's new role in line with his previous roles as Iranian characters, keeping in mind that he has played Avecina as well as an Iranian military officer so far?

M.N. Ben Kingsley is one of those artists who can take on any role and do an amazing job. I would say that it's not so much in keeping in line with his having previously played Iranian characters as much as it's in line with his innate ability to play any character, and have the audience completely believe him. He is an immensely talented actor and we believe he will bring to the role of Shah the intensity and professionalism he brings to all his characters.

YJC. How is the production going to support the production companies' universal missions?

M.N. Our goal with Shah is to tell a story about a man who lived through an incredibly interesting and tumultuous period of time, and what happened to him during the last years of his life. Remember, in the mid to late 1970's the US was recovering from the Vietnam War and Watergate, and Margaret Thatcher had just become Prime Minister. I believe that the creative team behind the Shah film, the story subject, and the timing with what's going on internationally right now, make this the perfect opportunity for a strong interest in the story. If we execute our goal and strategy as planned, then we will achieve the mission of entertaining the audience, perhaps educating them, but ultimately let the audience decide what they feel about the character of Shah.


In the mid 1980's, China opened up to independent foreign tourism. Then in 1987 when Bernardo Bertolucci's, The Last Emperor came out, people were fascinated by the location, as most had not seen The Forbidden City. We have been invited to film in Iran and if we are able to put together filming in Shah's Palace, it will give the project the same opportunity to generate interest and continue the dialogue about Iran. That's the thing about a good film, it gets people talking and once that starts, things happen.

Tags: michelle ، nickelson ، shah ، feature ، film

Shah Article

Ben Kingsley takes on the Shah of Iran

Afshan Ahmed

November 3, 2013 Updated: November 3, 2013 16:20:00

        

 

 

Ben Kingsley has been signed on to play the Shah of Iran in a new feature film that will shed light on the backstory that led to the Islamic Revolution and hostage crisis at the US embassy in 1979.

Gateway Films, a UK-based production house, and Mena CineFinance, which operates out of Los Angeles and the UAE, will be working with the actor to make a US$40million (Dh147m) drama that they say will “highlight the failure of American foreign policy during that period”.

The film will probe the political competence and alliances of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last ruler in the Iranian monarchy, against the backdrop of his personal and family life.

“There is a lot of noise around, particularly with Nixon and Carter having overindulged the Shah, without being ready for the consequences of that policy and how it affected the view of Saudi Arabia,” said Chris Howard, a producer at Gateway Films.

“They were slightly imperialistic in the way they approached it and it was kind of a replacement for a more sympathetic foreign policy for the region. This will be a good political story to tell.”

The producers stress the movie will not be a lopsided account, but hope to “set the record straight” on the lead-up to the storming of the US embassy in Tehran, where 52 embassy workers were taken hostage by militant students.

“The only thing most Americans know is the aftermath of the failure of the policy when it comes to the hostage situation. What they do not appreciate is how the Shah manipulated America and how he was over-endorsed, which led to the Islamic Revolution.”

Howard said this would be a balanced reproduction of the facts that were excluded from Ben Affleck’s Oscar-winning Argo.

“It won’t be like Argo, where you have the Americans coming in and saving the hostages, but you will also see the way they worked at arming the Shah.”

He believes the Iranian government has a legitimate reason to be offended by the skewed narration of the revolution in the movie.

“Argo tells you a story in which Iran is painted in a very dark way and the Islamic Revolution has one dimension – where people were tortured.”

Argo was banned in Iran but residents managed to acquire bootleg versions of the film.

In January, the Iranian government said it would back a big- budget movie by a local movie- maker to correct the alleged misconceptions floated by Argo.

Ataollah Salmanian, a writer and filmmaker in Iran, told the local press that the proposed movie The General Staff would be about 20 American hostages who were delivered to the US by the revolutionaries.

Though unrelated to the Iranian film, the film with Kingsley may provide a larger voice to the Iranian cause.

Michelle Nicholson, a producer with Mena CineFinance, said they have been invited by the Iranian cultural ministry to shoot at the Shah’s Palace.

“To be able to shoot there will provide that authenticity and personal touch that I would like in the movie,” says Nicholson.

“His personal life interacts with his political life, so the location is very important. We also want to portray him as a family man, who was detached from his political figure.”

At the same time, Howard said, they do not want to take sides.

“We just want to make a good movie with the facts. And the relationship the Shah had with America and all the manipulation is what makes it interesting. He was an incredible diplomat and strategist. He had a vision to become the financial centre in the Middle East,” says Howard.

Terry Stone of Gateway Films said they plan to sign on an Oscar- nominated writer who has tackled historical dramas in the past.

“We need someone A-rated to work with Sir Kingsley,” said Stone, whose production house makes independent films.

“To get Gandhi to play Shah, that is great. All our other efforts need to match that,” said Stone, referring to Kingsley’s portrayal of the Indian pacifist and politician M K Gandhi in the 1982 biopic Gandhi.

“It is uncanny, but he even looks like the Shah.”

aahmed@thenational.ae

Shah, Starring Sir Ben Kingsley

Our first film from MENACF is Shah, starring Sir Ben Kingsley as Mohammed Reza Shah, the last Shah of Iran. The story will focus on the last two years of Shah's life, and the intrigue and events that led to his exile from Iran.

Gateway Films and Kingsley's Lavender Pictures are our co-production partners. The film is being done as an indie feature, and could best be described as a cross between The King's Speech and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.

I have been invited by the Ministry of Culture in Iran, through our associate Bahran Heidari, to film in Iran. To be able to shoot some scenes in Shah's Palace would be an amazing addition to the project, we will see how this moves forward.

PSA for the Abu Dhabi Autism Center

We are very proud to have been a part of this PSA through Women in Film and Television (WIFT) UAE. It helps bring attention to Autism and the Abu Dhabi Autism Center

The brainchild of Manar al Hinai of InvestAD, the PSA has been shown before every feature at VOX Cinemas to help bring awareness to the Center, and there is an interest to show it on Etihad Airways. Manar asked us if we could support this, and the fearless team of Annette Waddington, Hana Makki, director David Moore and DOP Marcel Beck (and myself as producer) put this together. Great job guys!

Watch the ADAC PSA

We are hosting a celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Women in Film at the beautiful Paris Sorbonne, Abu Dhabi on Nov. 1st and 2nd. The schedule of events are on the event FB page

H.E. Sh. Nahyan bin Mubarak al Nahyan, the UAE Minister of Youth, Culture and Social Development, will be attending the Opening Ceremony as the event's Patron.

If you are in the UAE and would like to meet the media professionals here, please stop by. The event, screenings and lectures are all free and open to the public.

Variety Arabia Summit Dubai

I was the moderator at the Variety Arabia Media Summit. 

The panel discussion was for Women in Media in the Middle East.

HCT Graduation Abu Dhabi

Going to the HCT Women's College Graduation tonight to check out their short films. Should be fun!

The Dream Players, Abu Dhabi

Here's your chance to check out the hottest local talent in the UAE!

The Dream Players will be taking their show to the Al Wahda Mall this Thursday, April 19th. The show starts at 7, see you there.

Comic Con Middle East

Women in Film and Television, UAE will have a presence at the upcoming Middle East Film and Comic Con, MEFCC on April 20 through 21, at the Dubai International Marine Club, in the Dubai Marina.

ExtraCake PRE who is running the eveny is WIFT UAE's promotional company and they do an amazing job. Stop by and say Hello!

Check out their website at http://www.mefcc.com/

Variety Arabia Media Summit

I will be the moderator at the Variety Arabia Media Summit on April 18th and 19th in Dubai, UAE. This is the first media summit to be held in the Middle East. The panel discussion is Women in Film-Their influence behind/in front of the Camera, and in the Audience.

The panelist are Sarah Al Jarman, Channel Manager, Dubai One TV, Dubai, UAE; Rula Nasser, independent film producer, Amman Jordan; Nayla Al Khaja, fi lmmaker and founder of D-Seven Motion Pictures, Dubai, UAE and Annemarie Jacir, independent filmmaker, Amman, Jordan.

TEDx Ajman, March 31, 2012

I was asked to present at TEDx Ajman this Sat., March 31st. My presentation is...The Entrepreneur's Anagram....you get to figure out what the word is!

http://www.tedxajman.com/

Gulf Connoisseur Magazine Column, More Musings

It's a very beautiful magazine about fashion, food, and the finer things in life, throughout the Gulf. The column is on page 78. Enjoy!

http://www.gulfconnoisseur.com/digital/eng/gdengfebmar2012/index.html

Variety Arabia Media Summit

I was asked to be the moderator for the Variety Arabia Media Summit in April, in Dubai. Should be an interesting event, with lots of good speakers. Stop by!

http://www.varietyarabia.com/Docs.Viewer/d4a19724-666e-4f81-87b4-d41f31de59c9/Default.aspx

World Story Telling Day

I was a guest at the World Story Telling Day at the heritage Village in Abu Dhabi. Our children's novella, Antar and Haider the Lion, was one of the stories told to the kid's there. Dedra and I plan on doing these little story books until there is a collection for a hard cover book. It is available on Amazon Kindle.

Women's Voices from the Muslim World

I have been REALLY bad about not posting...but we have launched Women in Film and Television, UAE, www.wiftuae.com Since the launch in Oct. 2011, we had a short film contest, sent a delegate to the Berlin Film Festival, had two lectures and filmed a documentary at the Al Daferah Festival.

Last week we held a short film festival in honor of International Women's Day, called Women's Voices from the Muslim World. It was graciously supported by HH Sh. Sultan bin Zayed's Culture and Media Centre.

We did get a lot of local ladies and some very spirited discussions!

This was one of my favorite short films from the festival. Enjoy!

Mabruk to Egypt!

As I have quite a few Egyptian friends and business associates here in the UAE, I was watching the Mubarak protest with interest.

It's hard to imagine being an American, what their lives have been like. Make no mistake, there are a lot of things in the US that are broken, but we have the opportunity to at least address the issues. Many Egyptians had to leave their own country to find work, as opportunities there are scarce. Around 40% of the population live on $2 a day or less, that is not living, it's barely existing.

I have gotten caught up in the unfolding drama, one of my friends lost a family member in a shooting. But the Egyptians did it and they did it with class, their heads held up. It's amazing to see all types of people, young, old, poor, educated, standing in Tahrir Square. asking for nothing more than what we all should have a right to ask for, our freedom.

Mabruk to the Egyptian people! It will be exciting to see what unfolds in Egypt now.

Making the movie

We launched a film fund with a wealth management company in Zurich, which went well. Jason Marsh, the fund manager, is no longer involved with the Antar the Black Knight project, that has been somewhat stressful, but these things happen.

Making this movie is a movie in itself! Unfortunately it has been a LOT harder that it has to be, but dealing with so many different people is a challenge.

Lots of good things moving forward with the franchise as far as some of the merchandise and animated series.

MENA CineFinances

I have been terrible about blogging....but I have been REALLY busy! We just launched our film fund MENA CineFinances. I am posting the press release. I'm going to start blogging about the trials and tribulations of getting Antar made!

From Iran

As some people know, I was approved to go to Iran 10 days before the election to film Obviously I did not go, but received this. I will continue to post emails as I get them.

M.


Ali wrote11 hours ago credit to under Ali reports his own observations on the course of events of 15th June 2009 in Tehran. Credit to lahaf @pfdAlireza A

I left my home in Tajrish along with my family at 3 p.m. We went down Valiast Street which is the main northern-southern avenue in Tehran and entered the Evin Exp'way which leads to Enghelab Street . We knew that people are supposed to gather in Enghelab Sq. (Revolution Sq.) at 4 and march toward Azadi Sq. (Freedom Sq.). From Gisha Bridge onwards, we saw people walking down. Cars were blowing their horns and people were showing victory sign. We went to Navvab Street and parked our car at the end of the street. Then we took a taxi to bring us back to the Enghelab Street . On our way, near Jomhouri Sq. (Republic Sq.), I saw a group of about 20 militia with long beards and batons on motorbikes. My hand was out of the car window with a little green ribbon (the sign of reformists) around my finger. One of the militia told me to throw that ribbon away. I showed him a finger. All of a sudden, about 15 people attacked me inside the car. They beat me with their batons and wanted to pull me out. My wife and my daughter who were sitting in the back seat cried and hold me tight. I also hold myself tight on the chair. They wanted to shatter the car windows. The driver went out and explained that he is a taxi and we are his passengers and he has no fault. After about 5 minutes,they left. My elbow hurts severely. Then, a young man from their group came and kissed my elbow! I told him: You know, I don't hate you. I am like you with the only difference that I know more and you are ignorant. He apologized and left.We joined the crowd in Enghelab Street .

Read carefully:

What I saw today was the most elegant scene I had ever witnessed in my life. The huge number of people were marching hand in hand in full peace. Silence. Silence was everywhere. There was no slogan. No violence. Hands were up in victory sign with green ribbons. People carried placards which read: Silence. Old and young, man and woman of all social groups were marching cheerfully. This was a magnificent show of solidarity. Enghelab Street which is the widest avenue in Tehran was full of people. I was told that the march has begun in Ferdowsi Sq. and the end of the march was now in Imam Hossein Sq. to the further east of Tehran while on the other end people had already gathered in Azadi Sq. The length of this street is about 6 kilometers. The estimate is about 2 million people. On the way, we passed a police department and a militia (Baseej) base. In both places, the doors were closed and we could see fully-armed riot police and militia watching the people from behind the fences. Near Sharif University of Technology where the students had chased away Ahmadinejad a few days ago, Mirhossein Mousavi (the reformist elect president) and Karrubi (the other reformist candidate spoke to people for a few minutes which was received by cries of praise and applause. I felt proud to find myself among such a huge number of passionate people who were showing the most reasonable act of protest. Frankly, I didn't expect such a political maturity from emotional Iranians who easily get excited. My family and I had put stickers on our mouths to represent the suppression. Placards that people carried were different; from poems by the national poet Ahmad Shamlu to light-hearted slogans against Ahmadinejad. Examples include: " To slaughter us/ why did you need to invite us / to such an elegant party" (Poem by Shamlu). " Hello! Hello! 999? / Our votes were stolen" or " The Miracle of the Third Millenium: 2 x 2 = 24 millions" (alluding to the claim by Government that Ahmadinejad obtained 24 million votes) , "Where is my vote?" , " Give me back my vote" and many other.

We arrived in Azadi Square where the entire square was full of population. It is said that around 500,000 people can be accommodated in this huge square and it was full. Suddenly we saw smoke from Jenah Freeway and heard the gunshot. People were scared at first but then went forward. I just heard the gunshots but my sister who had been on the scene at that part told me later that she saw 4 militia came out from a house and shot a girl. Then they shot a young boy in his eye and the bullet came out of his ear. She said that 4 people were shot. At least one person dead has been confirmed. People arrested one of the Baseeji militia but the three others ran away when they ran out of bullet. At around 8 we went back on foot. On the way back people were still in the street and were chanting Allah Akbar (God is Great).

I was coming home at around 2 a.m. In parkway, I saw about ten buses full of armed riot police parked on the side of the street. Then I saw scattered militia in civil clothes with clubs in hand patroling the empty streets. In Tajrish Square , I saw a very young boy (around 16) with a club who was looking at the cars to see if he can find something to attack. I don't know how and under what teachings can young boys change into militia.I came home. Tomorrow, people will gather again in Valiasr Square for another peaceful march toward the IRIB building which controls all the media and which spreads filthy lies. The day before Yesterday, Ahmadinejad had hold his victory ceremony. Government buses had transported all his supporters from nearby cities. There was full coverage of that ceremony where fruit juice and cake was plenty. A maximum of 100,000 had gathered to hear his speech. These included all the militia and the soldiers and all supporters he could gather by the use of free TV publicity. Today, at least 2 million came only relying on word of mouth while reformists have no newspaper, no radio, no TV. All their internet sites are filtered as well as social networks such as facebook. Text messaging and mobile communication was also cut off during the demonstration. Since yesterday, the Iranian TV was announcing that there is no license for any gathering and riot police will severely punish anybody who may demonstrates. Ahmadinejad called the opposition as a bunch of insignificant dirt who try to make the taste of victory bitter to the nation. He also called the western leaders as a bunch of "filthy homosexuals". All these disgusting remarks was today answered by that largest demonstration ever. Older people compared the demonstration of today with the Ashura Demonstration of 1979 which marks the downfall of the Shah regime and even said that it outnumbered that event.The militia burnt a house themselves to find the excuse to commit violence. People neutralized their tactic to a large degree by their solidarity, their wisdom and their denial to enage in any violent act.

I feel sad for the loss of those young girls and boys. It is said that they also killed 3 students last night in their attack at Tehran University residence halls. I heard that a number of professors of Sharif University and AmirKabir University (Tehran Polytechnic) have resigned.Democracy is a long way ahead. I may not be alive to see that day. With eyes full of tear in these early hours of Tuesday 16th June 2009, I glorify the courage and bravery of those martyrs and I hope that their blood will make every one of us more committed to freedom, to democracy and to human rights.Viva Freedom, Viva Democracy, Viva Iran

p.s.: If you find this report of any value, please share it with as many people as possible. Facebook is filtered and internet is very slow in Iran . Please somebody put this on facebook.