CAPTAIN ABU RAED - the journey just gets better!

Our beautiful movie, CAPTAIN ABU RAED, for writer/director Amin Matalqa, continues on its exciting journey. After over two years of love, faith and tons of hard work, CAPTAIN ABU RAED takes off around the world, stopping at a screen near you....

CAPTAIN ABU RAED has been officially selected into the Dubai Film Festival, in competition within the Muhr Awards category - screens in Dubai Dec 11th & 12th. Details on DIFF site.

CAPTAIN ABU RAED will also screen at Sundance 08 (Jan 17-27) in Park City Utah, in competition within the World Cinema Dramatic category - a fantastic boost for a Jordanian film industry in the making. Details on Sundance Fest site.

Around Feb 6th, CAPTAIN ABU RAED lands in Jordan to screen for Jordanian audiences in Amman at the Grand Cinemas in City Mall, Zara & at the Galleria Cinema.

Impeding Access Is Criminal. WAKE UP JORDAN!!

Government says NO to community radio for Zarqa, and hides behind an archaic law that says they are not obliged to give reason for rejecting.

Here we go again. Another pathetic hurdle imposed by the government impeding any kind of real progress in the AV sector. What is this absolutely pathetic approach to the audiovisual industry? Shameful! We need a revolutionary restructuring of our AV legislation and workers who supposedly serve within their public office jobs.

AmmanNet's press release posted on 360east:

The government rejected a petition to grant a local radio license for the third biggest city of Jordan, Zarqa. In one of its last decision the outgoing Jordanian cabinet rejected the application by AmmanNet to set up a community radio station that will not broadcast news or politics.

This is the first known case in which a radio license has been rejected in Jordan since the deregulation of airwaves allowing for private ownership.

No explanation was included in the November 13th decision of the outgoing Bakhit cabinet which rejected the request based on clause 18.b of the Jordanian audio visual law. That clause states “The Council of Ministers may refuse to grant broadcasting licenses to any entity without stating the reasons for such rejection.”

Daoud Kuttab founder and director of AmmanNet called the decision an indirect punishment to the people of Zarqa. “With so many radio licenses in the capital, we expected the Jordanian government to support rather than reject a radio license that will offer public broadcasting to community services-deprived Zarqa. “ Kuttab says that an advisory board made up of community leaders was assembled, a studio space was rented in downtown Zarqa and equipment for the station was ordered. “At a time that Jordan is encouraging independent community-based media, this unexplained decision surprised us, “ he said.

Kuttab called on the newly appointed prime minister to reverse the decision. He also called on the newly elected parliament to revise the Audio Visual Law in a way to make the distribution of radio frequencies a more transparent affair. AmmanNet’s founder also called on the Higher Media Council to act quickly to ensure the respect of the audio visual regulatory process.

AmmanNet said that all the technical requirement for the station were assembled to the satisfaction of the relevant Jordanian regulators. The station reaffirmed its commitment to the people of Zarqa and called on the government to explain why the cabinet chose to reject our request, so that it can correct them.

In an always-on-easy-access world, impeding access is simply criminal!

Three Related Things

“What’s Amman to you?” 360east asks.
Amman to me....
....is a teenager, exploring a new look that might fit, trying out the other while rightfully ignoring wisdom, will inevitably grow up one day, and yes will look back with some regrets, but hey, scars make for good stories.
....is a fearful place not loved enough by it’s people.
....seems to have misplaced it’s common sense.


A few of you asked about what I did on Tuesday:
Well, I exercised my right on elections day.
I exercised my right to....
....seek sincerity.
....ignore empty rhetoric.
....stand up for what I believe.
....speak up against the wrong I see.
....take the path less trodden.
....say no.
....be an inspired individual.
I abstained.
And I smiled when the earth shook.
I updated my blog & facebook.
I sang in the rain.
I laughed at the movies.
November 20th was a good day.


"Take flight", I bid the little one farewell. "Spread your wings. Cross the skies, travel the seasons. Explore.
Discover many lands, fly off to greet good and evil. So many guises. A world of surprises, full of creatures, complications, celebrations, all shapes and sizes. Places divided, souls least likely united. Obvious, obscure, colorful, demure. A universe evolving, memory dissolving, spirits revolving.
And in the middle of the east, find the dog who sits alone every eve, looking over mystical, magical, dry, lifeless lands. Listen to stories of once-upon-a-birth but no rivers of life. No more waters, no dams, no wells. Drought was their end. Not the oil, not the neighbors, not the books, nor the prophets they fought!"

What are you thinking?

Music Makes the World Go Round - Captain Abu Raed

Most of us escape into the worlds of our favorite music. We get lost in thought and emotion. We shut out other worlds and bury ourselves in sounds that move us. We close our eyes. We listen. We dream.

Over the last few weeks, Amin Matalqa, writer/director of Captain Abu Raed, the Jordanian movie I produced on this summer, has been immersed in what he describes as the most amazing experience of his years on earth. Amin and his composer Austin Wintory have been working on the movie score for the last couple months. Click this link for Austin's account of this collaboration.

Last night I heard for the first time the last piece of music in the entire film. When I woke up this morning, and before doing anything, I played it again and again and again. I'm sitting typing right now and the piece is playing thru my iPod intravenously into my veins because I want this music to become a part of my soul for the rest of my life.

Sneak a peak with this three mins video of the orchestra recording:


Captain Abu Raed official movie website.
Amin Matalqa's blog.

Captain Abu Raed opens in cinemas around Amman in Feb 2008... and so far is on it's way to the Dubai International Film Festival/Dec 07, and Sundance/Jan 08.

...................
I met Amin Matalqa four years ago and among the many things we talked about, he said he wanted to make a world class Jordanian film. I got to know Amin, his exceptional talent and dedication and knew that he would one day make Jordan’s first film for international audiences; and I also knew that I would do whatever it takes to support him make that dream happen, his way. Amin’s exceptional spirit and this first feature, Captain Abu Raed, are experiences I’m honored and lucky to be a part of, and this is only the beginning of a magnificent journey from a tiny country in a large and rowdy neighborhood.

Ultimate Metaphor

I saw this sign for the first time only yesterday. I froze in my step, just cracked up - couldn't believe what I was seeing. An ATV sign on a building called "Dream". LOL!!

Does it mean, "dream on ATV, we ain't letting you do it right"?
Or, "you can dream it, but we won't let it become a reality"?

I'm restless again on this subject. It's inducing me to restart another rant on ATV, or should I say WhateverTV!

I want to rant about the boardroom pissing match that seems to have gotten stubborn and stupid. Financing that came in from I don't know where and was handed over thru an illusive process without monitoring and accountability procedures. Owners who were not really owners. And a whole bunch of shortsighted people who could not do the right thing and separate boardroom from operation. And the bleeding continues.