I would like to do my part in this challenging effort of changing the world.
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Last week I had the opportunity to sit-down and talk with Qasim Basir, the writer and director of Mooz-Lum the movie. Today is the premiere of the film in New York City and I’m planning on being there inshaAllah. I got connected with Qasim through my wife. She booked him for an interview with CNN. Watch the video below:
Here’s a little bit about Qasim himself:
Qasim was telling me that his first real project was the “Yes We Can” web video series which ended up getting featured on the Obama campaign website. See the behind the scenes director’s commentary here:
His calling card was when he produced a short film for the LinkTV short film contest where he one best drama for his film “Glimpse”:
Danny Glover happened to be one of the judges for the contest. He encouraged Qasim to turn his short film into a feature script, which he did. Today he’s premiering his feature film, “Mooz-lum”
If you’re coming out to the premiere tonight, send me a tweet so we can meet up.
A few months back I was requested to give my thoughts on the following film. I’ve finally come around to it. First the film, then my thoughts in brief.
My thoughts in brief:
Firstly, I commend the director for taking up the task to present a message and I encourage the individuals involved to keep sharpening their saw.
My critique of the film: It seemed the director was trying too hard to be visually creative while the film itself lacked a solid story and structure. This resulted in the film dragging. Personally, I would cut out at least half of the video to make it faster.
An audience will forgive a visually lacking film if its got a solid story. However, the reverse is not true. If there’s no story, then the film better have an artistically pleasing visual presentation to keep the audience’s attention.
Overall, I think it’s a great attempt without any real reply value except amongst the intimidate community that this was filmed. I encourage the director to keep working, but focus their efforts more towards the development of a solid story in future projects.
I saw an email today from one of the AlMaghrib’s London student body leader (Ameerah of Qabeelat Shams) that had a video and a message that I’d like your thoughts on.
First the video:
And the email that followed:
Uluisoc started as a one man band back in 2001. The first charity week ever held was in 2005, raising £30,000 – I owe a lot of my training, experiance and contacts with the people I met there. Since you guys in the states were discussing the effect of joining the MSA student card, I think this might be a different way you could reach out to your student communities.
The hallmark of this organization was drive, incredible vision – even when the chips were really down. Against all the odds, they have continued to grow – a genuine grass roots student movement that has totally changed the way MSA’s operate in London especially, but now throughout the country.
The brother who founded it is a massive fan of AlMaghrib, though he has never been to any seminar or DiscoverU Life training due to work commitments. However, the elements are simple – unity through action by competition in khayr (there are over 20 university campus’s in London alone – so each one acts as a tribe)
There are 2 reasons why I am sharing this with you:
I think something like this would work well amongst the student population of your tribes, so if you want your impact team to get in touch with them, you can let me know or go to them direct (but it might take a while for them to respond as it is about to get started on this years CW)
The opening of the video pays homage to the skills of brother Belal – and it is in sharing the khayr in the passing on of innovating marketing and communications that is one of our hallmarks. But on the flip side, the shi’a tv station, ahlul bayt has also taken some of the material and made edits to reflect their ideals. I know the graphics etc can be bought, but the copying of whole videos directly (like the Torch Bearers one) is something that is something that I find very distasteful. So I am begining to wonder if we should start to copyright our videos and be serious about prosecution just like eman rush products?
My Thoughts RE Point #1 –
I think competition between MSAs competing in good is a great idea. The idea of tribal competition is something that the righteous successors of the Prophet Muhammad-sal Allahu alayhi wasallam implemented and it worked brilliantly in progressing Islam beyond what anyone ever expected at that time.
The only thing is that competition need to be consistent with an overall strategic objective in mind.
My Thoughts RE Point #2 -
It’s a great feeling that some of the work I’ve done has pushed others towards positive action and it truly gives me that much more energy to continue to raise the standard.
When it comes to copyrights, it would work if the videos produced were completely original. Most of the videos are made from either modified templates or tutorials. Both of which anyone with enough technical knowledge can duplicate on their own.
The good thing is that since AlMaghrib’s brand and identity was the first on the market with those specific templates and tutorials, anyone else that uses those very templates and designs will look like they’re copycatting which is great for AlMaghrib because that is what’s in the minds of people first.
Only lately have the videos been completely original. I must admit that the recent videos that have come out aren’t up to par with the standards that have been set, they do fulfill the objective of letting people know about the brand and what it has to offer.
Even if the videos were completely original, what would be the solution? Law suites or differentiation?
Both cost money, energy and time. Personally I think differentiation is presentation is the better spending of resources. Staying ahead of the game is what counts.
