Your points are certainly things to keep in mind.
It depends on what sort of message and impression we’re trying to give.

The project was started a means of giving an “inside scoop” of what goes on at IlmSummit. Perhaps taking that approach wasn’t the best decision, however the feeling of authenticity and genuine human touch was certainly achieved. When Ammar, Ali and I discussed it originally, that is what we were aiming for.

However, half way through the process – understanding the points you mentioned we shifted our focus and approach a bit.

For future, we’ll need to have a better understanding of what we’re trying to achieve and how it’ll be received by the target audience. Having done it once, I have no doubt that the next time around will be just plain awesome inshaAllah.

Regarding the whole “cheese scenes” vs. telling the story of the IlmSummit experience, I got two things.

*1. Considering the masses*

For the IlmSummiteers there, they can easily agree that the embedding of both the academics and the fun in the videos accurately reflected their experience there. For us viewers from the outside, it’s a huge shift from serious to fun that we’re not expecting.

It could’ve also been just that episode in particular, because it was focused on Qur’anic learning. People take the Qur’an very seriously, to the point where the style of your video would be unwelcome to them (something you may wanna keep in mind for future vids).

I think a good solution for you to accomdate the masses would be to keep each episode set on its focus. If there’s a video on Wisam’s recitation and teaching style, keep it about that. And if you want to show brotherhood, separate it into a different video.

I know that’ll kill the flow and style you try to achieve, but it may be easier for people to swallow.

*2. Private vs. Public sphere*

I’m gonna try to be super fair here. I enjoyed the footage. I thought it was hilarious and was really well executed, because I knew the brothers in the video.

But to the thousands of people those videos were sent to and will be watched by, they don’t. And that’s why, and this may sting, I feel it was misplaced and inappropriate.

Aside from the point #1 issue, a sister I sent the video to in order to show how awesome IlmSummit is turned it off asking, “why am I being shown some guy in his pajamas?” It wasn’t even a “omg, hayaa” type thing. It was her asking straight, why is she getting an inside video shot of a bunch of guys’ hotel room, lol? It’s a good point.

I know the AlMaghrib HQ brothers have a lot of fun in what they do and their antics are classic, but that humor and experience should be a bit more private and not be sent in a video to thousands of people across the globe.

I feel with your creativity, you could effectively show the experience you want to show in ways that would appeal to more of the masses, and I’m confident you’ll iA pull it off next time around with whatever it is that you do.

Keep up the good work!

Saqib

I am clearly visible in the first Ilm Summit video even with the re-editing but I can let that slide. What I did not like was that I was getting texts, phone calls, and emails from around the world of people telling me quite unbeknowst to me that I and a few other sisters were appearing repeatedly in your videos. We saw you filming around the brothers but thought common decency and protocol would have been to inform us that you were filming us as well so at least we could prepared and/or stay as far away from you as possible.

I was featured in an article in the Baltimore Sun during IlmFest name, picture, words, and all, no problem, but the reporter and photographer asked for permission first, big difference. Alhamdulillah, a learning experience to ensure your i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed with the consent forms and/or informing the students ahead of time. And trust me, had you continued filming all of the sisters’ without their knowledge there would have been a much bigger firestorm because many sisters did not appreciate that.

I can see where the anonymous email is coming from, because what the “experience” includes cannot be understood my most Muslims (this is not about the email-er but in general). For those who want the more serious perspective i thin Belal got that in, and the fun stuff (like in the videos) has lessons in it themselves.

1 – it’s authentic (the brotherhood/sisterhood)
2 – it is what it is we gotta chill with the bros n shuyukh, crack some jokes here n drop some amazing qira’ there

arite i’m out, wa salaam alaikum.
Nahyan

All the way from PK, I’ve learnt a lot about al-Maghrib through Br. Belal’s videos and have come to appreciate the active Muslim community in America…I was so overcome by the whole Ilm Summit 2009 experience that I sincerely wished I was part of the student body there, SubhanAllah and that Allah SWT raises women scholars in this Ummah so that sisters can have as much fun!

I did however thought the ‘inside’ coverage was something personal for the brothers to enjoy.

BarakAllahu Feek,

I have to agree completely and give you HUGE props. This is no easy task for even a large team, let alone one person. SubhanAllah I recently put together a one minute trailer and my head nearly exploded! Yet Belal did ~5 minute clips, high quality, BACK TO BACK and then even threw in a kinetic typography video. Simply unbelievable. MashaAllah, may Allah reward you for this work ya Belal!

People don’t realize how difficult media production is, digging graves is much easier! To acheive this quality, this level of flow and consistency is very very difficult. Much props!

I was hooked on the videos and sought them out daily during Ilm Summit. You know this better than me that you will always get critics. Some people can’t accept anything that is not done “po-faced” as academic and some other need jokes every second to stay awake. Alhamdulilah, I think you found the middle ground perfectly where some really human moments were placed between ilm gems. Great job, MashaAllah.