fre_profileWP_Query Object ( [query] => Array ( [post_type] => fre_profile [post_status] => publish [posts_per_page] => 25 ) [query_vars] => Array ( [post_type] => fre_profile [post_status] => publish [posts_per_page] => 25 [error] => [m] => [p] => 0 [post_parent] => [subpost] => [subpost_id] => [attachment] => [attachment_id] => 0 [name] => [pagename] => [page_id] => 0 [second] => [minute] => [hour] => [day] => 0 [monthnum] => 0 [year] => 0 [w] => 0 [category_name] => [tag] => [cat] => [tag_id] => [author] => [author_name] => [feed] => [tb] => [paged] => 0 [meta_key] => [meta_value] => [preview] => [s] => [sentence] => [title] => [fields] => [menu_order] => [embed] => [category__in] => Array ( ) [category__not_in] => Array ( ) [category__and] => Array ( ) [post__in] => Array ( ) [post__not_in] => Array ( ) [post_name__in] => Array ( ) [tag__in] => Array ( ) [tag__not_in] => Array ( ) [tag__and] => Array ( ) [tag_slug__in] => Array ( ) [tag_slug__and] => Array ( ) [post_parent__in] => Array ( ) [post_parent__not_in] => Array ( ) [author__in] => Array ( ) [author__not_in] => Array ( ) [search_columns] => Array ( ) [ignore_sticky_posts] => [suppress_filters] => [cache_results] => 1 [update_post_term_cache] => 1 [update_menu_item_cache] => [lazy_load_term_meta] => 1 [update_post_meta_cache] => 1 [nopaging] => [comments_per_page] => 50 [no_found_rows] => [order] => DESC ) [tax_query] => WP_Tax_Query Object ( [queries] => Array ( ) [relation] => AND [table_aliases:protected] => Array ( ) [queried_terms] => Array ( ) [primary_table] => wp_posts [primary_id_column] => ID ) [meta_query] => WP_Meta_Query Object ( [queries] => Array ( ) [relation] => [meta_table] => [meta_id_column] => [primary_table] => [primary_id_column] => [table_aliases:protected] => Array ( ) [clauses:protected] => Array ( ) [has_or_relation:protected] => ) [date_query] => [request] => SELECT SQL_CALC_FOUND_ROWS wp_posts.ID FROM wp_posts WHERE 1=1 AND wp_posts.post_type = 'fre_profile' AND ((wp_posts.post_status = 'publish')) GROUP BY wp_posts.post_author ORDER BY wp_posts.post_date DESC LIMIT 0, 25 [posts] => Array ( [0] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8576 [post_author] => 774 [post_date] => 2024-04-05 00:36:00 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-04-05 00:36:00 [post_content] => Shafik Bahou is a Lebanese & Palestinian - American actor, percussionist, and teaching artist. He has been performing since grade school, with formal education including a B.Sc. in Behavioral Neuroscience and a minor in theatre from Northeastern University, while auditioning for film and TV throughout college. In his senior year, he landed a role "kidnapping" George Clooney and Ewan McGregor in "Men Who Stare at Goats," which motivated him to pursue acting professionally. In New York City, he studied Meisner-based acting at the William Esper Studio while earning his M.A. in Cognitive Sciences in Education from Columbia University: Teachers College. Shafik has worked as a teaching artist, integrating arts into education and designing project-based learning programs that integrate theatre principals for STEAM learning while actively pursuing creative writing, working in film and TV, and performing as a freelance percussionist. He is transitioning to writing original films and creating a talent-led production initiative that produces narratives that better represent the MENA community. [post_title] => Shafik Bahou [post_excerpt] => Shafik Bahou is a Lebanese-Palestinian American actor, percussionist, and teaching artist. He has been performing since grade school, with formal… [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => shafik-bahou [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-04-05 03:25:17 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-04-05 03:25:17 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://maacdatabase.com/author/shafik/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => fre_profile [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [1] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8569 [post_author] => 794 [post_date] => 2024-04-03 04:08:40 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-04-03 04:08:40 [post_content] => I have studied acting at the William Esper Studio in NYC. [post_title] => Ohmer Khan [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => ohmer-khan [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-04-03 04:08:40 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-04-03 04:08:40 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://maacdatabase.com/author/ohmerk/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => fre_profile [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8562 [post_author] => 793 [post_date] => 2024-04-02 22:22:06 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-04-02 22:22:06 [post_content] => Iranian-made, UK-raised, US-based and Korean-owned — "Dawud" likens his family gatherings to a summit at the UN! Getting his start in commercials, David has directed work for brands including Google, Lego and Porsche before pivoting into narrative. His script ‘RAIN’ won the ECU Screenwriting Contest in Europe and his first short-film as writer/director, ‘SNAKE DICK’, won multiple Academy-qualifying awards on the festivals circuit, going viral online after being acquired by genre platform Alter. Shortly thereafter David was hired to direct his first episode of network television on the WB/CW hit show ‘SUPERMAN & LOIS’. He is also a current participant on Sony TV’s Diverse Directors Program. However, closest to his heart, David is a proud Industry Ambassador and Youth Mentor for Kids In The Spotlight, a charity that empowers foster kids through filmmaking in the LA area. [post_title] => David Mahmoudieh [post_excerpt] => Please fill out the form below Level Price   Patrons and Partners Free. Pending Approval 72-hour Demo Free. Membership expires… [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => david-mahmoudieh [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-04-02 22:23:56 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-04-02 22:23:56 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://maacdatabase.com/author/dmahmoudieh/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => fre_profile [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [3] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8553 [post_author] => 791 [post_date] => 2024-03-30 19:12:10 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-03-30 19:12:10 [post_content] => New York University Tisch Film and TV Undergraduate [post_title] => Samer Saifan [post_excerpt] => New York University Tisch Film and TV Undergraduate [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => samer-saifan [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-03-30 19:12:40 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-03-30 19:12:40 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://maacdatabase.com/author/samersaifan/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => fre_profile [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [4] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8536 [post_author] => 790 [post_date] => 2024-03-30 16:46:39 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-03-30 16:46:39 [post_content] => My mom's favorite Black and Persian comedian with improv and dramatic skills. Talented writer, punch-up artist. As seen on Netflix, HBO, Comedy Central. Will work for follows. SM: @iamtehran [post_title] => TEHRAN VON GHASRI [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => tehran-von-ghasri [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-03-30 16:46:39 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-03-30 16:46:39 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://maacdatabase.com/author/iamtehran/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => fre_profile [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [5] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8520 [post_author] => 632 [post_date] => 2024-03-29 18:29:02 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-03-29 18:29:02 [post_content] => Rooted from nyc, sialkot, alexandria and outer space, I occupy several realms and scope the universe, perpetually. I like to dabble in the visual and performing arts and am lucky to be trained as a community organizer + librarian, and teacher. I somehow studied Women's and Gender Studies and Comparative Race and Ethnicity. I love fil-ums, history, music, art, community health + education, sufism, speculative fiction (who doesn't like a little fitoor or saazish?!), Islamic and Punjabi spirituality, learning, healing and loving. [post_title] => Maryam Mustafa [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => maryam-mustafa [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-03-29 18:45:37 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-03-29 18:45:37 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://maacdatabase.com/author/maryammustafa/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => fre_profile [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [6] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8513 [post_author] => 788 [post_date] => 2024-03-29 14:19:40 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-03-29 14:19:40 [post_content] => Saba is an LA based Iranian-American screenwriter, actor, and musician. Most recently, he was staffed on Hulu’s INTERIOR CHINATOWN. Previously, he was staffed on the Ali Wong animated series JENTRY CHAU VS. THE UNDERWORLD at Netflix as well as the animated series ABOMINABLE for Dreamworks. His songwriting has been featured in Apple’s PRETZEL AND THE PUPPIES and the HBO APA Visionary short FINE CHINA. His animated musical series LIMITED SPACE was featured at the New York Television Festival and developed at Bento Box Entertainment. As an actor, he received his BA in Theatre from USC and has performed at the Wallis Annenberg Center, Segerstrom Hall, and Skylight Theater. [post_title] => Saba Saghafi [post_excerpt] => Saba is an LA based Iranian-American screenwriter, actor, and musician. Most recently, he was staffed on Hulu’s INTERIOR CHINATOWN. Previously,… [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => saba-saghafi [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-03-29 14:35:22 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-03-29 14:35:22 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://maacdatabase.com/author/sabasaghafi/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => fre_profile [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [7] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8502 [post_author] => 787 [post_date] => 2024-03-28 03:38:46 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-03-28 03:38:46 [post_content] => Ghezal Omar has a knack for mixing her love for storytelling with her Afghan heritage. She kicked off her journey in cinema by co-writing and co-directing "Bawaar," an Afghan film that shines a light on being an Afghan woman, and "Afghan X," a documentary that digs into the heart of being Afghan American. For Ghezal, these weren’t just projects; they were her way of connecting with her roots and sharing those stories with everyone. Through graphic novels, she found a whole new way to tell stories like ".357 Magnum Opus," "Pimp Killer," and "Pagan Valley." Each book pulls readers into worlds made vivid with her words. Through the lens of a camera or the pages of a graphic novel, she's been lucky to tell stories that matter, stories that stick with you. [post_title] => Ghezal Omar [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => ghezal-omar [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-03-28 03:38:46 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-03-28 03:38:46 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://maacdatabase.com/author/ghezal/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => fre_profile [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [8] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8497 [post_author] => 780 [post_date] => 2024-03-27 01:49:55 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-03-27 01:49:55 [post_content] => Fateema is an award-winning, Queer, mixed-race Palestinian filmmaker exploring fractured identity, isolation and connection through "oh no, should I laugh?" comedy. She believes in resistance and resilience through laughter and is passionate about creating nuanced representations of Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims for the screen. Fateema prioritizes uplifting marginalized voices both in front of and behind the camera with her work. Her short film EITR was one of eight world-wide recipients of InsideOut’s RE:Focus Fund and had its world premiere at OutFest LA in 2023. The film was also selected by the Arab Film and Media Institute to screen as a part of New Filmmakers LA InFocus Spotlight on Arab Cinema. Fateema is currently developing her first feature film, a poetic coming-of-age dramedy centring a young mixed-race Palestinian woman and trauma survivor on the path to healing and finding her voice. [post_title] => Fateema Al-Hamaydeh Miller [post_excerpt] => Fateema is an award-winning, Queer, mixed-race Palestinian filmmaker exploring fractured identity, isolation and connection through “oh no, should I laugh?”… [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => fateema-al-hamaydeh-miller [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-03-27 01:51:00 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-03-27 01:51:00 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://maacdatabase.com/author/fateema-a-m/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => fre_profile [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [9] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8485 [post_author] => 622 [post_date] => 2024-03-26 20:48:17 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-03-26 20:48:17 [post_content] => Rita Baghdadi is an Emmy award-winning Moroccan-American director known for the intimacy of her character-driven films. Recently, Rita’s film SIRENS premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, won the Grand Jury Prize at Outfest and was praised by critics as “smartly crafted,” “deeply moving,” and “a bold rebellion.” Executive Produced by Natasha Lyonne and Maya Rudolph, SIRENS was released in theaters across the U.S and is now available to stream. Some of Rita’s previous films include MY COUNTRY NO MORE (Independent Lens, 2019), winner of Best Feature at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival and CITY RISING, winner of the Emmy award for Best Social Issue Film. Her work has been supported by Sundance, Tribeca, Netflix, HBO, Canon, Chicken & Egg, Catapult Films, Film Independent and the International Documentary Association. Rita is co-founder of Lady & Bird Films. She is a 2024 Concordia Fellow, a 2023 Sundance Momentum Fellow and DOC NYC’s ‘40 under 40’ class of 2022. Her film for Nat Geo, FINDING THE LIGHT, about conflict photojournalist Muhammed Muheison, recently premiered on Disney+ in March 2024. She is currently in development and production on several new films and series. [post_title] => Rita Baghdadi [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => rita-baghdadi [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-03-26 20:48:17 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-03-26 20:48:17 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://maacdatabase.com/author/ritabaghdadi/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => fre_profile [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [10] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8480 [post_author] => 785 [post_date] => 2024-03-26 19:21:02 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-03-26 19:21:02 [post_content] => Born and raised in Southern California, Hila Hamidi is a television writer and producer at Warner Bros. and runs a digital marketing agency based out of Orange County. Her passion for storytelling flourished at eleven when she visited Afghanistan for the first time. Dropping out of high school at sixteen to pursue a career in architecture, Hila quickly became her family’s disappointment by graduating from the University of Southern California with a degree in business and screenwriting. Shortly after, she redeemed herself by working with National Geographic, Warner Bros. Stage 13, Break the Room, and a Chuck Lorre sitcom with Warner Bros. over at CBS and now FOX. She also runs her blog called Hilastan, where she shares her travels and explores her hyphenated identity, working on bridging the gap between the east and west. [post_title] => Hila Hamidi [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => hila-hamidi [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-03-26 19:21:02 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-03-26 19:21:02 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://maacdatabase.com/author/hilahamidi/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => fre_profile [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [11] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8474 [post_author] => 783 [post_date] => 2024-03-26 18:54:47 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-03-26 18:54:47 [post_content] => Anahid Yahjian is an independent writer, director and producer of experimental, documentary and narrative cinema. Her commitment to telling true stories (even if they come from her imagination) was shaped by an early love for visual storytelling that was formalized in college and took flight during her coming of age in Armenia. There, she produced the internationally awarded narrative short 140 Drams (Camerimage, Clermont-Ferrand), laid the creative groundwork for the feature documentary Spiral (IDFA Bertha Fund, Golden Apricot), and shot and directed the viral digital documentary LEVON: A Wondrous Life. Since returning to Los Angeles, she shot and directed the experimental cine-triptych, Corpus Callosum, the narrative science-fiction short Transmission (BFI Flare, Vancouver QFF), and the docu-memoir Hishé. She has also directed branded content and music videos for AMC Networks, Amazon Music and Joyful Noise Recordings, and recently supervised post production on televised series and digital content for A24, Netflix, Vice and Spotify. Born in Bulgaria, raised in Los Angeles, and a citizen of the world, she is fluent in English, Armenian and Bulgarian and can get by in Spanish and Russian. She splits her time between Yerevan, Sofia, Los Angeles, and New York City. [post_title] => Anahid Yahjian [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => anahid-yahjian [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-03-26 18:54:47 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-03-26 18:54:47 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://maacdatabase.com/author/anahidyahjian/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => fre_profile [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [12] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8469 [post_author] => 779 [post_date] => 2024-03-25 23:48:56 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-03-25 23:48:56 [post_content] => Cyrus Mirakhor (Director, Writer, and Producer) is an Iranian American filmmaker. He attained his BA from George Mason University, and Master's Certification in Documentary Film from The George Washington University. He later attended the UCLAx Program for Directing in order to learn more about the fictional storytelling process. His first feature film "Wake." (starring James Denton, Jo Koy, & Myndy Crist) had its theatrical release in Los Angeles in 2019 and is distributed by Gravitas Ventures. It premiered at the Heartland International Film festival. It went on to win several awards on the US Film Festival circuit, including top honors at the Sedona International Film Festival, Cambria Film Festival, Alexandria Film Festival & Riverside International Film Festival. He lives in Los Angeles and is married to award winning director, executive producer, and editor Archana Shinde. [post_title] => Cyrus Mirakhor [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => cyrus-mirakhor [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-03-25 23:48:56 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-03-25 23:48:56 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://maacdatabase.com/author/mirakhor/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => fre_profile [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [13] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8460 [post_author] => 778 [post_date] => 2024-03-25 16:21:32 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-03-25 16:21:32 [post_content] => Parissa Pirouzan Glaser is an indie filmmaker born and raised in Tehran, Iran now living and working in the US. She holds a Ph.D. in Translation from the University of Salamanca in Spain. Prior to embarking on her film-making career, she spent nearly a decade working at some of Silicon Valley's most revered tech companies, including Google, Uber and Pinterest, leading international launches and expansions. In her filmmaking, she passionately advocates for the representation of Iranian and Middle Eastern minorities, focusing particularly on strong women, the LGBTQ+ community and non-religious individuals whose stories are rarely told through their own eyes. She aspires to portray those like herself who are often misrepresented or altogether not represented in Western media and productions. [post_title] => Parissa Pirouzan Glaser [post_excerpt] => Parissa Pirouzan Glaser is an indie filmmaker born and raised in Tehran, Iran. She holds a Ph.D. in Translation from… [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => parissa-pirouzan-glaser [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-03-25 17:35:16 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-03-25 17:35:16 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://maacdatabase.com/author/parissa/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => fre_profile [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [14] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8450 [post_author] => 776 [post_date] => 2024-03-23 20:54:28 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-03-23 20:54:28 [post_content] => Yaser Al-Nyrabeah is an actor, filmmaker and comedian. While growing up in Ontario, Canada, Yaser was born in Florida to two Syrian refugees, his mother, a writer herself and school teacher, and his father, a small Syrian sweets shop owner and poet. Throughout his stand-up, Yaser discusses the dualities of growing up in the west while belonging to a culturally rich Syrian background. He also touches on his Muslim upbringing while also being experimental in other religions during his late teens. Yaser has frequented shows at clubs like The Comedy Store and The Hollywood Improv. As an actor, Yaser initially received his training as a youth in his hometown in Ontario, Canada, and later continued to participate in theater throughout his time in Florida and now in Los Angeles. His mother, Heba Debbagh, is the author of an infamous book titled Just Five Minutes: Nine Years In The Prisons Of Syria, which gained massive popularity in the early 90's and became a source for political debate as it was the first writing or source of any kind that brought to light the dehumanizing treatment the Syrian regime secretly had on its people as it imprisoned many, including Heba, for no rhyme or reason, placing them in torturous prison conditions for decades as punishment to crimes they didn't commit. Yaser now leads his career with a focus on acting and a screenplay he wrote based off his mother's book he hopes to develop into a motion picture later in his career. You can find Yaser at a comedy club in Los Angeles every night. [post_title] => Yaser Al-Nyrabeah [post_excerpt] => Yaser Al-Nyrabeah is an actor, writer and comedian. While growing up in Ontario, Canada, Yaser was born in Florida to… [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => yaser-al-nyrabeah [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-03-23 20:54:51 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-03-23 20:54:51 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://maacdatabase.com/author/ynyrabeah/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => fre_profile [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [15] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8448 [post_author] => 777 [post_date] => 2024-03-23 19:24:04 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-03-23 19:24:04 [post_content] => As an award-winning screenwriter and producer, I have moved more than a dozen award-winning film and TV scripts into the hands of development executives at CBS, Sony Animation, Sony Pictures Television, Shondaland, Juvee Productions (Viola Davis, CEO), as well as A Bird And A Bear Entertainment (Cedric the Entertainer, CEO), among others. I've served as a dedicated pre-screener for several top 10 U.S. film festivals, where I've analyzed and critiqued thousands of documentary and narrative stories across various tones, styles, and genres. Through these experiences, I've gained valuable insights into what makes a good story. Additionally, I've conducted interviews with over a dozen influential network executives, literary managers, film producers, and screenwriters in Hollywood, learning firsthand what they look for on the page and why. [post_title] => Charlita Gaston [post_excerpt] => As an award-winning screenwriter and producer, I have moved more than a dozen award-winning film and TV scripts into the… [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => charlita-gaston [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-03-23 19:24:17 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-03-23 19:24:17 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://maacdatabase.com/author/candidlycharlita/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => fre_profile [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [16] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8435 [post_author] => 775 [post_date] => 2024-03-23 01:27:10 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-03-23 01:27:10 [post_content] => An early-career cinematographer, writer, producer, and Broadway enthusiast with prior professional careers as a humanitarian running an NGO in Afghanistan, a Navy corpsman, a linguist embedded with Special Forces in Afghanistan, and a pre-medical student at Georgetown University. For the past year and half, Safi has worked on four documentaries as a cinematographer and associate producer. Three of the documentaries are set to be released in 2024. In 2023, Safi served as a cinematographer and editor for Marathon Digital, a Broadway media company where he was responsible for shooting behind-the-scenes footage from Broadway shows, including Hamilton, Hadestown, How to Dance in Ohio, Here Lies Love, and more. This year, Safi is in the pre-production phase of his first short as a writer and cinematographer. The short is on schedule to start shooting on May 10 in Mumbai, India. He is also developing a full-length feature about his experience as a Taliban hostage in captivity for 105 days in Kabul, Afghanistan. [post_title] => Safi Rauf [post_excerpt] => An early-career writer, cinematographer, producer, and Broadway enthusiast with prior professional careers as a humanitarian running an NGO in Afghanistan,… [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => safi-rauf [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-03-23 02:21:16 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-03-23 02:21:16 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://maacdatabase.com/author/safi-h-raufgmail-com/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => fre_profile [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [17] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8430 [post_author] => 773 [post_date] => 2024-03-22 23:37:45 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-03-22 23:37:45 [post_content] => Jonah Elias is an Egyptian-Australian director, currently completing my MFA in Filmmaking at ArtCenter College of Design. I got my start directing with my debut short film, DRIVER, with Lucas Pittaway, which was a SEMI-FINALIST at the Australian Independent Film Festival. Since then, I’ve continued building my repertoire, with an emphasis on relationships, ethics and inner conflict. Many of my films explore cultures elements and themes. My most recent film, ASTRAY, follows the life of an Egyptian immigrant, who must balance his studies to get his medical certification, with his work and familial obligations. It’s currently going through the film festival circuit. [post_title] => Jonah Elias [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => jonah-elias [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-03-22 23:37:45 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-03-22 23:37:45 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://maacdatabase.com/author/jonahelias/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => fre_profile [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [18] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8424 [post_author] => 771 [post_date] => 2024-03-22 00:53:20 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-03-22 00:53:20 [post_content] => Amena Kheshtchin-Kamel is an American born Persian-Egyptian writer, producer, director, and actress in her twenties who is currently working with PlayStation on a live-action feature video game adaptation as screenwriter, as well as developing an animated TV series with Spin Master. Amena has her debut semi-autobiographical YA graphic novel titled MY YEAR AS EMMA which is being published by Dark Horse. Amena is co-producing a sports biopic titled THE GENERAL with Anvil Pictures, written by Jay S. Arnold (THE KISSING BOOTH 2 & 3 co-writer) with Vince Marcello (THE KISSING BOOTH franchise) attached to direct. Amena focuses on world-building around unorthodox and dynamic women across multiple genres and formats, and she has a soft spot for fantasy based on myth and lore. Being a young licensed attorney, she has experience with intellectual property, criminal justice reform, medical malpractice, and international law. When she’s not writing, Amena is training in improv at The Groundlings, doing stand up rounds at Tempe Improv, as well as training as an opera singer under tenor Gioacchino Li Vigni’s tutelage. She is represented by Olivia Krevoy at 3 Arts Entertainment and Molly Fenton at Cohen Gardner LLP. [post_title] => Amena Kamel [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => amena-kamel [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-03-22 00:53:20 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-03-22 00:53:20 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://maacdatabase.com/author/amenak1/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => fre_profile [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [19] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8415 [post_author] => 770 [post_date] => 2024-03-21 19:52:12 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-03-21 19:52:12 [post_content] => Filmmaker and screenwriter Eric Nazarian is an honors graduate of the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts and the recipient of the Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences for his screenplay, Giants. His first film as writer-director, The Blue Hour, starring Alyssa Milano and Clarence Williams III, premiered at the San Sebastian International Film Festival and the Torino Film Festival, winning several awards on the festival circuit. He co-wrote Three Christs starring Richard Gere, Peter Dinklage and Julianna Margulies, directed by Jon Avnet and released by IFC Films. The film is based on the seminal book, The Three Christs of Ypsilanti by Milton Rokeach. His film Tatanka, about the Oglala Lakota mothers of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) and the healing power of the buffalo, premiered at the Rome Film Festival as part of a global anthology film about human and animal life in the era of climate change. Currently, he is in post-production on Die Like a Man, a rite of passage feature film about the aftereffects of gun violence in a rapidly gentrifying Westside neighborhood in L.A. While making the film, Nazarian created a social impact audiovisual literacy program with the aim of combating gun violence in at-risk communities through grassroots filmmaking. He was recently selected for Marcus Lyon’s social impact art project, Alta / A Human Atlas of a City of Angels as one of the 100 extraordinary individuals creating positive change across Los Angeles County, due to premiere at the Getty in October 2024. [post_title] => Eric Nazarian [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => eric-nazarian-2 [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-03-21 19:52:12 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-03-21 19:52:12 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://maacdatabase.com/author/eric-nazarian/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => fre_profile [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [20] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8411 [post_author] => 769 [post_date] => 2024-03-21 17:15:16 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-03-21 17:15:16 [post_content] => Rodd Cyrus is a mixed Iranian-English-Scottish-Italian-American actor/singer/writer who recently graduated from Juilliard's drama department with an MFA in Acting after getting his BA from UCLA. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is currently based between New York City and Los Angeles. Rodd can be seen in TV shows such as Elsbeth and Jimmy Kimmel Live!, independent feature and short films, as well as multiple Off-Broadway and regional theatre productions. His most recent theatre credits include playing Giuseppe opposite Ruthie Ann Miles in The Light in the Piazza at Encores! NY City Center, Hamlet in Hamlet at The Juilliard School, Don Juan in Valor at The Guthrie Theater, Eddie in Mamma Mia! at The Hollywood Bowl, and workshopping Martyna Majok's new one man play at the McCarter Theatre Center. [post_title] => Rodd Cyrus [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => rodd-cyrus [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-03-21 17:15:16 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-03-21 17:15:16 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://maacdatabase.com/author/roddcyrus/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => fre_profile [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [21] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8406 [post_author] => 767 [post_date] => 2024-03-21 14:20:07 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-03-21 14:20:07 [post_content] => Kirollos Toma, Assistant Director and devoted cinephile! From a young age, they were mesmerized by the magic of movies and knew they belonged in the world of filmmaking. Inspired by renowned directors like Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorsese, they ventured into the film industry in 2009. Their career led them to diverse cities, from the electric vibes of New York City to the laid-back scenes of Los Angeles, the soulful rhythms of Memphis, the charm of Greenwood, Mississippi, and the artistic spirit of Pittsburgh. In 2016, Kirollos Toma achieved a major milestone by joining the esteemed Directors Guild of America, marking a pivotal moment in their career. With an unstoppable work ethic and unwavering commitment to safety, they skillfully steered the ship for six incredible seasons of the TV show Nashville, leaving an unforgettable mark on the production. With heart and soul poured into every project, Kirollos Toma crafts cinematic experiences that captivate audiences. They're on a mission to make a lasting impact in the film industry, one remarkable project at a time! [post_title] => Kirollos Toma [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => kirollos-toma [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-03-21 14:20:07 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-03-21 14:20:07 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://maacdatabase.com/author/kirollos/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => fre_profile [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [22] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8395 [post_author] => 765 [post_date] => 2024-03-21 05:20:23 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-03-21 05:20:23 [post_content] => Jasmine Wattar is a Middle Eastern and American actor born in San Diego, California. Jasmine is known for her comedic work, extensive improv training and is a recipient of the Groundlings SNL Award. You can find her on multiple platforms including Amazon, Netflix, YouTube, and Fox Digital. Jasmine is a diversity and disability advocate and was awarded the NBCUniversal Diversity Scholarship for The Groundlings Writing Lab (Spring 2019) and was a Thomas Angle Foundation Finalist at Upright Citizen's Brigade. [post_title] => Jasmine Wattar [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => jasmine-wattar [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-03-21 05:20:23 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-03-21 05:20:23 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://maacdatabase.com/author/jasminewattar/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => fre_profile [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [23] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8387 [post_author] => 763 [post_date] => 2024-03-21 01:54:55 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-03-21 01:54:55 [post_content] => Brianna grew up in Miami, Florida, in a Cuban-Persian household with loud music and louder people that cultivated her big personality. As a child, she dreamed of becoming the disabled Hannah Montana, but she really can’t sing. Now, her characters embody the ambitions of her inner Disney kid. Through them, she creates worlds where it’s cool to race in a mobility scooter, or reimagine the feisty Latina. Brianna writes about people that are “too much” finding communities that don’t expect them to be any less. In May 2023, she graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Southern California with a BFA in Writing for Screen & Television from the School of Cinematic Arts and a minor in Marketing from the Marshall School of Business. Her comedy feature BURY THE LEDE was a 2023 Launch Pad Feature Competition Top 50 and an Atlanta Film Festival Semifinalist. Her half-hour comedy pilot JACKPOT was also a 2023 Launch Pad Pilot Competition Top 100 and a Second Rounder in the Austin Film Festival. [post_title] => Brianna Naderpour [post_excerpt] => Brianna grew up in Miami, Florida, in a Cuban-Persian household with loud music and louder people that cultivated her big… [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => brianna-naderpour [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-03-21 21:35:22 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-03-21 21:35:22 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://maacdatabase.com/author/bnader/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => fre_profile [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [24] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8382 [post_author] => 762 [post_date] => 2024-03-21 01:17:46 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-03-21 01:17:46 [post_content] => Shamin Shukkoor is an actor known for his captivating performances in both film and theater. Born in Kerala, India, his family moved to UAE when he was 3 years old. Shamin's multicultural upbringing has shaped his ability to connect with diverse characters and bring them to life on screen and stage. With a strong foundation in the Meisner technique under the tutelage of William Alderson from the Group Theatre his dedication to his craft is evident in his notable work, including his Lead roles in "Fun Sized Trouble" (2022), which was screened at the Augilar Film Festival, and "Belladonna" (2023). These performances have garnered critical acclaim and showcased Shamin's versatility and ability to seamlessly embody complex characters. In addition to his film work, Shamin had the privilege of performing at the prestigious Hollywood Bowl. He was part of the cast of Nebuchadnezzar, the Opera by Kanye West, under the direction of the renowned Vanessa Beecroft. This experience allowed him to showcase his talent on a grand stage and further enhanced his understanding of the power of live performances. One of Shamin's standout qualities is his linguistic prowess. Fluent in four languages, he effortlessly switches between them, adding another layer of authenticity to his portrayals. This ability to speak multiple languages enables him to authentically portray characters from different cultural backgrounds, bringing depth and nuance to his performances. [post_title] => Shamin Shukkoor [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => shamin-shukkoor [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-03-21 02:31:06 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-03-21 02:31:06 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://maacdatabase.com/author/shaminsk/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => fre_profile [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) ) [post_count] => 25 [current_post] => -1 [before_loop] => 1 [in_the_loop] => [post] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8576 [post_author] => 774 [post_date] => 2024-04-05 00:36:00 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-04-05 00:36:00 [post_content] => Shafik Bahou is a Lebanese & Palestinian - American actor, percussionist, and teaching artist. He has been performing since grade school, with formal education including a B.Sc. in Behavioral Neuroscience and a minor in theatre from Northeastern University, while auditioning for film and TV throughout college. In his senior year, he landed a role "kidnapping" George Clooney and Ewan McGregor in "Men Who Stare at Goats," which motivated him to pursue acting professionally. In New York City, he studied Meisner-based acting at the William Esper Studio while earning his M.A. in Cognitive Sciences in Education from Columbia University: Teachers College. Shafik has worked as a teaching artist, integrating arts into education and designing project-based learning programs that integrate theatre principals for STEAM learning while actively pursuing creative writing, working in film and TV, and performing as a freelance percussionist. He is transitioning to writing original films and creating a talent-led production initiative that produces narratives that better represent the MENA community. [post_title] => Shafik Bahou [post_excerpt] => Shafik Bahou is a Lebanese-Palestinian American actor, percussionist, and teaching artist. He has been performing since grade school, with formal… [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => shafik-bahou [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-04-05 03:25:17 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-04-05 03:25:17 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://maacdatabase.com/author/shafik/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => fre_profile [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [comment_count] => 0 [current_comment] => -1 [found_posts] => 510 [max_num_pages] => 21 [max_num_comment_pages] => 0 [is_single] => [is_preview] => [is_page] => [is_archive] => 1 [is_date] => [is_year] => [is_month] => [is_day] => [is_time] => [is_author] => [is_category] => [is_tag] => [is_tax] => [is_search] => [is_feed] => [is_comment_feed] => [is_trackback] => [is_home] => [is_privacy_policy] => [is_404] => [is_embed] => [is_paged] => [is_admin] => [is_attachment] => [is_singular] => [is_robots] => [is_favicon] => [is_posts_page] => [is_post_type_archive] => 1 [query_vars_hash:WP_Query:private] => e11678c59f9635d913492d12d3a2122b [query_vars_changed:WP_Query:private] => [thumbnails_cached] => [allow_query_attachment_by_filename:protected] => [stopwords:WP_Query:private] => [compat_fields:WP_Query:private] => Array ( [0] => query_vars_hash [1] => query_vars_changed ) [compat_methods:WP_Query:private] => Array ( [0] => init_query_flags [1] => parse_tax_query ) )

Shafik Bahou

Ohmer Khan

David Mahmoudieh

Samer Saifan

TEHRAN VON GHASRI

Maryam Mustafa

Saba Saghafi

Ghezal Omar

Fateema Al-Hamaydeh Miller

Rita Baghdadi

Hila Hamidi

Anahid Yahjian

Cyrus Mirakhor

Parissa Pirouzan Glaser

Yaser Al-Nyrabeah

Charlita Gaston

Safi Rauf

Jonah Elias

Amena Kamel

Eric Nazarian

Rodd Cyrus

Kirollos Toma

Jasmine Wattar

Brianna Naderpour

Shamin Shukkoor