tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154044142024-03-06T23:44:49.236-08:00A Filmmaker's JourneyWriter, Director, and Producer - an account of my transformation from businessman to making short films to AFI graduate and now feature filmmaker. Here I share my journey and my thoughts.Amin Matalqahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01580064427613555349noreply@blogger.comBlogger186125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15404414.post-30604971471475579942010-02-14T00:50:00.000-08:002010-02-14T00:52:41.619-08:00My blog has movedI've started a new blog, so please visit at Wordpress. <a href="http://amatalqa.wordpress.com/">Here's the LINK.</a><br /><br />I'll be posting more regularly about things other than Captain Abu Raed.Amin Matalqahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01580064427613555349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15404414.post-44559001354728713862009-11-01T12:25:00.000-08:002009-11-01T12:38:26.050-08:00Doha Tribeca Blog #3Well, I have to say, Doha Tribeca has been one incredibly impressive and inspiring film festival. The soul is focused on nurturing local filmmakers from Doha, but the context is within a global stage. Between Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Mira Nair, Ben Kingsley and Adel Imam, there were new surprises everyday. For me, there were two really special discoveries. One is Elia Suleiman's powerful Palestinian film The Time That Remains which is just a beautiful and powerful comedy about Elia and his father in Palestine, and the second is Amir Ghonem, a young talented Egyptian actor and up and coming filmmaker who played a hilarious Haggler in one of the shorts introducing the films at each screening. This guy is a new talent who will shine, and one day I'll come back and ask him to be in one of my films. He's brilliant.<br /><br />DTFF surpassed my expectations. The spirit of Doha is beautiful. The culture and the people, lovely. I so look forward to coming back again in the future. One of my favorite festivals I've ever been to.Amin Matalqahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01580064427613555349noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15404414.post-8163020461518692152009-10-27T00:20:00.000-07:002009-10-27T01:44:16.637-07:00Doha Tribeca Blog #2: Arab CinemaThere's something very exciting happening in the Arab world right now. A powerful force of artistic voices is coming to life like the sound of an orchestra tuning up, getting ready to explode into a grand overture. Quality Arabic films are starting to emerge on the world stage. Local voices are coming together. A sense of artistic film community is growing and spreading. Film schools and film festivals are bridging cultures between continents. We have Arabs telling Arab stories and preserving portraits of time through cinema that will stay around for future generations to discover. <br /><br />This is all beautiful and exciting, but now let's see how we can really take this movement and turn it into a self-sustaining industry. How can we create an Arab film culture that speaks to mass audiences so we can keep people coming to Arabic films in Arabic cinemas like they flock to see the latest Jason Statham Transporter action film at the multiplex? Well, the answer is starting to come to me. And I think it's simpler than you would think. We just need to make fun movies. We need to make genre movies: comedies, horror, suspense, thrillers...etc. We need to start thinking about the potential of fun cinema in order to shape a theater-going industry. <br /><br />People go to the movies to escape everyday life. We go to movies to be entertained. Who would want to go to the movies and watch a drama about a depressing subject when all they look at all day is depressing news about the suffering in the world? People go to the movies to laugh, to be excited, and be inspired, to be scared or fall in love. They go to forget their everyday troubles. So now I think there's a very special opportunity for Arab filmmakers to focus their talents on making entertainment. My first film was a drama that dealt with some dark subjects, but it had comedy and lightness throughout. My next film is a comedy. There's great power in comedy. It's not easy to pull off, but it's something that needs to be nurtured and cultivated. <br /><br />Something to think about. I went to see the new phenomenon of a film in the US. There's a big hit film called Paranormal Activity that's sweeping the box office charts. It's generated more than $60million in revenues in a few weeks and that's just the beginning. The film will surpass $100million quickly. It's a very intelligently made horror film about a haunted house. I should let you know that the film cost $15,000 to make. There are four characters in the entire film. It's all set in one house. Shot with a little video camera. It was superbly executed with very little resources. The digital age has now allowed us to do anything. The sky is the limit. The rest is up to your imagination.Amin Matalqahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01580064427613555349noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15404414.post-52980500190699097632009-10-19T23:22:00.000-07:002009-10-20T00:05:54.416-07:00Doha Tribeca Film Festival Blog #1In the lead up to the Doha Tribeca Film Festival, I've been asked to write a blog focusing on the position of my film in this new rise of cinema in the Arab world. <br /><br />Well, it's been some time now that Captain Abu Raed has been circulating from festivals to cinemas, and now DVD and television. Looking back, as the film has played in over 70 countries, here are some things that I can share (I'm going to jump all over the place, but there's so much to touch on and discuss)...<br /><br />There have been various differing claims: "the first Jordanian film, the first film out of Jordan in 50 years, the first film ever exported from Jordan to the world's cinemas..." etc. There are a million ways to interpret it, but what honestly matters most to me is that I made a film that I loved and nurtured and felt the rewards of sharing with audiences across cultures. That was my biggest goal. The rest is just hype and marketing. I think that any filmmaker who gets distracted with the idea of writing history, and takes their eyes off the ball of actually making a good film that is honest to its own self-contained heart, will be in trouble. What was most important to me while prepping, filming, and editing was that I make a film that affected me personally, for as the director, I am the ambassador for the audience. <br /><br />In our business plan from the beginning, as we approached investors, the strategy was very simple. There are elements that are within your control, and elements outside of your control when trying to make a film and send it out into the world. Half the battle is actually making the film. The other half is the seemingly impossible struggle to get it distributed out to the world. Something like 80 to 90% of independent films never get picked up for distribution. So our only hope was to simply make the best film we can make, minimize the risk variables, and hope for the best. I don't think a bank would trust such a simple strategy with a loan. Thank God for our amazing Jordanian investors who believed in this film. It all goes back to one simple concept: heart.<br /><br />Is your heart in your film? Are you doing it for love or for glory? I can't imagine anyone making a good or great film if they're doing it for the glory. You make a film because you care about the characters. You care about their trials and tribulations. Their struggle for survival. Their comedic behavior. The way they deal with their challenges. In the world of independent film, especially in the Arab world, we're far behind on CGI technology. Special effects are expensive, and big set pieces are a long ways away down the road. What we do have, that no special effects can ever replace, is the gift of storytelling. Storytelling is in our blood and culture. That is the special effect that we have the power to cultivate. Nurture good stories with strong characters. That's the foundation for this art. The rest is a combination of art and craft that gets improved with training and collaborating. We'll talk more about that in a separate blog about building a film. <br /><br />Next blog I think I'll write about the new rise of Arabic cinema.Amin Matalqahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01580064427613555349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15404414.post-81370131979899627182009-09-15T23:18:00.000-07:002009-09-15T23:29:08.681-07:00Up In the Air and Captain<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWJuHY0A0L_AjEodDFGHWXKY_Zk49S-Xlqvn2xZ9BjR2UwBurADUcbFmw9XId43FXHOL32Z4tEwz64C2i-1acMdtX-MS56eo4WfyxZIiqwEWwrJjYEl3EOxQy0VBdZaW4sTqZ/s1600-h/upintheairposter1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWJuHY0A0L_AjEodDFGHWXKY_Zk49S-Xlqvn2xZ9BjR2UwBurADUcbFmw9XId43FXHOL32Z4tEwz64C2i-1acMdtX-MS56eo4WfyxZIiqwEWwrJjYEl3EOxQy0VBdZaW4sTqZ/s400/upintheairposter1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381946758524570114" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhotxe6P66fmzFYeCuNV9VnvJrj0MIGR9IHmQ5WBPNa7PoDFUFcZFop_M_sxwaFgkhyNPRnPJzWHE6ufte-wlVDwo4JOnaLwS8Rvr0kFz2lSgPU6iD9OForIsK663aUEVGAKb/s1600-h/Abu+Raed+by+Window+Full.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhotxe6P66fmzFYeCuNV9VnvJrj0MIGR9IHmQ5WBPNa7PoDFUFcZFop_M_sxwaFgkhyNPRnPJzWHE6ufte-wlVDwo4JOnaLwS8Rvr0kFz2lSgPU6iD9OForIsK663aUEVGAKb/s400/Abu+Raed+by+Window+Full.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381946779954732002" /></a><br /><br />Check out the parallel between this poster from the new George Clooney Film, Up In the Air, with Mr. Clooney looking out the winodow of a US Airport, and the image of Abu Raed looking out the window in Jordan's airport.Amin Matalqahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01580064427613555349noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15404414.post-44262667856961267522009-08-25T17:11:00.000-07:002009-08-25T17:58:17.445-07:00Captain Abu Raed Soundtrack Album Now Available on CD<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJ9yRifERyq3UJRLrIbZJxiGo6vWNVwVotpV37jPJKZ1CLJAMTNuI6sHgar9VTyzpHG1HJ6GVKcxgbykOqSxkkEgVLIyfhkMagv1rAAmYk0fwAYX6dVKW0-wI-Gzvmj31iu-0/s1600-h/Capt_Abu_Raed+soundtrack.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJ9yRifERyq3UJRLrIbZJxiGo6vWNVwVotpV37jPJKZ1CLJAMTNuI6sHgar9VTyzpHG1HJ6GVKcxgbykOqSxkkEgVLIyfhkMagv1rAAmYk0fwAYX6dVKW0-wI-Gzvmj31iu-0/s400/Capt_Abu_Raed+soundtrack.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374059847360945170" /></a><br /><br /><br />Listed as the #1 Top Score of 2008 by <a href="http://www.filmmusicmag.com/?p=2237">Film Music Magazine</a>, Austin Wintory's complete beautiful orchestral score for Captain is now available on CD from Buy Soundtracks Records in a Limited Edition with beautiful packaging. The first 100 copies shipped will be signed by out brilliant composer, who I will bet my house that he will be the next John Williams in just a few years. <br /><a href="http://buysoundtrax.stores.yahoo.net/caaburaorsob.html"><br />ORDER YOUR COPY HERE</a>Amin Matalqahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01580064427613555349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15404414.post-60470238314701945262009-08-12T13:23:00.001-07:002009-08-12T13:24:21.099-07:00The Captain lands in New YorkThis Friday. Opening in New York. I'll be there for Q&A. <a href="http://www.captainaburaed.com">www.CaptainFilm.com</a>Amin Matalqahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01580064427613555349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15404414.post-66624066456948862492009-07-28T00:04:00.000-07:002009-07-28T00:13:24.648-07:00Captain Expands in San FranciscoHere we go...<br />As a result of the opening weekend, Captain Abu Raed expands to four theaters in San Francisco this Friday the 31st at the following venues:<br /><br />San Francisco:<br />Balboa Theater<br />Opera Plaza<br />UA Stonestown Twin<br /><br />Berkeley:<br />Shattuck<br /><br />It also opens in Denver, Colorado at the Chez Artiste Theater. Composer Austin Wintory will be holding Q&A's on Friday and Saturday's 4:15 and 6:45 shows. Please tell your friends. Also keep your eye out for San Diego and New York opening the following weeks. More updates to be announced as the theatrical bookings continue to grow. <a href="http://www.captainaburaed.com">www.CaptainFilm.com</a>Amin Matalqahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01580064427613555349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15404414.post-47831682393906251942009-07-26T19:32:00.000-07:002009-07-26T20:02:45.977-07:00Something fresh<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrth1dBsuVfm4M4xNVmmY7gNnTrP8CytXNqcW1RWgp4iQZVqYN2j-_Z9fAXx7IvDHLzxbpZIvcW5K2jMzHl5vPj-iLytfwWDc6PscJ-rSj9FkazziP5Vwq60SModJ1lQfzmL8h/s1600-h/IMG_9008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrth1dBsuVfm4M4xNVmmY7gNnTrP8CytXNqcW1RWgp4iQZVqYN2j-_Z9fAXx7IvDHLzxbpZIvcW5K2jMzHl5vPj-iLytfwWDc6PscJ-rSj9FkazziP5Vwq60SModJ1lQfzmL8h/s400/IMG_9008.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362968161434834770" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHDElq_WlVNfkyE_MeciYCMFilh8R80Ky38VxgJgn6QnMJbK8SA6GSjvH6vb2pYh5naIJLZ6fL_Qlod2SQXvQ1zXV6XKEymIXfqvLAbyLDD-MvUyXks8MAG5GE3blLtVuiRAc/s1600-h/IMG_9009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHDElq_WlVNfkyE_MeciYCMFilh8R80Ky38VxgJgn6QnMJbK8SA6GSjvH6vb2pYh5naIJLZ6fL_Qlod2SQXvQ1zXV6XKEymIXfqvLAbyLDD-MvUyXks8MAG5GE3blLtVuiRAc/s400/IMG_9009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362968151431603730" /></a><br /><br />I just got back from San Francisco and Berkeley where we had an excited audience of surprisingly very few Arabs. I was pleased to see a mostly American audience coming to see a Jordanian film in a US cinema. After one of the Berkeley screenings, a group of college students came up to me and started talking in Arabic. But they were all Americans and Canadians. I was blown away to see so many American students learning Arabic. <br /><br />One of my old teachers, Leonard Schraeder once said of the whole Bush Iraq war/mess... He said something like this: "It's just like what happened with the Japanese in America during WW2. First the American public didn't know anything about the Japanese. Then they hated them after Pearl Harbor. There was fear and uncertainty. Then it was followed by curiosity. And then understanding." Well, never in my life have I seen this many American students being so curious and fascinated by the Arab world. And to hear them speak Arabic was just refreshing. Maybe we're entering that phase... from hatred to curiosity. Eventually we will come to understanding.Amin Matalqahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01580064427613555349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15404414.post-55232964928335115912009-07-24T12:11:00.001-07:002009-07-24T12:12:44.828-07:00Cello & Oboe<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE03CTTL_yzcystMW5QqPn7pkQMFE5o_Lzf_ff2X7huTUJxa6tQXgUuvGOig9r6ubwIH5QKDfUpPX1avtYZJJSnnFZqKsOsVGq7Hstz4APhNaIH_xq2tpoT8lTRi_en7-FuOIb/s1600-h/photo-5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE03CTTL_yzcystMW5QqPn7pkQMFE5o_Lzf_ff2X7huTUJxa6tQXgUuvGOig9r6ubwIH5QKDfUpPX1avtYZJJSnnFZqKsOsVGq7Hstz4APhNaIH_xq2tpoT8lTRi_en7-FuOIb/s400/photo-5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362106710149026370" /></a><br /><br />Here's a little montage of my beast Cello & Oboe as they grow from puppies to titans. <br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byZ1xvStZ_M"><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byZ1xvStZ_M</a>Amin Matalqahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01580064427613555349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15404414.post-79150468098115112812009-07-24T12:01:00.000-07:002009-07-24T12:08:46.257-07:00Now PlayingOkay friends. Starting today, Captain Abu Raed takes flight opening in one or two new cities every week. I'll be doing Q&A's in San Francisco tonight, Berkeley tomorrow, then Austin our composer, will be in Denver next week. I'll be in San Diego the week after, then New York, Washington DC, and where the road takes me. Please tell your friends to check <a href="http://www.captainfilm.com">www.CaptainFilm.com</a> for the continuously updated schedule. Our distributor will be booking more cities after this weekend. <br /><br />Also, the soundtrack album is just around the corner. We just approved artwork. It will be out on BSX Records and available on iTunes for download in the coming weeks. <br /><br />Believe me, I'm ready to move on with my life, but this film is my baby, and this is the most important part of the cycle. For anyone who wants to make movies, you better love your first film, because it will be the center of your life for at least four years.<br /><br />See you at the movies.Amin Matalqahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01580064427613555349noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15404414.post-35863779360915667592009-07-09T16:52:00.000-07:002009-07-09T17:14:19.720-07:00Captain DVD in parts of EuropeBuy the new Spanish dubbed DVD of Captain Abu Raed, now in stores in Spain. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPalCjh1ICk">Here's the trailer en Espangol! </a><br /><a href="http://www.zonadecompras.com/producto.asp?Id=172833">Click here to order.</a><br /><br />Also, coming July 23rd, the German-dubbed Edition in <a href="http://www.weltbild.de/3/15945758-1/dvd/captain-abu-raed.html">Deutchland. Click here to order.</a> <br /><br />Also, look for it on DVD in the Netherlands, Finland, and other parts of Europe. France and England still in the works. <br /><br />As for the US, the film is now playing in Seattle, and opening in San Francisco, Denver, San Diego, New York, DC, Boston, and other major US cities over the next few weeks. Please check <a href="http://www.CaptainFilm.com">www.CaptainFilm.com</a> for the updated schedule and links to get tickets.Amin Matalqahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01580064427613555349noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15404414.post-78911037610129127852009-07-02T15:46:00.000-07:002009-07-02T16:58:57.075-07:00Finally the US opening is hereTomorrow July 3rd, Captain Abu Raed opens its first official theatrical run in the US in Seattle. At the end of July it begins spreading with San Francisco, then on to other cities. <br /><a href="http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/captainaburaed/"><br />Here's the link to the trailer for the US which just had its debut on Quicktime trailers. </a>Amin Matalqahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01580064427613555349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15404414.post-74110845217339256582009-05-19T07:27:00.000-07:002009-06-11T13:05:46.079-07:00Captain Abu Raed - US Theatrical Release ScheduleFinally the three year Captain Abu Raed journey leads us to the final destination, the US theatrical release. Actually, there's still the DVD destination next year, but it's every filmmaker's dream to get their baby in cinemas going beyond festivals. So below is the US theatrical trailer and the release schedule. More cities will be announced and updated soon. Please tell all your friends to check it out in the cinema.<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6vO6P37LxE"><br />US THEATRICAL TRAILER</a><br /><br />JUNE<br />PANOI, CO<br />(June 28, 29, & 31) Paradise Theater<br /><br />OJAI, CA<br />(6/28/2009) Ojai Theater<br /><br />JULY<br />SEATTLE, WA <br />(7/3/2009) Landmark Varsity<br /><br />SAN FRANCISCO, CA <br />(7/24/2009) Landmark Lumiere<br /><br />BERKELEY, CA <br />(7/24/2009) Landmark Shattuck<br /><br />DENVER, CO<br />(7/31/2009) Landmark Chez Artiste<br /><br />AUGUST<br />SAN DIEGO, CA<br />(8/7/2009) Landmark Ken Cinemas<br /><br />NEW YORK, NY <br />(8/14/2009) Angelika<br /> <br />WASHINGTON DC<br />(8/21/2009) E Street <br /><br />DETROIT, MI<br />(8/21/2009) Landmark Maple Art Center<br /><br />BOSTON, MA<br />(8/28/2009) Landmark Kendall Square<br /><br />PHILADELPHIA, PA<br />(8/28/2009) Landmark Ritz at the Bourse<br /><br />SEPTEMBER<br />MINNEAPOLIS, MN<br />(9/11/2009) Landmark Lagoon Cinema<br /><br />To be announced soon:<br />Chicago, IL<br />Houston, TX<br />Dallas, TX<br />Miami, FL<br />Los Angeles, CA<br />Irvine, CA<br />Palm Springs, CA<br />Portland, OR<br />Columbus, OH<br />...and more coming soonAmin Matalqahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01580064427613555349noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15404414.post-40350287007773989482009-05-16T16:46:00.000-07:002009-05-16T18:55:33.512-07:00Action sequence in New YorkHere's a one-minute action sequence I shot with Waleed Zuaiter running in New York. We filmed in a couple of hours with my little Sony HD Handycam. Too much fun.<br /><br />Here's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpmiHxC76II">MAN RUNNING</a>Amin Matalqahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01580064427613555349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15404414.post-41252867114370276312009-04-04T19:25:00.000-07:002009-05-09T08:07:45.535-07:00Now playing in Northern MichiganA special one-week run of <a href="http://www.traversecityfilmfest.org/statetheatre/?page=comingsoon#captainabu">Captain in Traverse City at the beautiful State Theater</a>. The official US release is around the corner coming in July. A beautiful new trailer is due out soon. It takes a long time for Indy films to come around, but this is it. While I get ready for my next movie, my first movie is about to hit the cinemas in the US. Yay!Amin Matalqahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01580064427613555349noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15404414.post-78008652932254277282009-02-28T08:19:00.000-08:002009-02-28T08:36:08.670-08:00More Awards and UpdatesCaptain Abu Raed just won Best Director at the Portland International Film Festival, and Best Foreign Film at the Midwest Theater Film Festival. That takes us to 26 awards. Awesome! And now we're going to the next phase. Captain Abu Raed is about to begin its theatrical release around Europe and the United States. <br /><br />Finland opening March 6.<br /><br />Spain and Germany open March 12 and 13.<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT3trLnU4Mc">Here's the link to the SPANISH TRAILER. </a> The film has been dubbed to Spanish, which is surreal and fun to see. <br /><br />Also, opening in the US in May starting with New York and Chicago, then spreading to 40 Major US cities. <br /><br />We'll be closing the Sedona Film Festival tomorrow March 1. <br /><br />Thank you everyone for all your support. This film's journey continues thanks to grassroots word of mouth.Amin Matalqahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01580064427613555349noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15404414.post-37866210969484201552009-01-25T12:15:00.000-08:002009-02-01T21:37:26.025-08:00Captain Abu Raed updateLatest Award: <a href="http://www.psfilmfest.org/news/detail.aspx?NID=195&year=2009"><br />- Palm Springs International Film Festival - John Schlesinger Award for Outstanding First Feature</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.nlff.co.uk/about/news/angel-awards">- UK's Northern Lights Film Festival - Debut Feature Film Award <br /></a><br />NOW PLAYING <br />NETHERLANDS - Opened in cinemas Jan. 8<br /><br />COMING SOON:<br />FEBRUARY 2009<br />- FINLAND - (Opening in cinemas Feb. 6)<br />- <a href="http://www.portlandartmuseum.org/nwfilm/piff/32/films/?cid=48#2448">PORTLAND, Oregon (Feb 6,8,11 at Portland International Film Festival)</a><br />- IRAN - Tehran International Film Festival (Feb 1-11) <br /><br />MARCH 2009<br />- GERMANY (Opening in cinemas March 12)<br />- SPAIN (Opening in cinemas March 13)<br />- CYPRESS - Cypress International Film Festival (March 14-21)<br />- FRANCE - Special Screening at the Arab World Institute (March 23)<br />- <a href="http://www.oneworldfilm.com/">WALES - One World Film Festival</a><br /><br />APRIL/MAY 2009<br />- New York, Chicago (starting in two cities then wider release)Amin Matalqahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01580064427613555349noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15404414.post-25771017137087983732009-01-13T17:16:00.000-08:002009-01-13T20:48:29.337-08:00The Oscars and beyondTo our Dear Captain Abu Raed family and friends,<br /><br />The short list of Oscar contenders for Best Foreign Film was announced today, and unfortunately, after all the buzz and the hype, <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/files/2009/01/academy-announc.html">Captain Abu Raed got overlooked, as did Italy's much hyped Gomorra.</a> How this happened, none of us can explain or make sense of it, but it is what it is, and there's nothing more that we can do as far as the Oscars go. It would've been nice to get nominated, but we didn't.<br /><br />The good news is that after winning 24 awards and playing in some 35 countries at festivals around the world, the festival phase is coming to a close with Palm Springs and Tahran next month. And it is this week that the film's official Europe theatrical release launches with the opening in the Netherlands on Jan 8, then Spain and Germany on March 12. Our US release is just around the corner, due after the Oscars. 2008 was the year of the festivals, 2009 will be the year of the actual release of the film. We're not done yet ladies and gentlemen.<br /><br />Looking at how far we've come, I would like to stop for a second and tell you Thank you. Thank you for all your support and hard work in the different steps along this journey. I've learned so much and I promise to carry what I've learned from this experience to benefit the next one. So while today came with disappointing news, it did make me reflect on this little miracle we all gave birth to together, a movie that will transcend the Oscars and today's headlines for decades and decades. We've etched a little piece of art into the timeline of cinema history. Captain Abu Raed will always be that first Jordanian movie that traveled the world. So thank you.<br /><br />Now, we have a theatrical release to attend to, and the next phase of the journey has just begun. We still have a long fun road ahead.Amin Matalqahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01580064427613555349noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15404414.post-63435121246870860772008-12-15T10:47:00.000-08:002008-12-15T10:57:13.690-08:00Captain Abu Raed on DVD in Middle East<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHu_dkxEqrVIBup5iKi-gADqD6hz-AtIcvHQBzfZQ_xNmXcEb139P0Ti3qbJbeNK0PiH9YP63Qs7m42sA9jYpEDltHfKwDCno7sZ3nd-V4ld7bhBz8HJJID6g_9m9w2IQKl652/s1600-h/Capt.+Abu+Raed+SLEEVE.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHu_dkxEqrVIBup5iKi-gADqD6hz-AtIcvHQBzfZQ_xNmXcEb139P0Ti3qbJbeNK0PiH9YP63Qs7m42sA9jYpEDltHfKwDCno7sZ3nd-V4ld7bhBz8HJJID6g_9m9w2IQKl652/s400/Capt.+Abu+Raed+SLEEVE.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280091113708934082" /></a><br /><br />This week Captain Abu Raed comes out on DVD in stores across the Middle East starting with Jordan by the end of the week. <br /><br />The DVD includes a special 30-minute behind the scenes documentary about the making of the film. From what I understand, you have to skip through a couple of scenes placed before the making-of to get to the actual behind-the-scenes program. <br /><br />In Jordan, the DVD can be found at: Virgin, Prime, Music Box, Orange, Future, Jordan Book Centre, Video House, Blaze, Plaza, Virgo, Qintar, plus 15 other smaller shops.Amin Matalqahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01580064427613555349noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15404414.post-75075755728591217812008-11-29T19:17:00.000-08:002008-11-29T19:27:28.471-08:00Captain Double-Wins in Kuala LumpurCaptain Abu Raed took home two more awards last night in Malaysia at the Kuala Lumpur International Film Festival. <br /><br />Best Asian Film (the competitions are divided by continents)<br />and<br />Best Actor (Nadim Sawalha)<br /><br />This brings our total to 21 awards. Jackpot.<br /><br />In summary, here's what this little Jordanian film has won so far this year:<br /><br /> 1. Sundance Film Festival - World Cinema Audience Award<br /> 2. Heartland Film Festival - Grand Prize<br /> 3. Heartland Film Festival - Audience Award<br /> 4. Heartland Film Festival - Crystal Heart Award<br /> 5. Traverse City Film Festival - Audience Award<br /> 6. Traverse City Film Festival - Best of the Fest Jury Award<br /> 7. Seattle International Film Festival - Best Director<br /> 8. Helsinki International Film Festival - Audience Award <br /> 9. Rehoboth Beach Film Festival - Audience Award<br /> 10. Maui Film Festival - Best Narrative Film, World Cinema<br /> 11. Durban International Film Festival - Best First Feature<br /> 12. Kuala Lumpur International Film Festival - Best Asian Film<br /> 13. Newport Beach Film Festival - Best Actor<br /> 14. Newport Beach Film Festival - Best Actress<br /> 15. Dubai International Film Festival - Best Actor<br /> 16. Buenes Aires St. Luis Film Festival - Best Actor<br /> 17. Kuala Lumpur International Film Festival - Best Actor<br /> 18. New Orleans Middle East Film Festival - Best Feature<br /> 19. Beirut International Film Festival - Best Screenplay<br /> 20. Variety Middle East Filmmaker of the Year - Amin Matalqa<br /> 21. Hollywood Music Awards - Best New Composer - Austin WintoryAmin Matalqahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01580064427613555349noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15404414.post-79395942324967461412008-11-25T22:38:00.000-08:002008-11-25T22:48:20.288-08:00See Slumdog Millionaire<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVLXKZJ9T9-9w2zCczbt-7xyE48ne6mPVBwhpRJSz3sPsSdNr79NnXP06XlR_qb1YwaUYwhGqc_JERiRBnc3yChdNHQ4saVI-zXBoxsXHJi7c90S6QwS_0MseCm-afaheo47h/s1600-h/Slumdog.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVLXKZJ9T9-9w2zCczbt-7xyE48ne6mPVBwhpRJSz3sPsSdNr79NnXP06XlR_qb1YwaUYwhGqc_JERiRBnc3yChdNHQ4saVI-zXBoxsXHJi7c90S6QwS_0MseCm-afaheo47h/s400/Slumdog.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272852897128937938" /></a><br /><br />My favorite movie of the year. Danny Boyle shines again with this film. It's everything I love about great fun filmmaking. Excellent performances across the board. Great energy, camera-work, and music. A beautiful innocent love story set across India, from the slums to the riches. And a terrific leading actor.Amin Matalqahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01580064427613555349noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15404414.post-88863056649262587302008-11-21T23:31:00.000-08:002008-11-23T13:03:37.168-08:00Austin Wintory wins at Hollywood Music AwardsAustin Wintory won the Best New Composer at the Hollywood Music Awards last night for his powerful score to Captain Abu Raed. I hope this is the beginning of a series of recognitions for Austin's rich orchestral music for the film. This is our 19th award for the film as a team. Here's to the Academy and the Golden Globe. Captain Abu Raed was my second collaboration with Austin. The first was my AFI thesis film, Morning Latte, for which he won the Film Music Award for Best Score for a Student Film.<br /><br />You can listen to a bunch of his varied scores at his site <a href="http://www.austinwintory.com">www.austinwintory.com</a><br /><br />Also read <a href="http://soundtrack.net/features/article/?id=257">THIS INTERVIEW that just went up on Soundtrack.net</a>Amin Matalqahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01580064427613555349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15404414.post-24308208748866414462008-11-20T16:14:00.000-08:002008-11-21T23:39:00.723-08:00Nadim Sawalha wins Best Actor in ArgentinaNadim Sawalha has won the Best Actor Award in Buenes Aires, Argentina at the St. Luis Film Festival. This is Nadim's 3rd Best Actor prize, the film's 18th prize around the world, and this makes Captain Abu Raed an award winner in five continents. More exciting stuff to come soon!Amin Matalqahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01580064427613555349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15404414.post-65206358556305731882008-11-13T11:32:00.001-08:002008-11-16T16:57:12.669-08:00On Writing MoviesI'm starting a new screenplay today, and I feel it's important to always be reading about writing while writing because it keeps you asking questions and evoking new thoughts about your approach and such. And today I was skimming through one of the David Mamet books on writing, and he said that viewers watch films wanting to know what's going to happen next, so any scenes that dwell on backstory exposition will slow your film down. And I agree with him for the most part. But what I think is more important to me as a director is that I want the audience to want to see my film more than once. And the key to that is performance and behavior. Once you've seen the plot in a film, the question of what's next goes away. So I sit on the side of the fence that believes that character is more important than plot. And character comes from interaction. Eye contact. Blocking. Unsaid magic. Those are the things that make me want to see films over and over. That, and of course the marriage of cinematography and music. <br /><br />So my bottom line: plot is the least important element. And remember that story and plot are not the same thing.Amin Matalqahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01580064427613555349noreply@blogger.com2