Hijabtrendz Exclusive: Iman Zawahry

If you ever thought it would be impossible for a Muslim woman, let alone a hijabi, to be able to rub elbows with Hollywood… think again.

Iman Zawahry is doing just that as she embarks on a promising film career.

Hijabtrendz recently interviewed Iman to get her perspective on the film industry and learn more about what it takes to get on the inside.

Above: Iman Zawahry with Tom Bergeron the host of “Dancing with the Stars”

What made you decide to go into film? Was there a defining moment that just sort of pushed you in that direction?

Film was always an unattainable dream.  My family is full of doctors.  If you are not a doctor you are a loser.  So they were doing this Egypt program thing where right out of high school they would sent us to Egypt.  I fought to stay here and I promised my family I would become a doctor. Whoops! That didn’t work so they pushed Law..took the LSAT twice and that didn’t work out.

A friend of a friend was at school at Florida State Film School and was originally from the Midwest and I asked him why he would come all the way to Florida to go to school and he replied, “It’s one of the best film schools in the country.”

That was about a two years before I applied to the film school. From that point on I did my research and thought maybe my dream was feasible.  My husband got accepted to FSU Law school and we moved to Tallahassee.  It was a sign! I think that would be my defining moment. I applied to the school without telling my family, thinking that I would not be accepted, but I got in and told them.

I graduated from Film School with an MFA in August 2008. I am still technically a student right now because I received the Princess Grace Award Grant to shoot another film and I am doing it in association with the school (The College of Motion Picture, Television and Recording Arts at Florida State University).

How supportive has your family been of the choice?

My family has not been the strongest of supporters.  But when I began winning awards for my films they began to come around, but they are still concerned because it’s not a job that will give me stability unless I move to Los Angeles.  So I’m kinda back to square one with them! But my husband is my strongest supporter.

As a filmmaker do you find it hard being a hijabi in the industry?

Being Muslim and a Hijabi has been my staple as a filmmaker. So it has not hindered me because it is who I am. The industry in general is very hard for women. Especially minority women. But I have realized more and more that the film industry bases things more on your talent then anything else.

Of course it’s who you know, but if you are good at what you do they don’t about anything else.

There are also a lot of diversity programs for film and television like the NBC Comedy Short Cuts. I became a finalist in the shortcuts and the winner wins a pitch deal with NBC.

I didn’t win the pitch deal, but I met with many NBC Execs and I am somewhat in the NBC family now. It’s harder being a mother and wife then anything else.  (I have a five year old son)

What are some of the misconceptions you think Muslims in general may have about media/film?

Muslims come from a culture where science and academics are the only form of career and prestige.

What people usually seem to think is that media/film are more of a joke and nothing serious and that Muslims will not succeed because of society today or because of the type of films audiences tend to watch.

I think the main problem is that Muslims do not understand the industry and tend to make assumptions about what might happen.

Tell us about some of the films you’ve worked on or are working on and the inspiration behind them?

I have worked on over 45 short films spanning from producer to below the line positions.

My main goal when I went into film was to dispel stereotypes about Muslims and show the humanistic side of Muslims.

The films that I direct and write are usually situations inspired by my family or my experiences.

Tough Crowd, my short that won the Student Emmy and was a finalist in NBC Comedy Short Cuts, was about Jihad Islam, an American-Muslim aspiring stand up comedian who had to choose between her family wanting her to be a doctor or her dream. So, that film came from my experience.

My second film was about an American-Muslim activist who falls for a cute guy.  I was a Muslim-Activist in college (but I didn’t fall for a cute guy) and I wanted to show how Muslim girls have the same wants and desires as everyone else.

My first film was about these two white guys who were suspicious of their Muslim neighbor of being a terrorist.  Pretty unoriginal but it was my first film and I wanted to try out the comedy and still do a story with Muslims which is important to me.

How do you balance being an artist and a Muslim woman. (some people think it’s too difficult because you may have to work on films that include things like sex, etc.)

I don’t think it’s hard to balance between the two. I’ve had fellow filmmakers ask me if I was OK with their subject matter or uncomfortable, which is very conscientious, because it means they understand where I come from and where I stand on certain issues.

People tend to think you cannot make a film without having sex, drugs, and alcohol, which is a huge misconception.  The films I make tend to be “halal-y” films.

You can always draw the boundary and create films that are best for you and your sensibilities.

Above: Iman with Prince Albert of Monaco at the Princess Grace Awards.

You won the Princess Grace Award.. what was your reaction when you found out? What do you plan to do with it?

I found out when I was having a bad day. I was production designer on a thesis film and I am a horrible designer and it was a horror film too!  I was having such a hard time.  Princess Grace called me and I couldn’t believe it.  I thought, God is making things easier for me by giving me opportunities and there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.

I didn’t realize what a big deal Princess Grace was. They gave me $20,000 to make my film and flew me to NYC for the Gala.

The gala was this huge event with stars from everywhere all to celebrate us, the artists.

Glenn Close was also recognized for her contribution to the arts.

I met Glenn Close, Ted Danson, Mariska Hargitay, and Jeff Goldblum and they all knew me when I approached them and told me how proud of me they were and how it was a huge honor.  It was a lot of pressure to be honest!

With the grant I shot “Under Cover” a story about an American-Muslim police officer who is trying to prove that she can be an undercover detective but her chief and colleagues don’t think she can because she is a hijabi.  Another comedy.  All my films are comedies because I feel the best way for an audience to understand and educate themselves is if they can let go of their inhibitions and laugh.

Who are some of the filmmakers you look up to or hope to emulate?

I am a big fan of Mira Nair (The Namesake and Monsoon Wedding) she has a great understanding of how to keep the audience engaged and has a strong ability of story telling.

Also, almost all of her films are about Indians and she creates strong story and relatable stories.  And of course she is a minority filmmaker.

I am also a big fan of Woody Allen whose neurosis is able to translate to great comedy. Also the Cohen brothers.  And I’m a huge fan of 80s comedies but the filmmakers in that era tend to make a film here and there.

But my favorite movies are The Godfather, The Burbs, and The Namesake.

Check out Iman’s short film here that won the 2008 College Emmy Awards.

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