We conclude Season 3 of The Halal Gap with a very special episode: the recording of the panel discussion from Opening Credits, the kick-off to our festival weekend, on March 11, 2022. With over 250 artists and representatives from organizations and platforms in attendance, this event marked the largest gathering of Muslim creatives anywhere in the world. Opening Credits was made possible by our partners at Inspirit Foundation.
The panel, hosted by Sikandar Atiq, features award-winning writer and director Sahar Jahani; Canadian Screen Award winning actor, Hamza Haq; writer, filmmaker, and creator of Little Mosque on the Prairie, Zarqa Nawaz; and the 16th Government Film Commissioner and Chairperson of the National Film Board of Canada, Claude Joli-Coeur. Our panelists discuss the issue of representation in film and TV, the realities facing Muslim artists today, and offer advice to those wanting to break into the industry.
Best friends turned pop duo fajjr+ali join us today on The Halal Gap! They chat with Sofia and Sikandar about their backgrounds in theatre, the challenges that come with being Muslims making pop music, and people assuming they’re married. Fresh off the release of their new single, “I’m Fine”, Fajjr and Ali also give us a look inside their collaborative process. Plus: we take a moment to shoutout @themuslimvibe for including us on their list of Top Muslim Podcasts, and make a special announcement about our showcase event, The Mosquers Film Festival, happening on March 12, 2022!
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Revolutionary calligrapher and artist Karim Jabbari joins us from Milwaukee! Karim talks to Sofia and Sikandar about his connection with calligraphy, living under surveillance in Tunisia while his father was a political prisoner, his career as a championship winning University basketball player, and his move to Canada! Karim also discusses his pioneering work in light calligraphy, the courage it takes to be an artist, and the messages within his art. Plus, a special announcement about our showcase event, the Mosquers Film Festival, happening on March 12, 2022!
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Serena Rasoul, actress, writer, and founder of Muslim Casting joins us from DC! Serena talks about how to tell your parents you want to be an actor, practical advice on pursuing your dreams, the creation of Muslim Casting, and the incredible work she’s doing to help Muslims break into the industry. We also discuss her interview with NBC News about the absence of MENA talent in the 2021 blockbuster “Dune” despite the cultural influences in the film and source material. Tune in!
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Zainab Johnson, stand-up comedian, host of Netflix’s “100 Humans”, and Aleesha on Amazon Prime’s “Upload”, joins us from LA! Zainab chats with Sofia about growing up in Brooklyn as one of 13 siblings, her recent meeting and conversation with Dave Chapelle, why she was nervous before going on stage at I Heart Halal in 2019, and what’s different about performing for predominantly Muslim crowds. Tune in to hear all that plus a special announcement about our showcase event, the Mosquers Film Festival, on March 12, 2022!
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Arij Mikati, Managing Director of Culture Change at Pillars Fund, joins us from Chicago! Arij talks about the recent Pillars Fund study with USC titled “Missing and Maligned” which analyzes Muslim representation in Hollywood. She also talks about the Pillars Artist Fellowship, and how the organization is enabling Muslim filmmakers to tell more diverse stories. We also get into her own personal journey as an artist, including her theatre background and “The Girl Deep Down Below” - the webseries she starred in about Muslim women fighting supernatural forces! Arij, Sofia, and Sikandar also debate who was the better boyband - Backstreet Boys or NSYNC?
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Aqsa Altaf, director of the Disney+ short “American Eid”, joins us from LA! She talks to Sikandar and Sofia about growing up in a migrant community in Kuwait and becoming the breadwinner of her family at the age of 18. Aqsa also discusses moving to the US, her short film “One Small Step”, working with child actors, and the barriers that those of lower socioeconomic status face while pursuing the arts. We also celebrate being named one of the Best 20 Muslim Podcasts by Feedspot, woo!
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Shahjehan Khan, co-founder of The Kominas and the host of the “King of the World” podcast, joins us from Boston! Shahj opens up about his early life and struggles with anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. He also discusses the beginning of The Kominas and their early notoriety, meeting Riz Ahmed, and being featured in the documentary “The Birth of Punk Islam: Taqwacore”.
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Cannabis journalist and screenwriter Abdullah Saeed, of VICE’s Bong Appetit and HBO’s High Maintenance, joins the pod. Abdullah chats with Sofia and Sikandar about how he hooked up with Muslim punk group The Kominas, his column Weediquette, travelling to Nepal to film Mad Honey, the history of cannabis in South Asia, and much more.
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