Your new movie Jumper
- in a few words, what is it about, and what can you tell us about your
character in it?
MJ
is an Arab American who lives in the US. He decides to jump from a high-rise building. The
rescue team's called to the scene. MJ asks for a Middle Eastern detective to talk to before he jumps with the
aim to leave a tale to his community for his struggle and make a loud
statement.
The
Detective arrives to the scene. He has a short, but intense conversation
with MJ. The Detective's successful in saving MJ’s life, just by being
the first person to genuinely listen and show sincere tolerance and
respect to MJ‘s sexuality and difference in general, as a human.
In Jumper,
you play a suicidal person - so how hard was it for you to find the right
mindset to portray M.J., and how did you prepare for the role?
I
believe in freedom of choice. The movie aims at promoting
tolerance to differences in Middle Eastern communities wherever they
might be in the world. I hope it delivers this sought after message with
its variations (sexuality and belief). I am optimistic above all.
As
far as I know, Jumper is
your acting debut - so what made you choose exactly this project to step
in front of the camera for the first time?
Yes, Jumper is my debut. I am a professional
art performer and
TV host who has a passion for acting. I am proud of my choice to
work with the talented producer, writer, director and actor Ayman
Samman [Ayman Samman
interview - click here] as I am great believer in him. What can you
tell us about Jumper's
director Ayman Samman, and what was your collaboration like? Ayman
really offers everything you want and more, being super talented in
every way. He is really a sincere and honest as well as caring
human being. He is all round actor by definition. I really wish him
all the best and was very honoured to work with him. What
were the challenges of bringing Jumper
to the screen from a producer's point of view? From
a producer point view, bringing Jumper
to life was more challenging on
the acting side conveying the message of the movie in a very short
time. I believe myself and the crew did our best and it is in the
hands of the audience to judge. Do talk
about the shoot as such, and the on-set atmosphere! I
love the art and being around talented people is just like
the icing on the cake. I loved the relationship between the dp Shakeel
Bin Afzal and our director Ayman which was amazing to experience.
The project would have never been beautifully completed without the talented, loving and hardworking
producer, writer and actress Rasha Mohamed [Rasha
Mohamed interview - click here]. We
all felt like a family in delivering this work and I hope the
audience like it. Any
future projects you'd like to share? And based on your experience with Jumper,
will you ever step in front of the camera again? Jumper
is just the beginning. We are currently working 2 more short films - currently in post
Receive (comedy) and The Pitch (action
comedy) - and we are developing a feature film by Ayman Samman called Marshmallow
Man.
And
I live in front of the camera.
What
got you into the filmworld in the first place, and did you receive any
formal training on the subject? Yes
I have studied acting in LA and in London. What can you tell us
about your filmwork prior to Jumper? I
have worked as TV host for the past 7 years and sometimes I do comedy
sketches on my own show, and I have produced and acted and directed in
2 short silent movies and acted in Arabic shorts. Filmmakers,
actors, whoever else who inspire you? I
am really into comedy and adventure movies. I do like action. My
favourite actors are Johnny Depp, Eddie Redmayne, Adams Sandler, Denzel Washington
and Rami Malek. Your favourite
movies? Favourite
movies are Happy Gilmore, Pirates
of the Caribbean. ... and of course, films you really deplore? I
really deplore Gods of Egypt. Your/your
movie's website, Facebook, whatever else? "Mico
Saad" on all social media. Anything else
you're dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask?
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I
Loved Ayman Samman in his Hollywood short movie showing a Middle Eastern
as a normal human who has his own struggle, just like any and all
of us. Middle Easterns are often portrayed as villains or terrorists in Hollywood.
I
hope this story inspires others and increases acceptance and tolerance
between people as sometimes it’s not up to people being anything.
I
am dreaming of an Equality Act in the Middle East and all the United
Sates as we're all souls that deserve equality. Thanks
for the interview!
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