Nabil Abou-Harb

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Nabil Abou-Harb
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(on the set of "Arab in America, 2006)
Born Nabil Zouheir Abou-Harb
September 13, 1984 (1984-09-13) (age 23)
Marietta, Georgia, U.S.
Occupation filmmaker and writer
Years active 2006 - present
Spouse(s) none

Nabil Zouheir Abou-Harb (born September 13, 1984) is an American-born Arab filmmaker, writer, producer, and director. He was raised as a Muslim.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Nabil was born in Marietta, Georgia, to Zouheir Abou-Harb and Sally Cardinali Abou-Harb in 1984[1]. Nabil was raised in Loganville, Georgia where he graduated from Loganville High School in 2003.

Having been inspired by films like Star Wars, Nabil picked up the camera at the young age of twelve and delighted friends and teachers alike with his numerous comedy shorts. Nabil seemed to turn every group project into another opportunity to make a movie[2].

Until the summer of 2002, Nabil never considered going into a film career. At the age of thirteen, Nabil had co-founded a web design company with his best friend (Nicholas Bowman -also 13) called, Decaphase Productions, Inc.[3]. In between web design and earning his CCNA, Nabil really didn't think too much about his future. He pretty much assumed that he was destined to go into computers in some fashion. That all changed when his best-friend and business partner, Nicholas Bowman approached him with the news that he figured out how to make a 3-D computer-generated spaceship fly in space. After a long discussion, the two decided that it was time to take the next step[4]. While Nicholas learned everything he could about 3-D animating, Nabil sat down to write his very first screenplay[5], a Star Wars fanfilm called "Rise of the Black Sun"[6].

"Star Was: Rise of the Black Sun", regrettably became a joke around the Loganville High School campus. While the students and faculty we're wildly impressed with Nabil and Nicholas's new-found, movie-making, blue-screening, computer-animating skills, they were growing anxious to actually see the film in its entirety[7]. An entire year of work and a wealth of knowledge later, Nabil and Nicholas regrettably had to abandon the project to head-off to college. The 55 pg. screenplay proved to be too monumental of a task for just two people. The only bit of "Star Wars: Rise of the Black Sun" that ever saw the light of day was a short, two minute trailer that debuted on Loganville High School's student-run news program, "WDVL" and then following on the internet[8]. Nicholas Bowman went off to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology where he earned his Bachelor's degree[9].

Nabil was awarded the portfolio scholarship from the Savannah College of Art and Design for his Star Wars fanfilm trailer. He attended SCAD for four years and graduated in 2007 earning his Bachelor's degree in Film/Television[10].

[edit] Arab in America: The Short

Ivan Shammas as Osama Ahmed Abou-Bakr in "Arab in America"
Ivan Shammas as Osama Ahmed Abou-Bakr in "Arab in America"

Nabil's years at SCAD proved fruitful. Honing his film-making skills, Nabil learned the intricacies of film production, directing, and writing. As his senior year approached, Nabil sat down to co-write a fifteen page comedy screenplay titled, "Arab in America"[11].

"Arab in America" chronicles the journey of an American-born character named, "Osama Ahmed Abou-Bakr" and his plight to find a job in America's post-9/11 atmosphere. The story highlights the hardships of Middle Easterners and Muslims living in the United States of America. The character, "Osama", a recent college graduate, cannot get anyone to hire him so he resorts to a drastic measure: he changes his name from "Osama Ahmed Abou-Bakr" to the more appealing "Samuel Adam Baker". Instantly, he's offered a high-paying job at a prestigious company. However, concealing his true identity turns into a daunting task that unfortunately "Sam" cannot keep up and eventually comes clean. The script is loosely based on real-life events that continue to plague Nabil's cousin, Nidal Abo-Hareb, his father, Zouheir Abouharb, his brother, Osama AbouHarb, and himself[12].

The subject matter and humorous tone of the screenplay (co-written with college roommate, Colin Ferri) attracted many students and faculty members to dedicate their expertise and time to help the ambitious project get off its feet. It was through this hard work that put Nabil in touch with an Savannah, GA investor named Nic Applegate. As a successful architect, building contractor[13], band-manager[14], and overall entrepreneur, it was hard to imagine a business where Applegate wouldn't be successful. Nabil and co. pitched the story to Applegate, and he agreed to fully fund the entire project[15]. He is now an equal partner in Nabil and Colin's production company, Five on Fifty Films.

The "Arab in America" short was shot over twelve days in Savannah, Georgia and Atlanta, Georgia. Nabil directed and co-produced the film. The movie debuted at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival[16] followed by the U.S. premiere at the Arabian Sights Film Festival sponsored by The Washington D.C. International Film Festival where "Arab in America" took home the Audience Award for Best Short Film[17]. The trailer can be seen at the official website as long as more up-to-date film festival news, http://www.arabinamerica.com.

Many talent agencies and production companies have shown interest in a feature version of the "Arab in America" short[18].

[edit] Future Projects

[edit] Arab in America: The Feature

Nabil Abou-Harb, co-writer Thomas Verrette, co-writer Colin Ferri, and Nic Applegate are currently in pre-production of the feature film version of "Arab in America". Due to the current WGA Strike, Five on Fifty Films has decided to shoot the movie independently.

[edit] Untitled Jumper Project

Nabil Abou-Harb and Thomas Verrette are currently developing a new historical television series with a twist.

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Short Films

  • Fast Food 451 (2002)
  • Star Wars: Rise of the Black Sun (2003) -fanfilm
  • Shakedown (2004)
  • Forgotten Friend (2004)
  • Welcome Back (2004)
  • Nabil Abou-Harb: The Intimate Portrait (2005)
  • A Night Tending Gas (2006)
  • Whatever You Do (2007)
  • Arab in America (2007)

[edit] Commercials

  • The Sultan- Middle Eastern Cuisine (2005)
  • Legacy Academy (2007)
  • Granite & Marble Solutions (2007)
  • Roswell Rug Tent Sale 07 (2007)
  • Stars & Strikes- Coming to Gwinnett (2007)
  • Comparemortgagebankratesdotcom (2007)
  • Athens Benn Epps Airport: Open House 07 (2007)
  • Tegra Advantage (2007)
  • Ron Anderson Ford (2008)
  • Smith Funeral Home (2008)
  • Anytime Fitness (2008)
  • Alma Discount Pharmacy (2008)
  • Southern Outdoor Sports (2008)

[edit] References

  1. ^ The South Magazine:Arab in America, 2007-03-18
  2. ^ The Archive.org:ROTB Interview with Director Nabil Abou-Harb, 2003-07-24
  3. ^ The Archive.org:Decaphase Productions, Inc., 2002-09-30
  4. ^ The Archive.org:ROTB Interview with Director Nabil Abou-Harb, 2003-07-24
  5. ^ Jedi Council Forums:Rise of the Black Sun, 2002-12-05
  6. ^ The Archive.org:Rise of the Black Sun, 2004-11-28
  7. ^ The Archive.org:Rise of the Black Sun, 2003-04-21
  8. ^ YouTube:Star Wars - Rise of the Black Sun Trailer, 2002-12-08
  9. ^ Free Pixel:Little Hollywood - Mention of Nick Bowman GA Tech Alumni, 2007-07-24
  10. ^ Savannah Morning News:2007 Graduates: Savannah College of Art and Design, 2007-06-17
  11. ^ The South Magazine:Arab in America, 2007-03-18
  12. ^ IMDB:Arab in America - Plot Summary, 2007
  13. ^ Applegate Evolutions, 2006
  14. ^ MySpace.Com:Listen2Three - Booking Info, Nic Applegate, 2008-01-19
  15. ^ The Examiner- Blue Springs graduate travels to film festival, 2007-05-29
  16. ^ IMDB:Arab in America - Release Info, 2007
  17. ^ FilmfestDC: Arabian Sights Film Festival 2007, 2007-09-09
  18. ^ The South Magazine:Arab in America, 2007-03-18

[edit] Interviews

[edit] Press


[edit] External Links


Persondata
NAME Abou-Harb, Nabil Zouheir
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Abouharb, Nabil
SHORT DESCRIPTION American film director, writer and producer
DATE OF BIRTH 13 September 1984
PLACE OF BIRTH Marietta, Georgia, U.S.
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH