Nabil Abou-Harb
Encyclopedia
Nabil Zouheir Abou-Harb ( نبيل أبو حرب; born September 13, 1984) is an Arab-American
filmmaker, writer
, producer, and director
. He is also co-founder of "Five on Fifty Films" and has directed and produced a number of commercials.
, United States
, to Zouheir Abou-Harb and Sally Cardinali Abou-Harb in 1984. Nabil was raised as a Muslim
in Loganville, Georgia
. He graduated from Loganville High School
in 2003.
As a senior at Loganville High School, Abou-Harb wrote and directed the film Starwars: Rise of the Black Sun. After earning his CCNA
, he co-founded a web design company with Nicholas Bowman, called Decaphase Productions, Inc. Although there was interest to see the film, Abou-Harb and Bowman abandoned the project as they went to college.
Bowman attended Georgia Institute of Technology
where he earned his Bachelor's degree
, whereas Abou-Harb was awarded a portfolio scholarship from the Savannah College of Art and Design
for his Star Wars
fanfilm trailer. He graduated in 2007, earning his Bachelor's degree
in Film/Television.
A short, two minute trailer
from "Star Wars: Rise of the Black Sun" debuted on Loganville High School's student-run news "WDVL" program. The trailer was also posted online.
As his senior year approached, Abou-Harb co-wrote a fifteen page comedy screenplay
titled, Arab in America. The film 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 Abou-Harb's cousin, Nidal Abou-Harb, his father, Zouheir Abou-Harb, his brother, Osama Abou-Harb, and himself.
The subject matter and humorous tone of the screenplay (co-written with Colin Ferri) attracted many students and faculty members to dedicate their expertise and time to help the ambitious project get off its feet. This also encouraged Nabil to get in touch with Nic Applegate, a Savannah, GA
investor, architect, building contractor and band-manager, who agreed to fully fund the project. Applegate eventually became 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
with Nabil Abou-Harb directing and co-producing the film. It debuted at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival
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" won the Audience Award for Best Short Film.
version of the short "Arab in America".
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". "Five on Fifty Films" has decided however to shoot the movie independently.
The feature screenplay was recently completed and Five on Fifty Films is in negotiations to produce the feature.
Arab American
An Arab American is a United States citizen or resident of Arab ethnic, cultural and linguistic heritage or identity, who identifies themselves as Arab. Arab Americans trace ancestry to any of the various waves of immigrants of the countries comprising the Arab World...
filmmaker, writer
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, producer, and director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
. He is also co-founder of "Five on Fifty Films" and has directed and produced a number of commercials.
Early life and education
Abou-Harb was born in Marietta, GeorgiaMarietta, Georgia
Marietta is a city located in central Cobb County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat.As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 56,579, making it one of metro Atlanta's largest suburbs...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, to Zouheir Abou-Harb and Sally Cardinali Abou-Harb in 1984. Nabil was raised as a Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
in Loganville, Georgia
Loganville, Georgia
Loganville is a city located mostly in Walton County with a small portion of the city located in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States. The population was 10,963 at the 2009 census.-Geography:...
. He graduated from Loganville High School
Loganville High School
Loganville High School is located in Walton County, Georgia, USA. Loganville is 35 miles east of Atlanta and 38 miles west of Athens.Walton County has nine elementary, three middle, and three high schools, and a Performance Learning Center.-The school:...
in 2003.
As a senior at Loganville High School, Abou-Harb wrote and directed the film Starwars: Rise of the Black Sun. After earning his CCNA
CCNA
CCNA is the certification from Cisco.CCNA certification is a second-level Cisco Career certification...
, he co-founded a web design company with Nicholas Bowman, called Decaphase Productions, Inc. Although there was interest to see the film, Abou-Harb and Bowman abandoned the project as they went to college.
Bowman attended Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
where he earned his Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
, whereas Abou-Harb was awarded a portfolio scholarship from the Savannah College of Art and Design
Savannah College of Art and Design
SCAD, the Savannah College of Art and Design, is a private, accredited and degree-granting university with locations in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia, Hong Kong, and Lacoste, France.-History:...
for his Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
fanfilm trailer. He graduated in 2007, earning his Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Film/Television.
A short, two minute trailer
Trailer (film)
A trailer or preview is an advertisement or a commercial for a feature film that will be exhibited in the future at a cinema. The term "trailer" comes from their having originally been shown at the end of a feature film screening. That practice did not last long, because patrons tended to leave the...
from "Star Wars: Rise of the Black Sun" debuted on Loganville High School's student-run news "WDVL" program. The trailer was also posted online.
Arab in America
Screenplay
A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...
titled, Arab in America. The film chronicles the journey of an American-born character named, "Osama Ahmed Abou-Bakr" and his plight to find a job in America's
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
post-9/11
Post-9/11
Post-9/11 is a term used to describe state of living in the United States or other parts of the world after the September 11 attacks, in reference to the many changes that have occurred due to the attacks...
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 Abou-Harb's cousin, Nidal Abou-Harb, his father, Zouheir Abou-Harb, his brother, Osama Abou-Harb, and himself.
The subject matter and humorous tone of the screenplay (co-written with Colin Ferri) attracted many students and faculty members to dedicate their expertise and time to help the ambitious project get off its feet. This also encouraged Nabil to get in touch with Nic Applegate, a Savannah, GA
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
investor, architect, building contractor and band-manager, who agreed to fully fund the project. Applegate eventually became 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
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
and Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
with Nabil Abou-Harb directing and co-producing the film. It debuted at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
followed by the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
premiere at the "Arabian Sights Film Festival" sponsored by The Washington D.C. International Film Festival where "Arab in America" won the Audience Award for Best Short Film.
Arab in America: The feature
Many talent agencies and production companies have shown interest in a featureFeature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
version of the short "Arab in America".
Nabil Abou-Harb, co-writer Thomas Verrette
Thomas Verrette
Thomas Patrick Verrette is an American filmmaker, screenwriter, director, editor, and composer. He is the founder of Skylight Cinema, Inc., an independent film production company located in Los Angeles, California...
, co-writer Colin Ferri, and Nic Applegate are currently in pre-production
Pre-production
Pre-production or In Production is the process of preparing all the elements involved in a film, play, or other performance.- In film :...
of the feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
version of "Arab in America". "Five on Fifty Films" has decided however to shoot the movie independently.
The feature screenplay was recently completed and Five on Fifty Films is in negotiations to produce the feature.
Awards and recognition
Abou-Harb's Arab in America won the audience award for "Best Short Film" at the Arabian Sights Film Festival. The festival is sponsored by The Washington D.C. International Film Festival. It also won the Grand Prize of 2008 One Nation Many Voices Online Film Contest.External links
- Arab in America at the Internet Movie Database
- Arab in America at the official website
- Filmfest DC 2007 Winner of the 2007 Short Film Audience Award.