A SINCERE THANK YOU EVERYONE, WE HAVE REACHED OUR GOAL...AND THEN SOME!  

THERE IS STILL OTHER WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE, VISIT WWW.LANDEDENTERTAINMENTS.COM/AMERICANISTAN FOR MORE INFO!

About the Project

Synopsis - With their careers on the brink of complete collapse, three disgraced journalists are rounded up by Colt Buchanan, a billionaire Texan to launch his latest risky venture... an American news network in the Middle East! But their Western way of life is turned on its head as our reporters fumble their way through severe and absurd customs and laws as they attempt to tackle serious journalism. All of these elements combine to create a tasty combination of fear, cultural misunderstanding, terrorism, dictatorship, and of course unexpected comedy!

Americanistan is the second creative collaboration between producer Ali Mashayekhi and writers Adam Tsekhman and Brian Pargac.  Their first project, Comrades, received rave reviews and has been picked up for distribution by 108 Media Corp.

Having completely self-financed Comrades, Ali, Adam and Brian wanted to ride the momentum and decided to come up with more creative funding sources by taking their voice to the people.

The team is looking to family, friends, and fans to support them on this ambitious project.  There are 6 exciting rewards to choose from; all of them in some way provide an interactive experience with the project and are a token of gratitude for your support.

MEET THE TEAM

Writer/Creator Adam Tsekhman was born and raised in Winnipeg and Toronto.  He is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business and holds an MFA in Theatre Acting from Columbia University.  Adam landed a lead role on the Russian Television sensation Zona (“The Russian Oz”) and was nominated for best lead actor in a series at the Monte Carlo International Television Festival.  In Los Angeles, he has worked on several TV series including How I Met Your Mother, The Mentalist, NCIS, 24, Flash Forward, and many others.

Adam recently discovered a passion for writing and stand-up comedy.  Along with Landed Entertainments, he wrote, acted and produced the short film Comrades in Los Angeles.  He is excited to work on the creative process with Landed again, but this time in Toronto.

Writer/Creator Brian Pargac is a born and bred Texan. Brian studied radio and television at the University of Texas, before heading to LA. Since the move, he has been successfully producing for various reality television programs, including Kitchen Nightmares, Deal or No Deal, Flipping Out, and Dog and Beth on the Hunt, where he is a supervising producer. However, Brian's true passion is writing and his screenplay Father Patrick received many distinctions including a top 10 finalist in Scriptapalooza and top 40 in the Final Draft Big Break Contest.

Brian met Adam through Brian's wife Farhana, and an exciting collaboration was quickly formed. Together they create provocative, engaging and ultimately hilarious comedies that look at modern day society from a unique perspective.

Producer Ali Mashayekhi began his scholastic career studying biology at the University of Toronto, with aspirations to follow a scientific path. During his tenure at the University, he developed a hobbyist interest in filmmaking that soon turned into passion starting with short films and music videos.

Reconfiguring his goals, Ali said good-bye to science and instead founded the now-flourishing Landed Entertainments. With Adam and Brian he produced Comrades a TV pilot in LA and also produced the feature film Piece of Mind that has screened in Toronto, New York and London Film Festivals.

Director Nabil Badine moved with his family from Lebanon to Canada when he was still a young boy and having grown up with North American television, he had a fascination with the entertainment. After graduating high school, Nabil started his dramatic training at George Brown College. During that time, he decided to take a chance on auditions and see if he could use his training for real world experience. It was then that he first met Ali Mashayekhi, who was casting for one of his first projects. A lifetime friendship and business relationship was formed.

Nabil joined Landed Entertainments but also discovered that he was more interested in life behind the camera. He began building his experience with production management but soon realized his true passion for directing. In June 2013, Nabil successfully directed his first narrative project, the short film “Let’s Rap” and is excited to take his second opportunity as narrative director with this upcoming “Americanistan”.

Co-Producer Samantha Herman has been passionate about television, film and the arts from a young age. She studied English Literature and Film Studies at the University of Toronto in her hometown. She then moved to Chicago where she graduated cum laude from Loyola University Chicago Law School. Knowing that Chicago was no place for a filmmaker, she again made a significant move to Los Angeles, California where she passed the grueling state bar on her first attempt.

She met the team of Landed Entertainments in 2012 in order to produce the short film “Comrades” in Los Angeles. Samantha participated as production legal counsel and immediately a close working relationship was born. She now heads the Los Angeles office of Landed Entertainments and splits her time between Los Angeles and Toronto where she works as a producer. She recently collaborated with Landed on a project written with her brother, also directed by Nabil Badine, the short film “Let’s Rap”, which was under the ACTRA TiP Program banner. She is delighted to be working on “Americanistan” where she will be reunited with Nabil as director once again.

Co-Producer Victor Chiu, lives in Toronto with his family and has worked with Landed Entertainments on several projects. Victor has worked in TV and film landing various roles including Rookie Blue and Flashpoint. He first worked with Landed in 2004 on a short film Pretender where he starred as the titular character.  From there a business relationship developed and Victor started expanding his role on the producing team, included the feature Piece of Mind.  He is excited to continue working with Landed and joining the producing team of Americanistan.

Head Make-Up Artist Olga Kirnos was born in Belarus and raised in Israel before moving to Canada in 2003, is an International Makeup Artist currently based in Toronto, Canada. And has been working in the Film & TV industry for over seven years, both in Canada and South East Asia. She initially started out as a tradition artist and illustrator over ten years ago, Olga possesses a distinct background in fine arts with key influences from the Classical, Traditional & Surrealism Arts. Her passion for the creative and exceptional understanding of color, light and shape are fundamental elements which are distinct in her Makeup work. 

From enhancing with natural styles to expression through creative designs, Olga continuously provides fresh ideas through her craft. Steadily growing as an internationally established name in Makeup Artistry, her multi-cultural inspired background and sense of aesthetics transform her work into a unique statement.

MEET THE CAST

Rachel Wilson as "Trisha" - From the age of 12, Rachel Wilson has appeared in numerous films and television series both in Canada and the U.S. From her breakout role in “Breaker High” opposite Ryan Gosling, to starring roles in such films as “Mystery, Alaska”, “Anywhere But Here” and “The Glass House”, Rachel has worked with some of the top names in Hollywood.

Rachel has starred in the Emmy and Gemini nominated miniseries “The Kennedys”, opposite Tom Wilkinson, and has recurred on CBC’s hit series “Republic of Doyle” in her Gemini-nominated role as Dr. Nikki Rehnolds. Most recently she has held a recurring role in Global TV’s “Bomb Girls” opposite Meg Tilly and Ali Liebert, guest-starred on CBC’s Cracked, and starred opposite Catherine Bell in Hallmark’s latest installment of “The Good Witch”. She has also recently reprised her role as Nikki Renholds in ”Republic of Doyle”. Rachel is currently shooting Bruce McDonald’s new feature “Hellions” as well as “Any Given History”, a film by Molly McGlynn.

Jamie Spilchuk as "David Bernstein" - Based in both Toronto and Los Angeles, Jamie has been in numerous television series and films ever since graduating the reputable George Brown Theatre School in 2006.  His foray into the business was starring in the Emmy nominated movie The Memory Keeper’s Daughter with Emily Watson and Dermot Mulroney.  Jamie has had some film festival favorites along the way including: A Fish Story, And Now a Word from Our Sponsor opposite Parker Posey and Bruce Greenwood and most recently he starred in The Birder alongside Tom Cavanagh and Fred Willard, a comedy slated for a spring 2014 release.

Jamie has also appeared on a number of shows including: Suits, Flashpoint, The Transporter, Being Erica and is currently filming Hard Rock Medical where he plays one of the lead medical students.

Tony Nappo as "Babek" - Tony was born and raised in Scarborough, Ontario. He attended the University of Toronto for two years before transferring to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City where he graduated in 1991. He has appeared in numerous films and television shows including two movies with two Wahlberg Brothers; Four Brothers with Mark, and Saw II with Donnie, as well as many independent Canadian films.

Ramona Milano as "Zaynob the Wardrobe Lady" -  The “Rogers mom,” began her career over twenty-five years ago, when she garnered her first job in the entertainment industry immediately following her graduation from the Etobicoke School of the Arts, where she majored in drama, and minored in dance and musical theatre. Ramona has appeared on Degrassi: The Next Generation, Due South, Relic Hunter, This is Wonderland, Flashpoint and L.A. Complex.

In 2013, Milano joined forces with actor/director/writer/producer Stefano DiMatteo, and together they’ve created The Actors Room, located in Vaughan, ON. The Actors Room offers classes and workshops to people of all ages.

Adam Tsekhman as "The Sheikh" - Adam is a Canadian Actor based in Los Angeles.  He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Acting from Columbia University.  Before attending Columbia, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the prestigious Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, but chose to pass up a career in finance in order to pursue acting.Adam also plays the lead in the sitcom Comrades, which he also co-wrote with Americanistan writer/creator Brian Pargac.

Adam’s first television appearance occurred on the hit Russian TV Series, Zona.  The show reached number one in Russia and became a national phenomenon.  Adam was nominated for Best Actor in a TV Series at the 46th Monte Carlo International Television Festival.  He eventually lost to Kiefer Sutherland in 24. Adam has appeared in various television shows such as The Mentalist, How I Met Your Mother, NCIS: Los Angeles, Rizzoli and Isles, and Flash Forward.

Christine Aziz as "Female Mutaween" - Originally from Mississauga, Christine appeared in two Landed  films, Piece of Mind and The Reelist . She has also appeared on The Firm, Covert Affairs, Lost Girl, the webseries The Giant Comes Out, and in the Canadian Premiere of Reefer Madness: The Musical. Currently she is the lead singer for The Jazz Forge and performs regularly at The Royal York and other venues around the city.  Her one woman musical, ELLAmentary, won Best of Fringe in Toronto, and was nominated for a Canadian Comedy Award.  She is also developing new work as part of a fellowship with The Theatre Centre. 

Farid Yazdani as "Protestor #1" - Born to parents of Persian and Trinidadian decent, Farid Yazdani has been able to portray a variety of characters. He attended Cawthra Park's Regional Arts Program; majoring in the Dramatic Arts in 2004 and trained with Canadian Actors  John Bourgeois, Sheila McCarthy, Allan Guttman, Maria Ricossa, Christina Collins and Michael Caruana. 

He is continuing to work, booking numerous National commercials (Tacobell, The Source, OLG, Mcdonalds etc) and recently creating his own production company, "FYI Productions". He produced and starred in a sold out run of David Mamet's "Glengarry Glen Ross" at The Lower Ossington Theatre, taking on the role of "Ricky Roma".  

Roozbeh Termei as "Protester #3" - Roozbeh Termei grew up in Iran but soon found himself in Canada studying engineering at U of T. But his true calling was acting and in 2005 he started his acting career on the feature film The Reelist, playing a "new-comer" to Canada. Since then, he's been in several short films and starred in the intense thriller Money Comes First. When he's not acting, he's inspiring the next generation as a high school Mathematics teacher. 

Lindsay Lyon as "ABN Staffer" - Lindsay began performing on stage as a dancer at the age of six and quickly developed a love for acting. As a teen, Lindsay joined a local community theatre group and performed at the Markham theatre on several occasions. Recently, Lindsay starred in a television show called Destination Fear which allowed her to travel across the United States and become a member of the actor's union. Currently Lindsay is focusing on acting for Film and Television and continues to receive private, on-camera coaching sessions.

What We Need & What You Get

We are raising $25,000 that will be used towards production (particularly equipment, crew and locations).  The total budget is $40,000 and we are raising the difference through other sources.

If we don't reach our goal, we will still go into production but will have to trim down on a couple of things (particularly actors and locations).

For your contribution there are 6 rewards to choose from where you will either get fun gifts related to the project or even get to hang out with the cast and crew.
Other Ways You Can Help

We are spreading the word, but we need your help to get to a wider audience.  After you have contributed, please feel free to email the Indiegogo link to your friends and even post it to Facebook and Twitter. The more noise we can make the better!

F.A.Q.

When/Where will you be filming?

We will be filming during December 2013/January 2014 in Toronto, Ontario (Canada). Currently the shoot is scheduled for 10 shooting days.

Why the Middle East?

This is a region that is constantly at the forefront of our cultural dialogue, but always due to war, religious extremism, and political upheaval.  We felt it was time to stop being so damn serious, and have a laugh.  A wise man once said, "true comedy can only come out of desperate and difficult situations".  We took that advice to heart.

How do you expect to pull it off?

It must sound crazy that we are shooting a film that takes place in the middle east in Toronto and during the winter, but trust us, crazier things have happened.  Our production team has built a reputation of being resourceful and innovative beyond people’s imagination and this will definitely be a challenge.  However, over the 10 years that we have been in the business, amongst other things, we have turned concert venues into lofts, offices into bedrooms and even converted the basement of our office into a cave.

With strategic camera placement, green screen studio and creative use of space, we are confident that Americanistan can be brought to life in Toronto.

If you have other funding sources, why do you need Indiegogo?

Our two-funding sources are 2 sides of the same coin.  Essentially we have a group of people who have committed to helping us out through cash investment and deferred salary.  However, it is not enough to fund the entire project, so that is why we are looking outside as well.  Vice versa, an Indiegogo campaign for the entire amount may be too ambitious and making the funding goal too high may be setting ourselves up for failure; so we're being realistic with the amount and using other connections and our own means as well.

Can I be in the Film?

Probably not…but let us explain.  Our movie is going to be under the ACTRA umbrella, meaning that only Canadian unionized Actors can be a part of the film. This means both leads and backgrounds, so unless you are part of the union, there isn’t much we can do due to union regulartions.

Why ACTRA?

A lot of people have asked why we are going union, since it is generally more expensive.  However, the cost difference is only a single factor.

Generally speaking, the talent pool under the union is accomplished, marketable and professional.  It is essential to not only have a talented and experienced crew to make your project look good, but also have skilled actors to ensure the story plays the way you intended as well.

When will the project be done?

We will finish filming in December/January and after a quick break for the holidays will go into editing.  Barring any unforeseen circumstances, we should be done the final cut in March 2014.

What happens after its finished?

We take the project to distribution companies that have already shown interest in the project. Our goal is turn it into an episodic comedy for television and the sky is the limit when it comes to distribution companies.

When will I receive my reward?

Once our campaign closes and the final dollars have been accounted for we will be reaching out to the recipients of each tier to gather all the pertinent information.

Some tiers will be easy to organize and deliver (ie: Swag) and some will take a bit of co-ordination (ie: set visits).  However, we guarantee that you will get the reward as soon as possible without any avoidable delays.

I have chosen swag as my reward, how do you know my size?

Easy, we will ask! After the campaign closes, each tier will be contacted to gather all the information needed to deliver that particular reward; in the case of swag, we will get your size, color choice (where applicable) and delivery address.

How do set visits work?

So you have donated and want to know the logistics behind visiting the set.  It’s not super complicated; once the final filming schedule has been locked, we will pick a couple of days that will be open for set visits (understandably there may be some hectic days which we won’t be able to accommodate).

Once these days have been selected, you will be contacted to choose a time for your visit.  When you get on set, you will be assigned a wrangler (or in fancier terms, concierge) who will guide you through the maze that is film sets; they will also give you a rundown of set etiquette and be there for anything you may want to see or do.


Why do hot dogs come in 8 packs and buns come in 6 packs?

Purchase any of the perks and you will receive and answer to this question! :)