WATCH the full Trailer at:
ABOUT THE PROJECT
From first-time feature Director Rola Nashef and Producer Leon Toomey, DETROIT UNLEADED was inspired by the award-winning 2007 release of Detroit Unleaded the Short.
The strength of the audience reaction to the short, the core of the story and characters led to our decision to produce it into a feature length film. And we did it!
DU is an independently financed and produced film, shot in August of 2010. To supplement our budget, we used our grassroots, non-profit background to pull in-kind support from our community. As a successful short, the project had strong legs and a well-established, passionate fan base that took our work further than we could have ever done alone.
Our eclectic and inclusive production did not simply allow us to create an authentic and complete film, it also suffused the work with integrity that was reflected in the story, characters, and visuals. It was a film about Detroit that was made by and with the creative, independent, and diverse people that make Detroit such a specific and compelling place.
Detroit Unleaded had its 2012 World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it won the Grolsch Film Works Discovery Award, and recently had its Middle East Premiere at the Dubai International Film Festival. We’ve received great reviews from our audiences and film critics alike calling Detroit Unleaded “90 minutes of pure entertainment” from the Toronto Star, and “a small gem” from the Detroit Free Press.
THE STORY
DETROIT UNLEADED is a spirited and often hilarious coming-of-age tale about the aspirations of second-generation Americans hoping to find the courage to decide their future and aspire to a life of their own making.
Sami (E.J. Assi), is a Lebanese-American teenager who was banking on a freer life - one outside the confines of his cumbersome family business: a 24-hour gas station on the East side of Detroit. But when his father is fatally shot one summer night, Sami finds himself the captive of family obligations.
Now in his twenties and content in his discontent, Sami spends his nights stuck in the “cage," a bulletproof glass fortress covered in a growing display of rolling papers, fake perfume and plastic roses, while an infinite stream of eccentric and entertaining, people flow through. He runs the station with his overzealous cousin, Mike (Mike Batayeh), who – despite Sami’s bubble-bursting tendencies, the constant cash crunch, and an endless gas war with a rival station down the street – exuberantly schemes to build an empire. Sami agrees to Mike's plans half-heartedly, until he meets the beautiful Najlah (Nada Shouhayib). Sami and Naj, struggle to escape the watchful eye of her overprotective brother and begin meeting during Sami's shifts and bond over their wishes to break free and pursue their own course in life.
OUR GOAL
Our goal is to tour the national and international film festival circuit in order to build our audience, create a buzz and secure distribution in the United States as well as abroad. Having completed our production budget, we are currently raising money to help fund our festival tour. Your much appreciated and generous donation will go towards:
- Printing movie posters and postcards
- Marketing and advertising
- Festival application fees
- Legal fees
- Hiring a Publicist
- Festival deliverables expenses
- Updating and maintaining our website and social media networks
- Travel expenses for Filmmakers and Cast members.
- Shipping costs
- Subtitles in various languages.
If we are fortunate enough to raise above our goal, the funds will go towards:
- Deliverables expenses for distribution
- Enhanced sound mix
- Additional Legal Fees
- Additional marketing and advertising expenses
Thank You for your support from the Detroit Unleaded Team!
Rola Nashef - Writer/Director
Leon Toomey - Producer/Executive Producer
Marwan Nashef - Executive Producer
It takes a village indeed! From development, pre-production, production and post-production, we have been fortunate to work a with huge team of the most talented, creative and committed Filmmakers, Artists and Professionals from Michigan and abroad. We are greatly inspired by your work, THANK YOU!
Co-Screenwriters: Heather Kolf & Jennifer Ginzinger
Cinematographer: Keir Yee
Production Designer: Joey Ostrander
Gaffer: Graham Strachan
Editor: Nathanael Sherfield
Assistant Editor: Jonathan Jewell-Chatten
Composer: Joe Namy
Post Production Supervisor: Shrihari Saithe
Casting Coordinators: Ryan Myers & Lauren Thompson
Producers: Rola Nashef & Leon Toomey
Associate Producers: Nancy Messieha & Mike Batayeh
For a complete list of our cast and crew, please visit our IMDB page.
Shipping: Additional shipping contribution of $25 required for all international shipments. Perks will be shipped within 30 days of the date provided. DVD shipments will be sent within 30 days of the official DVD release.
