Why We're Doing This
Hey lovely people! We are Ali, Randa, and Dajanae, Nashville friends and actors embarking on a collective journey of storytelling. As fans of film and tv, we noticed that there wasn't much content out there that showcased people that look like us, at least not in a way that kept us grounded and three dimensional.
Let's do a test: "Hey, think of the Arab character in Hollywood?". Your subconscious probably went straight to Aladdin, or taxi driver, or terrorist. And don't feel bad for that! For decades, Hollywood has put us in a nice supporting character box, chiming in when needed. Only recently have Asians been in the forefront of film, or African-Americans portrayed as educated. (Thanks Ava Duvernay!)
So we wanted to continue that trend! We wanted to create a show that tells our story honestly, in all its glory and all its faults. And we wanted to do it through comedy, to poke fun at ourselves and the ironically satirical situations we've all grown up with.
What We Need
Proper filmmaking is no joke. It takes a lot of committed and talented people to pull it off. Sure we can offer exposure to everyone but no one deserves to work for free. So the $9700 will go toward:
- Studio Time
- Cast, Crew, and Locations
- Camera / Lighting Equipment
- Build Materials / Prop Materials
- Food for everyone on set
- Post Production (Editing and Music)
What You're Impacting
We want to share our stories with the world, and in turn share the stories of thousands of minorities who are just going about their day. Once this pilot episode is finalized, we are not stopping until we get it picked up by a streaming service and broadcasted to the world. Your contribution will see our story play out much farther than just the first 28 minutes.
And make sure to follow us on Instagram @typecastseriestv and Facebook to stay up to date on our entire journey!
Who We Are
Ali Alsaleh - Co-Creator / Writer / Actor:
Born in Baghdad, Iraq and a refugee to Nashville in 2000, he vowed to make the best of opportunity for his parents and sister. Now an architect, a writer, and actor, he uses the power of storytelling to showcase art and connect with people.
Randa Newman - Co-Creator / Actor:
Adopted from Seoul, South Korea at three months old, Randa grew up in Pikeville, KY, a small mountain town in Appalachia. She spent most of her adolescence feeling a loss of identity, only recently finding her place in Nashville's creative community. When she isn't acting and producing, Randa works as a genetic counselor, empowering women and families.
Dajanae Cole - Co-Creator / Actor:
A native to Los Angeles, Dajanae moved to Nashville in 2015. Aside from her passion for acting and producing, she spends her time in community development investing in and empowering local youth at Harvest Hands. Prior to Typecast, Dajanae has worked on several indie projects through the Nashville film community.
Brionna Scrivens - Director:
A Nashville native, Bri has spent most of her days behind the camera, tooling a refreshing palette and vision for how she views the world. Her directorial debut began at Belmont, where she became the first African-American director to direct a minority-major play. Since then she's honed her producer skills, working on both Nashville's Pickler and Ben Show, as well as Oprah's Path Made Clear Tour. She is excited to showcase her narrative direction with Typecast.
Spencer Glover - Cinematographer:
Spencer Glover is a Nashville-based director widely recognized for his filmmaking work including, short films, pilot episodes, music videos and advertising content. His ability to direct, edit, or serve as cinematographer aides him in creating content that is fully realized in vision and skill. He currently serves as an editor for Yamaha Entertainment Group specializing in branding and advertising for the company. Spencer is currently working on his first feature-length film under his company, Rm. 108.
Josh Scherer - Producer:
A native Nashvillian, Josh has worked on over 200 projects (feature films, TV shows, web series, short films, music videos, commercials, live shows, etc.). His recent highlights include producing and casting a Redbox feature film, casting a nationwide commercial, and producing music videos for Warner Capital. His passion for all aspects of filmmaking has led him to spearhead this project we all believe in.
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Risks & Challenges
Simply put, we gotta pay folks for their time. And we need you.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you can't donate, we completely understand. But what we would ask of you is to please SHARE this campaign. SHARE, SHARE, SHARE. Now more than ever, we need people to be open to the varied and nuanced world around them. We need people to welcome the melting pot that is America, and that only works if the word is out there. If you believe in this project and you believe in our team, SHARE IT!
