My father built a movie theater “Amber Cinema” in 1975, Karachi-Pakistan (see profile cover pics). Even though I grew up in a movie theater I had no desire to be a filmmaker until I went to an art school. My love of airbrushing led my interest towards special effects and filmmaking.
Like all the dreamers who come to America to be part of the MAGIC, I too came here to study film. I was accepted at AFI as the production design major but was not able to get the scholarship. Studied acting instead, was part of the three NAACP Theatre Awards winning play “For the Love of Freedom”, produced by Danny Glover’s Robey Theatre Company.
Finally, years of hard work was paying off when I was put on two year “wrongful” deportation proceedings just for being born in Pakistan. There was nothing wrong with my papers. They didn’t allow me work, go to film school or do anything else. It was crazy. I started to write to stay sane and end up writing my very first feature spec script.
After almost two years the case was terminated. But they still made sure that I would go back to Pakistan. But miracles do happen, and I was able to stay here and pursue my film studies. But it was not easy, I had to start all over. Writing and making short films pretty much saved me. Since then, I have written 8 specs feature scripts and made a few short films.
My satirical comedy about terrorism “Pal-Queda” got to the second rounds at Sundance and Austin Film Festival. “Pal-Queda” and my other (Sci-fi thriller) project “Terra Firma” were amongst the top ten selected scripts at two different WGFest Los Angeles by Writers Guild Foundation.
Right now, learning about producing and using my art/design background to design two of my projects called “Attack of the Killer Rubber Duckies” and “Terra Firma”.
"Dateman", my recent short film was a fun project to work on in order to take a break from writing and get back into directing. I am very grateful to the cast of "Dateman". It was fun working with them all. It is a miracle in itself the way "Dateman" got made. it was FUN every second.
Thank you!!!!
Haneef
