“House of Gods,” a Matchbox Pictures six-part series, boasting an entirely Arab Australian cast, presents a perspective seldom seen on screen, a Muslim community in Fairfield, Australia.
“You can’t manufacture authenticity. Audiences are so intuitive and adept, they can smell if something is off a mile away. So for us, having actors who understood the idiosyncrasies of Arab/Muslim culture added an intangible layer of soul to the show,” explained Osamah Sami, co-creator and one of the stars of the show.
“We both were raised in a religious setting where culture, traditions and spiritual beliefs govern daily lives. Immigration often reinforces our desire to cling on to our motherland customs even tighter” Shahin Shafaei co-creator shared with Variety. “As storytellers, we have both previously highlighted the lived experiences of our community in film and theater. But with ‘House of Gods’ we found an opportunity to explore this “living organism...
“You can’t manufacture authenticity. Audiences are so intuitive and adept, they can smell if something is off a mile away. So for us, having actors who understood the idiosyncrasies of Arab/Muslim culture added an intangible layer of soul to the show,” explained Osamah Sami, co-creator and one of the stars of the show.
“We both were raised in a religious setting where culture, traditions and spiritual beliefs govern daily lives. Immigration often reinforces our desire to cling on to our motherland customs even tighter” Shahin Shafaei co-creator shared with Variety. “As storytellers, we have both previously highlighted the lived experiences of our community in film and theater. But with ‘House of Gods’ we found an opportunity to explore this “living organism...
- 3/17/2024
- by Callum McLennan
- Variety Film + TV
Stars: Michelle Monaghan, Jai Courtney, Jason Clarke, Uli Latukefu, Pallavi Sharda, Phoenix Raei, Lucy Barrett, Todd Lasance, Logan Huffman, Lincoln Lewis, Joey Vieira, Simon Elrahi, Robert Zenca | Written by John Collee, Jinder Ho | Directed by Sophia Banks
A throwback to another era of filmmaking, Black Site (not to be confused with the 2018 Tom Paton film of the same name) follows a group of officers based in a labyrinthine top-secret location called the Citadel, who must fight for their lives against Hatchet, a brilliant and infamous high-value detainee. When he escapes, his mysterious and deadly agenda has far-reaching and dire consequences…
There’s a reason I said this film was a throwback at the start of this review, you see Black Site feels very much like a product of a different time, well at least the script does. There are quips thrown into people’s dialogue that hark back to the...
A throwback to another era of filmmaking, Black Site (not to be confused with the 2018 Tom Paton film of the same name) follows a group of officers based in a labyrinthine top-secret location called the Citadel, who must fight for their lives against Hatchet, a brilliant and infamous high-value detainee. When he escapes, his mysterious and deadly agenda has far-reaching and dire consequences…
There’s a reason I said this film was a throwback at the start of this review, you see Black Site feels very much like a product of a different time, well at least the script does. There are quips thrown into people’s dialogue that hark back to the...
- 5/4/2022
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Brave is the debut feature filmmaker who sets and shoots their independently-financed project across two continents, choosing not only to write and direct but produce and star.
But brave Genna Chanelle Hayes is. And it’s paid off – tonight, her film Akoni will open CinefestOZ Film Festival in a sold out screening in Augusta.
Starring UK actor Kit Esuruoso in the titular role, the film follows a homeless Nigerian refugee struggles to integrate into Australian society after escaping the clutches of Boko Haram. While living on the streets and on the receiving end of racist taunts from a group of drunken men, a young woman (Hayes) comes to his aid and offers him a place to stay. Struggling with her own heartbreak, she soon finds solace in her unlikely new companion as he opens her up to a world beyond her current life of modelling, parties and social media.
For Hayes,...
But brave Genna Chanelle Hayes is. And it’s paid off – tonight, her film Akoni will open CinefestOZ Film Festival in a sold out screening in Augusta.
Starring UK actor Kit Esuruoso in the titular role, the film follows a homeless Nigerian refugee struggles to integrate into Australian society after escaping the clutches of Boko Haram. While living on the streets and on the receiving end of racist taunts from a group of drunken men, a young woman (Hayes) comes to his aid and offers him a place to stay. Struggling with her own heartbreak, she soon finds solace in her unlikely new companion as he opens her up to a world beyond her current life of modelling, parties and social media.
For Hayes,...
- 8/25/2021
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Genna Chanelle Hayes..
Genna Chanelle Hayes. debut feature Akoni will begin shooting in Sydney January 2, before heading to Nigeria.
Hayes will also star in the film, which follows the story of a Nigerian refugee who survives an attack by terrorist group Boko Haram before making his way to Australia.
The cast will be led by West End star Kit Esuruoso, alongside John Brumpton (Pawno, Catching Milat), Mal Kennard (The Defector, The Menkoff Method), Pippa Grandison, Rashidi Edward and Simon Elrahi.
Hayes is known for her recent short Wurinyan, which screened at Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.and stars Christine Anu and Mark Coles Smith.
The writer-director said she hopes Akoni will serve as a tool for positive growth within Australian society.
.The displacement of people around the world is causing boundaries to blur and cultures to converge, and it.s important for us all to have an understanding of...
Genna Chanelle Hayes. debut feature Akoni will begin shooting in Sydney January 2, before heading to Nigeria.
Hayes will also star in the film, which follows the story of a Nigerian refugee who survives an attack by terrorist group Boko Haram before making his way to Australia.
The cast will be led by West End star Kit Esuruoso, alongside John Brumpton (Pawno, Catching Milat), Mal Kennard (The Defector, The Menkoff Method), Pippa Grandison, Rashidi Edward and Simon Elrahi.
Hayes is known for her recent short Wurinyan, which screened at Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.and stars Christine Anu and Mark Coles Smith.
The writer-director said she hopes Akoni will serve as a tool for positive growth within Australian society.
.The displacement of people around the world is causing boundaries to blur and cultures to converge, and it.s important for us all to have an understanding of...
- 11/28/2016
- by Staff Writer
- IF.com.au
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