Another week, another special guest! The wonderfully talented DINA NAJJAR joins us to talk about Breaking Hollywood Stereotypes of Arab and Middle Eastern characters and stories. Dina is a first generation Palestinian-Jordanian award-winning actor and filmmaker whose mission is to bring diversity without stereotypes to the screen and stage and to tell important stories that inspire, empower, and include. Some of the roles she’s proudest of include: playing Maya, a Syrian refugee searching for her place in America, in the short film MAYA which earned her the Best Actress Award at the 2018 University of Miami Canes Film Festival; recurring as alluring assassin Nadja Shah in season 2 of The Family Business on BET; and portraying troubled, rideshare passenger, Raven, in The Christmas Ride on Prime Video which she won Best Supporting Actress at the 2020 Tampa Bay Underground Film Festival. Her comedy, pilot, “Casting Josie”, was selected as a Semi-Finalist for the 2020 Screencraft TV Pilot Competition and she currently has two feature scripts in the works. I mean her talent is incredible, but let’s let Dina spill her own chai!
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Lists & Links for Our Guest:
Her official Instagram: @createwithdina
Her Production Company's official Instagram: @filmsbytnproductions
Check out Dina's personal website here and check out her initiative UNITED COLORS OF FEMME that juxtaposes media stereotypes of different races vs the reality. You can find some of her various projects online such as short films: "Grape Leaves" and "Sasha & Clark" and her feature film "The Christmas Ride" on Amazon Prime Video.
BET+'s "The Family Business" is now streaming on BET+.
Dina also mentioned the wonderful organization of MENA ARTS ADVOCACY COUNCIL which is an important tool for up and coming MENA artists and those that champion amplifying the voices of such artists.
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Official The Hollywood Chai Info:
Follow us on Instagram: @thehollywoodchai and Twitter: @ChaiHollywood
Questions or Topics you want covered? Email us: thehollywoodchai@gmail.com
Follow our host on Instagram: @thejakkawiarab
Follow our production company on Instagram: @bougiearabsentertainment
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This episode is sponsored by:
- Dalia Web Design - for all your website designing needs and maintenance: http://www.daliawebdesign.com/
- ZENA Events - for all your event planning needs, especially weddings!: www.zenaweddingsandevents.com
- The Script Doctors - a sister podcast where we fix scripts on air! Follow on instagram @thescriptdoctors
Credits:
This episode was recorded in San Francisco, CA and Florida, produced and edited by Jon Akkawi. DOP: Mera Nino. Art Direction: Rosy Nino. Logo Design: Christina Raie. Theme Music: "Arab Trap" by Chef Elon. The Hollywood Chai is a BOUGIE ARABS ENTERTAINMENT production.
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