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With the continuing Israeli invasion of Gaza, images of violence in the Middle East are once again prevalent in the media. Outside of news footage, consistent portrayals of Arabs and Muslims in U.S. films and television have all too often been reduced to roles as ‘terrorists.’Academy Award nominated actress Shohreh Aghdashloo will join fellow actors Maz Jobrani, Omar Metwally and Raya Meddine in a panel discussion on Arab and Muslims stereotypes in Hollywood and how to change them. Sponsored by the Levantine Cultural Center and Muslim Public Affairs Council, and the Screen Actors Guild, the event has also invited a number of film and television directors to participate in the dialogue as excerpts from documentaries as well as full length features will be screened. Some performers in the industry have already begun to challenge prevailing images of Arabs and Muslims in the entertainment world. Meddine and Jobrani, alongside others, have performed with the Los Angeles based comedy troupe, The Sultans of Satire, which used humor as a rebuff to stereotypes. Also, as an article by LA Weekly contributor Andrew Gumbel highlights, an increasing number of young Arab actors are turning down roles offered to them to play terrorists in favor of producing their own material.

GUESTS: Raya Meddine, Lebanese-American actress, TV host and writer, Jordan Elgraby, artistic director of the Levantine Cultural Center

Arabs and Muslims in Hollywood
Date/Time: Jan 14 2009 7:00pm – 9:30pm
Price: $15 general, $10 members

Where:
Harmony Gold Theatre
7655 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles CA 90046

For tickets call 310.657.5511 or visit www.levantinecenter.org.