Iranian-American romantic comedy to attract American movie goers
Many Americans are unaware that the one million Americans of Iranian origin, according to some surveys, constitute the most successful immigrant minority in terms of education, wealth, and integration into the American society. High-budget Iran-centered Hollywood productions have not been helpful to the Iranian-American image because they are often either political in nature (like Argo) or low quality "entertainment" (such as Bravo Channel's Reality TV series about spoiled hedonistic wealthy Iranian Americans in Los Angeles). Cultural outreach by successful comedians like Maz Jobrani and Max Amini, by low budget films like My Uncle Rafael, and by documentaries like PBS's "Iranian Americans" have had limited impact on the mainstream of America. But Ramin Niami is hoping this will all change this week when "Shirin in Love" an attractive romantic comedy about Iranian-Americans is released in several AMC and Laemmle theaters across America (Event Tour Link).
Starring Nazanin Boniadi, Riley Smith, Maz Jobrani, Anahita Khalatbari, George Wallace, Max Amini with Marshall Manesh, "Shirin in Love" is a charming romantic comedy about an absent-minded, yet sophisticated, young Iranian-American woman who lives in "Tehrangeles." While Shirin has been engaged for years to a successful Iranian plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, she lives with her overbearing mother and empathetic father. When she falls in love with a mysterious young man who lives in a lighthouse in Northern California, a secret unravels and cultures clash, challenging all the traditions Shirin grew up with - and she re-discovers herself in the process.
Born in Iran, Ramin Niami who has taught filmmaking at the School of Visual Arts in New York City and at University of Southern California (USC) is better known in non-Iranian markets by his successful television series (US and UK) and feature films such as "Somewhere in the City" (released on HBO/Cinemax), "Paris" (premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, and released on Showtime/TMC), and "Babe’s and Ricky’s Inn" (Winner of Programmer’s Award at the 21st Pan African Film Festival).
This week "Shirin in Love" was the topic of a positive review in the prestigious Roger Ebert site: "The indie production boasts attractive leads, quirky supporting players, appealing backdrops and an insider's view of a seldom-explored U.S. subculture."
During an informal interview with Kodoom.com, Ramin says: "We see a politically distorted image of Iranians in the US media. Yet second generation Iranian-Americans are growing up here, going to school, dating Americans, and all along, experiencing a cultural clash with their parents' Iranian traditions. Shirin in Love is a romantic comedy about these kids." Ramin says "Shirin in Love" is a different type of movie: "All aspects of the production are done professionally from casting to camera, sound (at SONY), colors (At Warner Brothers) and Music (by Andy, Black cats and Riley Smith). It took us six months to attract Iranian and non-Iranian investors, another one year to produce the film, and six months to dub the film in Persian, so in most cities we have both Farsi and English screenings with subtitles." The film is unique also because it is the first Iranian-American film selected by AMC's Independent Series for screening in public theaters. "If each Iranian family shares this interview with their American friends, and better yet, take them to a theater screening (link to website and Tour schedule) we may have AMC extend the screening dates, so even more Americans will be exposed to the way Iranian Americans live and fall in love. This is how My Big Fat Greek Wedding took a story about Greek immigrants into mainstream America. Why not Iranians?"
The movie's opening night red carpet ceremonies in Los Angeles (pictured here) was a success. If they are truly tired of their distorted image in US media, Iranian Americans now have about a week to storm the screenings across America with their American friends.
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Other interviews in the INFORMAL series
- Max Amini Unplugged: Success with comical improvisation
- Yanni talks about his Iranian fans
- Andy: Expect my most entertaining concert of the year (Part 2)
- INFORMAL: Maz Jobrani talks about intercultural marriage, Mercedes and "status"!
- INFORMAL with Andy Madadian: News of Wedding (Part 1)
- INFORMAL with Mohamad Mohebian "Between Iran and America!"
- "Informal" with Dr. Firouz Naderi
- Maz Jobrani Informal Video: Interview in Persian with world renowned stand up comedian
- Part 5 of An Informal interview with Houshang Touzie and Shohreh Aghdashloo (Bedun e Taarof ) Kodoom.com Exclusive
- Part 3 of "Informal" with Maz Jobrani at Kodoom.com
- Part 2: Informal Chat with Maz Jobrani about Tiger Woods, His View on the World, Cultures, etc. Kodoom.com Exclusive
- Part 1: An Informal interview with Maz Jobrani (Bedun e Taarof ) Kodoom.com Exclusive
- An Informal interview with Houshang Touzie and Shohreh Aghdashloo (Part 1: What is success?)
- Informal with Maz Jobrani: About His Bio, His Views on Tiger Woods and Other Issues
