Enlightening news

If you’ve read entries past, then you know of our connection to the ladies behind Enlightenment Productions, The World Unseen and I Can’t Think Straight: Hanan Kattan and Shamim Sarif. I have tracked their successes with you over the past few months, and an update is long overdue. Allow me to take this opportunity to bring you up to speed as you may want to know what our heroines have been doing since last we saw them sweeping the SAFTAs.

From the day we met Hanan Kattan, she has shared with us the most incredible personal, true stories of passion, betrayal and, in her words, “DRAMA, DRAMA, DRAMA!” I guess that’s to be expected in the life of a Jordanian, Palestinian lesbian. The good news is that Hanan is a fighter and never lets evil-doers and naysayers get in the way of her dreams. The bad news is for every hurdled obstacle, another waits just around the corner. I bring you: Hanan & Shamim vs. Top Billing.

Around the time of the release of The World Unseen in South Africa, Shamim was scheduled to appear on the prime time television magazine show Top Billing. Top Billing canceled the interview at the 11th hour, “because they were worried about the love story between two women”. Top Billing’s position was “that the show is a ‘family show’ about ‘family values’ and The World Unseen, while a great story, would be better suited to an ‘adult-only’ programme.” An opportunity to share their success at the SAFTAs with over 6 million viewers-foiled by a media evil-doer.

Hanan was doing her usual mixing and mingling at the SAFTA awards when she shared their Top Billing experience with one of the guests who, unbeknownst to Hanan, was a gay, television producer. It didn’t take long for their story to find its way to The Lesbian & Gay Equality Project and ultimately to the Joint Working Group in South Africa, a national network of LGBTI-focused organizations in South Africa. Game on!

Print, radio and online journalists contacted Shamim and asked her to speak to Top Billing’s misguided assumption that gay does not equal family-friendly. While she was not looking for a fight, Shamim couldn’t possibly let it go. Clearly sporting the bronze colored, rubber do-good bracelet with the letters WWAD (What Would Amina Do), she provided the following comment:

I was disappointed that the slot on The World Unseen was canceled by Top Billing. While I am aware that any TV show is a business that has to cater to its audience, I would ask all companies with influence on the media in South Africa to keep in mind that they hold a powerful position and have the opportunity to encourage openness and dialogue by perhaps pushing the envelope a little now and then. The World Unseen is very much about challenging convention, about daring to think a little differently, about optimism and the capacity for change.

It would be wonderful to feel that my characters are judged according to their core human values and their actions, rather than innate characteristics such as colour or sexuality. The character of Amina in The World Unseen is a dynamic, charismatic, intelligent woman who happens to be gay. Her values are in no way in conflict with ‘family values’ in the sense that she has great integrity, honour and kindness.

After all the interviews, articles and viewer feedback, Top Billing reevaluated their stance. Shamim was invited to come in for an interview on the condition that they would cover the SAFTA awards only- nothing more. OH NO YOU DI-IN'T! Of course, Shamim refused. Shamim is a class act and rather than spit out hate, she respectfully declined the interview unless she was able to speak without restriction about the themes in The World Unseen. She probably wasn’t even thinking, “You can take your interview and shove it where the sun don’t shine! If I want to talk about carpet-crunching South Africans, I’ll do it, beee-Atch!” No, she’s not that kind of girl. She leaves the muff talk to me. Thanks, Shamim!

“What happened next, Deborah? Please tell us! Pleeeeaase!” My friends, no need to beg. The next bit is the stuff of movies, books and the real lives of Shamim & Hanan. Top Billing caved, and they agreed to Shamim’s terms! Go gays!!

We could run naked in the streets and celebrate victory, but it might be unseasonably cold where you live. Perhaps you could just undress in the privacy of your own home and send me photos which I'll post in a virtual naked celebration slide-show. On second thought, don't. It's not that I don't want you to send me your nudie shots, but we must recognize the sobering fact that this showdown took place in a country where everyone is actually equal. Huh. What's that like? Yet, in a country where The Employment Equity Act protects South Africans from unfair labour discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and where same-sex marriage is legal, there is still ignorance and fear. Just goes to show you that we will always be fighting battles - even in places where we've won the war.

“Ok, good story, Deborah, but the fact is, I’ve yet to see either film. I want to see the movies! I want to celebrate lesbian love! I want to know what love is. I want you to show me!” Sadly, I’m no longer free to show anyone what love is, but I can tell you how to catch the films.

DVDs
You can now pre-order the DVDs of I Can’t Think Straight and The World Unseen in PAL format. This means that if you’re in the U.S. but you do not have a multi-regional DVD player, you’ll have to wait for further notice on the NTSC version, but it looks like they’re aiming for May or June.

The films can be ordered through the The World Unseen website or the I Can't Think Straight website.

You can buy the DVDs individually, and there’s also an option to purchase The World Unseen DVD, I Can’t Think Straight DVD & the I Can’t Think Straight soundtrack for £25 plus shipping & handling. Enlightenment Productions will ship from April (a month ahead of the retailers and Amazon etc) as a pre-release special offer.

UPCOMING SCREENINGS
For those in the UK, note that both films will open theatrically on April 3rd at the Apollo on Lower Regent St in London (West End) for a week.

There are also 2 charity screenings of The World Unseen, one in Manchester on March 21st and one in London on May 5th at BAFTA, both followed by Q&As with Shamim.

I Can't Think Straight will play at the London Gay & Lesbian film festival on March 27th at 6:30pm, followed by a Q&A.

MUSIC
Shamim directed, Hanan produced, Leonie Casanova wrote and sang the songs. Here they are for your viewing pleasure. The singles will be released on i tunes on 31st March 2009.

“LITTLE FEELING” FOR I CAN’T THINK STRAIGHT


“BROKEN” FOR THE WORLD UNSEEN