The importance of research in Hollywood storytelling Deep Dives with ISPU

When it comes to inclusive storytelling, writers, directors, and film industry executives are well-served by using research to guide the authentic crafting of diverse characters and worlds—including Muslim characters and storylines. Today on Deep Dives with ISPU, we’re presenting a conversation between filmmaker Lena Khan (The Tiger Hunter, Flora & Ulysses) and actor Rizwan Manji (Schitt’s Creek, The Tiger Hunter, Outsourced). During our 2021 annual banquet, the pair, who worked together on Lena’s 2018 film The Tiger Hunter, discussed Lena’s experiences as a storyteller in Hollywood, the difficulty of separating “Muslim” and “filmmaker” as an identity, and why Hollywood would greatly benefit from using research about American Muslims when making decisions about the characters and stories in film and television today.

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Please note: this episode’s audio was taken from a large, recorded Zoom meeting. Therefore, the quality may not be as strong as our other episodes, which are recorded with the primary intention of being produced into a podcast format. Thank you for understanding!