CAIR, WGA-West Seek the Next Great Muslim Hollywood Screenwriter

​A shy, talented and unlucky Jewish kid from a loud, talented and obscenely prosperous family refuses to follow in his successful parents' and siblings' footsteps because he dreams of becoming a Hollywood screenwriter--and he's even completed what he knows is the script of the century.

But, somehow, he and/or his crackerjack story are completely wrong whenever he pitches the next Citizen Kane to a gauntlet of stereotypical producers, who include bros, feminists, studio ass kissers, shady paramilitary types and Harvey Weinstein (playing not himself but James Cameron).

​Just when our sad-sack hero is about to give up all hope and take his Nana's advice and go to pharmacology school just like Uncle Burt did, the kid happens upon the advertisement on the next page from the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Writer's Guild of America-West.

"What if," he thinks to himself, "I were to pose as an Arab-American and show the folks holding this deal my ripping script?" Faster than you can say "Bosom Buddies Three's Company Sleeper Cell," Adam Rafkin is calling himself Aziz Rahman, cribbing the Koran, tucking his script under his arm, slapping on too much cologne and walking into the CAIR-WGA-West confab . . .

. . . Aaaaaand scene!  CAIR-LA SEEKS ASPIRING MUSLIM SCREENWRITERS FOR 'WRITING FOR HOLLYWOOD SEMINAR

(LOS ANGELES, CA, 7/29/09) - On Tuesday, August 11, CAIR's Greater Los Angeles Area chapter (CAIR-LA) and the Writers Guild of America-West will host a "Writing for Hollywood" seminar for Muslim college students and recent graduates who are pursuing writing and filmmaking careers in the entertainment industry.

WHAT: 'Writing for Hollywood'
WHERE: TBA
WHEN: Tuesday, August 11 at 2:30 p.m.
WHO: Speakers include leading Hollywood filmmaker & writer

The seminar will go over how to become a successful screenwriter, qualities industry executives are looking for, and various opportunities available for American Muslims in Hollywood. The program will also feature an overview of resources and opportunities available at the Guild and a tour of the Writers Guild Foundation library.

Spaces are limited and will be filled on a first-come-first-served basis. If you are interested, please contact CAIR-LA Communications Manager Munira Syeda via e-mail at msyeda@cair.com. Include your full legal name, major, and year in college or year of graduation.

Deadline for RSVP is Thursday, August 6, 2009 at 5 p.m.