Oscar-nominee Riz Ahmed is unhappy over the negative projection of Muslims in Hollywood and western movies and he has decided to redress the balance.
The Emmy winner took to his Twitter account to share a powerful part of his speech focusing abject bias with Muslims in the film industry.
Riz said that Muslim misinterpretation in films cannot be ignored more and the issue must be taken up.
They constitute a quarter of the world population yet didn’t have the required share on the screen, he added.
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He also shared some alarming facts that triggered him to start the movement.
Today we are launching a solution – a grant to Muslim filmmakers and a blueprint for the industry to take up NOW, please help spread the word. https://t.co/hb0MBbFMUd pic.twitter.com/trwLJ44k9Z
— Riz Ahmed (@rizwanahmed) June 10, 2021
The Sound of Metal star firmly believes that the winked-at issue cannot be solved alone by him or some other influential Muslims in the business.
The Oscar-nominee has partnered with USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, Ford Foundation, and Pillars Fund to turn the tide.
A study by USC Annenberg shows that less than 10% of top-grossing movies released between 2017 and 2019 had a Muslim character while the Muslim speaking roles were even less than 2% in them.
An advisory panel comprising Muslim celebrities would finalize names of young artists for $25,000 fellowships while the grantees will also get mentorship from the board members.