Today we talk with Mark Claywell, director of AMERICAN JIHADIST, a documentary that explores the life of Isa Abdullah Ali, an African-American Muslim from the ghettos of Washington, DC. Ali has been labeled a 'known terrorist' by the U.S. Defense Department, though he's never been charged with any crime. The film documents the spiritual coming of age of Ali – a young man, growing up without a father, searching for meaning amid the violence and racism of America's inner city - a young man who turned his personal quest for justice into an international struggle. He served for five years with the Amal militia as a sniper and street fighter, barely survived an assassination attempt in Beirut, and suffered post-traumatic stress and depression as his marriage of ten years unraveled. Later, he found himself on wanted posters throughout Bosnia, labeled a 'known terrorist' by the Pentagon. AMERICAN JIHADIST is Claywell’s first feature film project.
Q: How did you hear about the Newport Beach Film Festival?
A: I heard of the Newport Beach festival through our film rep Circus Road films. They spoke highly of the festival while we were attending Slamdance 2010 and the vibe sounded exactly like something I wanted to be a part of.
Q: Tell a little about the story of your film and the production of it.
A: We arrived in Lebanon just a few days after the Bush administration declared that anyone helping or aiding Hezbollah were considered enemy combatants and would feel the full brunt of the American military. This made an already tense situation even more so. This was early in 2007, just a few months after the war between Hezbollah and Israel. Everyone was on edge as we set off to interview several key players in Hezbollah and the Amal militias in and around Beirut. We plastered our production van with huge signs that said TV CREW. Don't shoot. Our fixer who arranged our interviews insisted that the entire country knew we were there but most were skeptical of our motivations. The subject of the film, Isa Abdullah Ali, is well known within the various Shia militias and several people said they were convinced we were part of a CIA hit team. After a few days our fixer insisted we get Isa Ali out of the country. A few months after our shoot the fixer fled Lebanon after several death threats. He now lives in Detroit.
Q: Tell a little about yourself and your story in filmmaking.
A: I am a commercial TV director who is use to shooting advertising campaigns that are fairly well defined and controlled. AMERICAN JIHADIST was a complex story to tell. It had to be shot in many different countries including a couple that don't like Americans very much. Also, the subject of the film, Ali, has worked on many different sides. It was impossible to know who was telling the truth. Can you trust a "known terrorist?" How about the CIA? But the goal was to let the man tell his story without the filter of the Western news media. We want the audience to make up their own mind where in the commercial world we are trying hard to influence the audience's opinion.
Q: Your take on the performances of the lead actors, (set backs, triumphs, impressions, good surprises, etc.)
A: ISA Abdullah Ali was clearly not an actor but he had some well rehearsed sayings and stories that he would hide behind – short sound bites that he would use to avoid certain questions and answers. He is a very smart man who has spent years maneuvering through difficult situations. He would charm me one minute and intimidate the next. But the entire time we spent with him his main goal was to make the crew smile. Not what I expected from a man who has admittedly killed hundreds of people.
Q: What do you do when not making a smash indie film?
A: Mostly I direct TV commercial campaigns and have shot all over the world. This is my first film and the difference between the two worlds are smaller than I ever imagined. When not working I spend as much time on the beach just outside of Savannah Georgia, with my two adorable children.
AMERICAN JIHADIST screens at 6 PM on Sunday, April 23 at the Edwards Island Theater 3.
Buy ticket here:
http://newportbeachfilmfest.tix.com/Event.asp?Event=256759
Watch the trailer for WE WERE FEARED here:
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