DOUBLE SELFIE
Can two women - one Palestinian, and one Israeli - join forces to try to win a Jerusalem-based selfie contest - without killing each other in the process? Every week a new Challenge comes out - the contest pairs must go to a significant location in or near Jerusalem, and squeeze in the same selfie together. The first Challenge? The explosive Temple Mount/Al Aqsa. Double Selfie is a ‘satire with a heart,’ a buddy film meets “Borat” (in some of the scenes, the two actresses do hilarious interviews with real people, not actors). Will the two women somehow make it to the Final Challenge, and do what none of the politicians can do - bring peace and sisterhood to the Middle East?
(Note: the two women in the above early sample video are not professional actors - our two lead roles have not been cast yet.)
Maryam Abdulazziz and Sara Goldstein are thoroughly modern residents of Jerusalem, living there during difficult times. Both have just turned 30, and both are now rediscovering their religious roots (Maryam wears a hijab, and Sara a "mitpachat", a Jewish women's head covering) - but with their own feminist emphasis. When not on Facebook or going to Jerusalem music clubs, in our opening scene they are at their mutual Ground Zero: Sara praying at the Kotel (the Western Wall), Maryam up above at Al Aqsa.
Maryam's Jerusalem family home is due to be demolished by the Israeli authorities for unauthorized building, unless they pay a $25,000 fine. That night, her eye is caught by a Facebook ad: “ARE YOU ONE OF THE TRULY COURAGEOUS ONES?” She reads on: "Can one Jew and one Muslim create peace in the Middle East?"
Later, Maryam to her friend: “How in Allah's name am I going to meet a dirty Jew who wants to do this contest with me?! We have to take a selfie together in 10 different places they announce weekly on the website - this is evil! The pair with the most Instagram ‘likes’ at the end wins FIFTY. THOUSAND. DOLLARS.”
Next day - a dusty Old City hummus joint. Maryam awkwardly starts talking with a Jewish girl at the neighboring table, who with her head wrap, looks like a damn settler: Sara. Under pressure from the deadline of the impending first Challenge, Maryam introduces herself, they become Facebook friends, and two days later decide to jump in together to the Contest.
Maryam's Jerusalem family home is due to be demolished by the Israeli authorities for unauthorized building, unless they pay a $25,000 fine. That night, her eye is caught by a Facebook ad: “ARE YOU ONE OF THE TRULY COURAGEOUS ONES?” She reads on: "Can one Jew and one Muslim create peace in the Middle East?"
Later, Maryam to her friend: “How in Allah's name am I going to meet a dirty Jew who wants to do this contest with me?! We have to take a selfie together in 10 different places they announce weekly on the website - this is evil! The pair with the most Instagram ‘likes’ at the end wins FIFTY. THOUSAND. DOLLARS.”
Next day - a dusty Old City hummus joint. Maryam awkwardly starts talking with a Jewish girl at the neighboring table, who with her head wrap, looks like a damn settler: Sara. Under pressure from the deadline of the impending first Challenge, Maryam introduces herself, they become Facebook friends, and two days later decide to jump in together to the Contest.
First Challenge: Double Selfie, on top of the Temple Mount/Al Aqsa. This problematic place - where a giant riot started the Second Intifada, and where many right wing Jews now believe the Third Temple must be built as soon as possible. One sunny morning, the two women meet next to the famous golden Dome there, a Moslem and a Jew - “click” - just in time - success.
Our story careens ahead, the next Challenge concerns those uptight male religious authority figures: Bring a big happy dog to the office of a sheikh, ask him about the negative view of dogs in Islam, and for bonus points, include the sheikh - with the dog in his lap - in the Selfie. Dogs are viewed traditionally as "unclean" - and if one licks you, a ritual bath is needed. Sara's black lab, Sam, "unclean"? they ask a (real) sheikh... No way!
The challenges done in public might be the hardest: (and how many of the contestant pairs are same sex?): Lip lock, next to 100 Orthodox Jewish men in black. “Oh my God.” “Don’t worry - if Borat could do it, so can we.” And they go to (the real) Mea Shearim, the Orthodox neighborhood, and risk life and limb - for a simple kiss.
But meanwhile, in the background of all these double selfie adventures, the “Stabbing Intifada” continues - teen boys knife other teen boys, and soldiers shoot to kill. The stabbers are heroes to many Palestinians, and simple terrorists to many Israelis.
One morning, Sara discovers an inflammatory graphic on Maryam's Facebook page - a big heroic knife - the red blood dripping off it becoming part of a Palestinian flag design. The women meet to plan the next Challenge, but have a huge blow out. Shouting and screaming, they're rescued by the bonds of their feminism, their anger towards the bossy men in their religions - and by humor. Maryam grins at Sara, "If I can get you to laugh, you won't kill me?!"
Our story careens ahead, the next Challenge concerns those uptight male religious authority figures: Bring a big happy dog to the office of a sheikh, ask him about the negative view of dogs in Islam, and for bonus points, include the sheikh - with the dog in his lap - in the Selfie. Dogs are viewed traditionally as "unclean" - and if one licks you, a ritual bath is needed. Sara's black lab, Sam, "unclean"? they ask a (real) sheikh... No way!
The challenges done in public might be the hardest: (and how many of the contestant pairs are same sex?): Lip lock, next to 100 Orthodox Jewish men in black. “Oh my God.” “Don’t worry - if Borat could do it, so can we.” And they go to (the real) Mea Shearim, the Orthodox neighborhood, and risk life and limb - for a simple kiss.
But meanwhile, in the background of all these double selfie adventures, the “Stabbing Intifada” continues - teen boys knife other teen boys, and soldiers shoot to kill. The stabbers are heroes to many Palestinians, and simple terrorists to many Israelis.
One morning, Sara discovers an inflammatory graphic on Maryam's Facebook page - a big heroic knife - the red blood dripping off it becoming part of a Palestinian flag design. The women meet to plan the next Challenge, but have a huge blow out. Shouting and screaming, they're rescued by the bonds of their feminism, their anger towards the bossy men in their religions - and by humor. Maryam grins at Sara, "If I can get you to laugh, you won't kill me?!"
Maryam redeems herself by showing Sara a crazy cartoon of a hairy old rabbi and sheikh - the sheikh is naked, kneeling, a big yellow celebrity-style star covering his anus, with words above, “MOHAMMED, A STAR IS BORN.” Maryam adds, “Men - they’re all freaking gay.” Sara agrees: "Yep, or terrified of being gay."
Friends again, they slowly unwrap their hair coverings, revealing for the first time (to us and to each other) their hair. Big smiles. Two beautiful women. Then they cover their hair again, wearing each other’s cloth wraps.
And then, there's the Tel Aviv Challenge: Your job - you two peace seekers - is to find the most rad double selfie in the City of Sun and Sin - Tel Aviv. The beach is the obvious classic choice, but what other pairs would pose there wearing matching super-stylish, made-in-France, psychedelic burkinis?
Friends again, they slowly unwrap their hair coverings, revealing for the first time (to us and to each other) their hair. Big smiles. Two beautiful women. Then they cover their hair again, wearing each other’s cloth wraps.
And then, there's the Tel Aviv Challenge: Your job - you two peace seekers - is to find the most rad double selfie in the City of Sun and Sin - Tel Aviv. The beach is the obvious classic choice, but what other pairs would pose there wearing matching super-stylish, made-in-France, psychedelic burkinis?
A couple days after returning from Tel Aviv, an email arrives: Congrats - you have reached the Semifinals! Five pairs will be given two round-trip tickets to New York City. That’s right - you will have exactly twenty four hours to take the most daring, unforgettable Double Selfie you can think of - anywhere in the Big Apple.
While on that long 12-hour flight, they brainstorm a winning selfie: In front of Lady Liberty? Something wild in Times Square? Empire State Building? They arrive in Manhattan, and exploring the busy streets, they realize: No, not at all. The time is right for a double selfie in front of that evil Tower of Trump: the two women in a big hug - wearing special head gear. They prod the (real) policeman there, “I’m Muslim and she’s Jewish, we’re getting married and want to deliver Donald an invitation to our wedding - just joking!” And they may just (really) get arrested during this selfie.
While on that long 12-hour flight, they brainstorm a winning selfie: In front of Lady Liberty? Something wild in Times Square? Empire State Building? They arrive in Manhattan, and exploring the busy streets, they realize: No, not at all. The time is right for a double selfie in front of that evil Tower of Trump: the two women in a big hug - wearing special head gear. They prod the (real) policeman there, “I’m Muslim and she’s Jewish, we’re getting married and want to deliver Donald an invitation to our wedding - just joking!” And they may just (really) get arrested during this selfie.
And the next day, they head home: will their making up after all those knock-down fights pay off? Will their bonds as women overcome their conflicts over the big mess in "Israstine"? Will they be able to delay Maryam’s family’s demolition order long enough to rise to the indescribable Final Challenge? - where they have to return to the Temple Mount/Al Aqsa, and take a final selfie....while they do what in that holy place?!
Or, will all their progress be wasted - an impossible friendship in an impossible Land - and everything go down the drain?
Double Selfie brings together a combustible, outrageous mix of feminism and women's spirituality, Middle Eastern politics and religion - Arab vs. Jew, Palestinian vs. Israeli, women vs. men, reality vs. fiction.
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Treatment © 2017, Harvey Stein
Screenplay available on request.
Business plan (for potential investors), also available on request.
Contributions of any amount can be made here: http://tinyurl.com/jerusalemny-donation
Contributions (tax-deductible in the United States) of $50 or more, can be made here:
http://tinyurl.com/d8hq9kd
(All contributors will receive a digital download of Harvey's recent feature documentary, "A Third Way - Settlers and Palestinians as Neighbors.")
Double Selfie is a multicultural production of Jerusalem New York Productions, committed to a local cast and crew of Israelis and Palestinians working and creating together. As part of our vision, during production, we will assemble a crew of up to 10 teens from both groups, to be mentored in our "digital media school", that will be a part of the project from start to finish, teens learning skills of writing, production, and video editing.
Our project will also have a global component: we will solicit “double selfie” submissions from pairs of people around the world, “You and your Other” - in similar challenges to the ones in our story. The submissions with the most votes will be included in our movie.
Lastly: we are actively looking for corporate sponsorship in the areas of women’s fashion and sportswear. Both main female characters are stylish and hip - starting with their head coverings, and will be wearing cutting edge unique print fabrics as head coverings.
Written by Harvey Stein and Vered Post
Director: Harvey Stein
Producers: Gidi Avivi, Harvey Stein, Melissa Athens
CONTACT: Harvey Stein
email: [email protected]
www.jerusalemny.com/doubleselfie777
phone: 972-50-212-8132
skype: harveystein33
Or, will all their progress be wasted - an impossible friendship in an impossible Land - and everything go down the drain?
Double Selfie brings together a combustible, outrageous mix of feminism and women's spirituality, Middle Eastern politics and religion - Arab vs. Jew, Palestinian vs. Israeli, women vs. men, reality vs. fiction.
******************************
Treatment © 2017, Harvey Stein
Screenplay available on request.
Business plan (for potential investors), also available on request.
Contributions of any amount can be made here: http://tinyurl.com/jerusalemny-donation
Contributions (tax-deductible in the United States) of $50 or more, can be made here:
http://tinyurl.com/d8hq9kd
(All contributors will receive a digital download of Harvey's recent feature documentary, "A Third Way - Settlers and Palestinians as Neighbors.")
Double Selfie is a multicultural production of Jerusalem New York Productions, committed to a local cast and crew of Israelis and Palestinians working and creating together. As part of our vision, during production, we will assemble a crew of up to 10 teens from both groups, to be mentored in our "digital media school", that will be a part of the project from start to finish, teens learning skills of writing, production, and video editing.
Our project will also have a global component: we will solicit “double selfie” submissions from pairs of people around the world, “You and your Other” - in similar challenges to the ones in our story. The submissions with the most votes will be included in our movie.
Lastly: we are actively looking for corporate sponsorship in the areas of women’s fashion and sportswear. Both main female characters are stylish and hip - starting with their head coverings, and will be wearing cutting edge unique print fabrics as head coverings.
Written by Harvey Stein and Vered Post
Director: Harvey Stein
Producers: Gidi Avivi, Harvey Stein, Melissa Athens
CONTACT: Harvey Stein
email: [email protected]
www.jerusalemny.com/doubleselfie777
phone: 972-50-212-8132
skype: harveystein33
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Harvey Stein is an Israeli-American filmmaker from New York City, now living in Jerusalem, or as he sometimes calls it, “JerusaQuds.” His last feature documentary, “A Third Way - Settlers and Palestinians as Neighbors”, about Rabbi Menachem Froman (the notorious “settler rabbi for peace”), Ali Abu Awwad, and others, is now being shown extensively both in the United States and Western Europe. His previous screenplays have won two awards, and he is looking forward to returning to the world of fictional stories.
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Vered Post is an Israeli writer and performer. She was a co-writer for the original Israeli/Palestinian Sesame Street. She co-wrote several produced Israeli screenplays, and wrote the hit play "MacBroth", a takeoff on Macbeth, that had a 4-week run at NYC's La Mama. She also performed for many years in the Train Theater. She also teaches empowerment workshops for women on how to make short videos to help their business or career.
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Gidi Avivi (producer) is an Israeli film producer, the founder of Vice Versa Films. For more than 20 years, Avivi has produced successful Israeli documentary and fiction films, and TV series, many of which have been co-productions with other countries. His last film was ”East Jerusalem, West Jerusalem”, which followed the making of Israeli pop star and peace activist David Broza's hit CD of the same name.
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