Tough Crowd

An MFA Directing 3 project, "Tough Crowd" is about Jihad, a young Muslim American college student who is following her dream of becoming a comedian, despite her family's lack of support. Can she win them over when she displays her talent at a multicultural fest?

Director

Iman K. Zawahry, MFA 2008

Iman Zawahry was born in Panama City, Florida in 1980. To get through the mundane and interesting societal norms of Panama City, Iman and her friends used movies and their young imaginations to pass the time. They created spoof productions of the Arsenio Hall show and 90210, complete with full commercial breaks in between.

In 1998, she moved to Gainesville, Florida to attend the University of Florida, where she received a BA in Religion and Near Eastern Languages and Cultures. Upon graduation Iman worked with Bridges TV, the first American Muslim Television network, as a freelance journalist. In 2006, Iman came to the Florida State University Film School and directed three short films. In 2008, she won a Princess Grace Award, which enabled her to make a short film about a Muslim American private eye as an independent study project.

Distinctions

Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
College Awards (Emmys), Third Place Comedy

NBC Comedy Short Cuts, Finalist

Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival, Award of Merit

Director's Comments

"Tough Crowd" was the third film I directed at Florida State and the idea was spurred by my personal experiences. I come from a family full of doctors, immediate and extended. I mean the doctor list just goes on. If you're not a doctor in the family you are a bit of a loser. Additionally, the films I tend to create are comedies. Combining my family background with my film background, we created a unique character named Jihad who is an American-Muslim stand-up comic, which is not something you see everyday. Making the film with my background in mind, I knew the audience would connect with Jihad's plight because every family has strong aspirations for their loved ones and, in turn, the loved ones are often forced to make the hard choice.

Crew and Cast