This talk is about righting writing wrongs. No, the sound's not faulty -- righting writing wrongs. The Middle East is huge, and with all our problems, one thing's for sure: we love to laugh. I think humor is a great way to celebrate our differences. We need to take our responsibilities seriously, but not ourselves. Don't get me wrong: it's not like we don't have comedy in the Middle East. I grew up at a time when iconic actors from Kuwait, Syria, Egypt used laughter to unite the region, just as football can. (Laughter) Now is the time for us to laugh at ourselves, before others can laugh with us. This is the story of the rise and rise of stand-up comedy in the Middle East -- a stand-up uprising, if you will.
Aceasta prezentare este despre indreptarea scrierilor gresite. Nu, sunetul este bun -- indreptarea scrierilor gresite. Orientul Mijlociu este urias, si in ciuda tuturor problemelor noastre, un lucru este sigur: ne place sa radem. Cred ca umorul e un mod minunat sa ne sarbatorim diferentele. Trebuie sa ne luam responsabilitatile in serios, dar nu si pe noi insine. Sa nu ma intelegeti gresit: nu e ca si cand nu am avea comedie in Orientul Mijlociu. Am crescut in timpul cand actori celebri din Kuweit, Siria, Egipt, foloseau rasul pentru a uni regiunea, la fel cum si fotbalul poate uni. (Rasete) Acum este timpul sa radem de noi insine, inainte ca altii sa poata rade cu noi. Aceasta este povestea cresterii si cresterii comediei standup in Orientul Mijlociu -- o revolta standup, daca doriti.
Working in London as TV maker and writer, I quickly realized that comedy connects audiences. Now, the best breeding ground for good comic writing is the stand-up comedy circuit, where they just happen to say that you kill when you do well and you bomb when you do badly. An unfortunate connection for us maybe, but it reminds me that we'd like to thank one man for, over the past decade, working tirelessly to support comedians all around the world, specifically comedians with a Middle Eastern background. (Applause) Like my good friends, Dean and Maysoon, at the bottom of the screen, who, two years after 9/11, started a festival to change the way Middle Easterners are perceived in the world. It's still going strong, with positive press to die for. Also, three guys working for years in Los Angeles, an Iranian, a Palestinian and an Egyptian, created the aptly named Axis of Evil comedy act. And wherever they went, they killed.
Lucrand in Londra ca realizator TV si scriitor, mi-am dat repede seama: comedia uneste audientele. Acum, cel mai bun teren de crestere a unui bun scris comic este circuitul comediei standup, acolo unde oamenii spun ca omori atunci cand o faci bine si ca pui bombe atunci cand o faci prost. O relatie nefericita pentru noi, dar imi aminteste ca ar trebui sa ii multumim unui om, care, de-a lungul deceniului trecut, a muncit neobosit pentru a sustine comicii din intreaga lume, si in mod special comicii originari din Orientul Mijlociu. (Aplauze) Ca si bunii mei prieteni, Dean si Maysoon, aici in subsolul ecranului, care, doi ani dupa 9/11, au pornit un festival menit sa schimbe modul in care cei din Orientul Mijlociu sunt vazuti in lume. Inca merge foarte bine. Cu articole pozitive in presa, pentru care ai muri. De asemenea, trei tipi care lucreaza de ani buni in Los Angeles, un iranian, un palestinian si un egiptean, au creat programul comic, numit in mod potrivit Axa Raului. Si oriunde au mers au omorat.
Now, I didn't start this fire, but I did pour petrol on it. I moved to Dubai as the head of original content for a Western TV network. My job was to connect the brand with a Middle Eastern audience. Now, the American head of programming wanted new local Arabic comedy. In a thick Arabic accent, my brain went, "Berfect." (Laughter) Now, I had friends in the U.S. who had started a successful new tribe. And I had every intention of taking this tribe from being outliers in the Middle East and pushing them over the tipping point towards success. Now, as with any new idea, it wasn't easy. I had four phases to this plan. First, we'd need to buy content from the West and air it. Then I'd bring my friends, and we'd show local amateurs how it's done. We would film that and air it, and then I could work with the local amateurs and write new comedy.
N-am pus eu focul asta, dar am turnat gaz peste el. M-am mutat in Dubai ca sef al unui program cu continut original pentru o retea TV din vestul Europei. Treaba mea a fost sa conectez marca TV cu audienta din Orientul Mijlociu. Seful american al programelor a dorit o noua comedie arabica [cu un accent puternic american]. Cu puternic accent arabic, creierul meu a vorbit, "Berfect." (Rasete) Acum, aveam prieteni in Statele Unite care pornisera un grup de succes. Si aveam intentia sa ii transform din exceptii in Orientul Mijlociu si sa ii imping peste punctul critic, catre succes. Ca si cu orice alta idee noua, nu a fost usor. Am avut patru faze ale acestui plan. In primul rand, trebuia sa cumparam emisiuni din Vest si sa le transmitem. Apoi ii aducem pe prietenii mei, si sa aratam amatorilor locali cum se face. Am filma procesul si l-am transmite, si apoi as putea lucra cu amatorii locali si scrie noi texte comice.
I excitedly presented this to the big boss, and his reaction was, "Um, I don't get it." So I retreated back to my cave and continued to support and produce comedy and let my friends use my couch as a regional operations hub. Now, fast forward two years, to early 2007. The earth rotated, as did our management, (Laughter) and as if by divine intervention, things came together to help this revolution take shape. Here's how the dots connected. First, the Axis guys recorded a Comedy Central special that aired in the States, and it was getting great hits on YouTube. Our new French CEO believed in the power of positive PR ... (Laughter) and ideas du bon marche. Let's just say "value for money." I produced in Dubai a show for Ahmed Ahmed to showcase his new Axis special to a packed room. I invited our new CEO, and as soon as he realized we had a room packed full of laughing infidels, his reaction was very simple: "Let's make this happen. And one more thing: No, don't F it up." So I quickly went to work with a great team around me. I happened to find a funny guy to present it in Arabic, who is originally Korean, a perfect fit for the Axis of Evil. This is all true.
I-am prezentat entuziast ideea sefului cel mare, si reactia lui a fost, "Mmm, nu inteleg." Asa ca m-am retras in pestera mea si am continuat sa sustin si sa produc comedie lasandu-i pe prietenii mei sa imi foloseasca canapeaua ca pe un pivot operational. Acum, doi ani mai tarziu, pe la inceputul anului 2007. Pamantul s-a invartit, ca si conducerea noastra. (Rasete) Ca prin interventie divina, lucrurile s-au combinat pentru a ajuta aceasta revolutie sa ia forma. Iata cum s-au legat lucrurile. In primul rand, tipii de la Axa au inregistrat un spectacol special pentru Comedy Central care a fost transmis in Statele Unite, si a devenit celebru pe YouTube. Directorul nostru francez a crezut in puterea PR-ului pozitiv... [cu accent puternic francez] (Rasete) si in ideea unei marci bune. [cu accent puternic francez] Sa-i spunem "valoare pentru bani". Am produs in Dubai o emisiune pentru Ahmed Ahmed pentru a demonstra noul sau episod special al Axei in fata unei camere arhipline. L-am invitat pe directorul nostru, si cand si-a dat seama ca aveam o camera arhiplina cu necredinciosi care radeau, reactia lui a fost foarte simpla: "Sa-i dam drumul. Si inca ceva: Sa nu F emisiunea." [cu un puternic accent francez] Deci m-am pus pe lucru inconjurat de o echipa foarte buna. S-a intamplat sa gasesc un tip comic sa prezinte emisiunea in araba, tip care e de origine korean, o potrivire perfecta pentru Axa Raului. Totul e adevarat.
Now, while preparing for the tour, I had to remind the guys to be culturally sensitive. I used the three Bs of stand-up don'ts as I call them in the Middle East: blue content, keep it clean; beliefs, not religion; and the third B, bolitics. Stay away from bolitics in the Middle East. Oh course, you might think, what's left without bolitics, sex and religion, how can you make people laugh? I'd say, watch any successful well-written, family-friendly sitcom in the West for your answers.
In timp ce pregateam turneul, a trebuit sa le reamintesc acestor tipi sa fie sensibili la diferentele culturale. Am folosit cei "3" din lista de glume care nu trebuie facute asa cum le numesc in Orientul Mijlociu -- Fara glume obscene, credinta: fara glume despre religie, si al treilea: bolitica. Nu faceti glume bolitice in Orientul MIjlociu. Sigur ca va puteti gandi, si atunci ce mai ramane fara bolitica, sex si religie, cum mai poti face oamenii sa rada? Eu zic sa va uitati la orice comedie de succes bine scrisa si potrivita pentru toata familia, din Vest si aveti raspunsurile.
Now, were the Axis successful? In five countries, in just under a month, we had thousands of fanatical fans come and see them live. We had millions see them on TV and on TV news. In Jordan, we had His Majesty the King come and see them. In fact, they were so successful that you could buy a pirated copy of their DVD, even before it was released in the Middle East. Anywhere you go. So everywhere we went, we auditioned amateurs. We filmed that process and aired a documentary. I called it "Three Guys and Wonho." It really is his name. And all this TV and Internet exposure has led to a great many recruits to our cause. In Dubai this year, we've just had the first all-women's, homegrown stand-up show. And notice two of them are wearing headscarves, and yes, even they can laugh.
Si, a avut succes Axa? In cinci tari, in mai putin de o luna, am avut mii de spectatori fanatici care au venit sa ii vada in direct. Am avut milioane care i-au vazut la TV si la stirile TV. In Iordania, Majestatea Sa Regele a venit sa ii vada. De fapt, au avut atat succes, incat puteai sa cumperi o copie pirat a DVD-ului, inca inainte de a fi lansat in Orientul Mijlociu. Oriunde ai fi mers. Si orinde am mers, am avut auditii pentru amatori. Am filmat tot procesul si am transmis un documentar. L-am numit "Trei tipi si Wonho" Asta e numele lui. Si toata aceasta expunere de la TV si pe internet a dus la o multime de recruti foarte buni pentru cauza noastra. In Dubai anul acesta, am avut primul spectacol standup numai cu femei. Si remarcati ca doua dintre ele porta batice, si chiar si ele pot sa rada.
Dubai, to me, is like a hand that supports anyone who wants to make things happen. 20 years ago, no one had heard of it. Look at it now. With an inspirational leader, I think this year, the opening of the tallest tower in the world is like adding a finger to that hand, that points at all those who spread fallacious stories about us.
Pentru mine, Dubai este ca o mana care sustine pe oricine vrea sa realizeze ceva. Acum 20 de ani, nimieni nu auzise de Dubai. Priviti-l acum. Cu un conducator inspirat, cred ca anul acesta, deschiderea celei mai inalte cladiri din lume este ca si cand ar adauga un deget la aceasta mana, sa arate spre toti cei care imprastie povesti rautacioase despre noi.
(Laughter)
(Rasete)
(Applause)
(Aplauze)
Now, in three short years, we've come a long way with stand-up comedy shows happening even in Saudi Arabia. These comics are now going to the New York festival. And the Lebanese, brilliant Lebanese, Nemr Abou Nassar, we featured in our first tour, has just been performing in L.A.'s legendary comedy clubs. So clearly, from the inside, we are doing our best to change our image, and it's exploding. (Laughter) So, as for the outsiders looking in, watch the CNN report on the second Amman Comedy Festival. The reporter did a great job, and I thank her, but somebody forgot to send the positive PR email to the person operating the automatic news ticker that appears at the bottom. For example, when Dean talks, the ticker says, "U.S.: Suspect gave 'actionable intel." Well, if you're used to listening to comedians, then I'm not surprised.
In acesti trei ani, am parcurs un drum lung cu spectacole de comedie standup chiar si in Arabia Saudita. Acesti comici vor merge la festivalul din New York. Si libanezul, acest libanez genial, Nemr Abou Nassar, care a luat parte la primul nostru turneu, are spectacole in cluburi legendare de comedie din Los Angeles. In mod clar, din interior, facem tot ce se poate sa ne schimbam imaginea, si lucrurile explodeaza. (Rasete) Cat despre cum ne privesc strainii, urmariti reportajul CNN despre a doua editie a Festivalului de Comedie Anman. Reporterita a facut o treaba buna, si ii multumesc pentru asta, dar cineva a uitat sa trimita emailul de PR pozitiv persoanei care controleaza sistemul de afisare a stirilor din josul ecranului. De exemplu, in timp ce Dean vorbeste, in josul ecranului apare, "SUA: Suspectul a furnizat informatii incriminatoare." Ei bine, daca esti obisnuit sa asculti comicii, atunci nu sunt surprins.
Sadly, this leads me to another three Bs that represents how the media in the West talks about us as bombers, billionaires and belly dancers. Enough. We're not all angry fanatics who want to kill the infidel. We have a positive story to tell and image to sell. In fact, one thing's for sure, in my experience, we love to laugh like hell.
In mod trist, asta ma duce la alti "3" care reprezinta modul in care media din Vest vorbeste despre noi: ca fiind teroristi cu bombe, miliardari si dansatori din buric. Destul. Nu suntem cu totii fanatici suparati care vor sa omoare necredinciosi. Avem o poveste pozitiva de spus si o imagine de vandut. De fapt, un lucru e sigur, dupa experinta mea ne place sa radem foarte mult.
(Laughter)
(Rasete)
Here are three questions that I like to use to test the truthiness of our representation in any media story. One: Is the Middle East being shown in a current time and correct context? (Laughter) Two: Do the Middle Eastern characters laugh or smile without showing the whites of their eyes? (Laughter) Three: Is the Middle Eastern character being played by one? Clearly, there are wrongs that need to be righted. We've started in our region. My challenge to the rest of the world is please, start using positive Middle Eastern images in your stories. For inspiration, go to one of our festivals, go online, drop us a line. Let's change the narrative together and let's start righting writing wrongs.
Iata trei intrebari pe care as dori sa le folosesc pentru a testa cat de adevarata e reprezentarea noastra in orice poveste din mass-media. Prima: Este Orientul Mijlociu portretizat actual si intr-un context corect? (Rasete) A doua: Personajele din Orientul Mijlociu rad sau zambesc fara a-si arata albul ochilor? (Rasete) A treia: Este un personaj din Orientul Mijlociu jucat de o persoana din Orientul Mijlociu? In mod clar, sunt lucruri gresite care trebuie indreptate. Am inceput in regiunea noastra. Provocarea mea catre restul lumii este sa folositi, va rog, imagini pozitive despre Orientul Mijlociu in povestile voastre. Pentru inspiratie, mergeti la unul dintre festivalurile noastre, intrati online, si scrieti-ne un rand. Haideti sa schimbam povestea impreuna si sa incepem sa indreptam greselile.
I'd like to end, before going back to the Middle East, with a quote from one of the greatest Sheikhs to put quill to parchment. As my father likes to call him, "Asheikh Azubare;" as my mother would say, "Shakespeare." (Laughter) "And now we go in content to liberty and not to banishment."
As dori sa inchei, inainte de a ma intoarce in Orientul Mijlociu, cu un citat din unul dintre cei mai mari Seici care au pus pana pe hartie. Dupa cum tatalui meu ii place sa il numeasca "Asheikh Azubare," si dupa cum mama mea ar spune "Shakespeare". (Rasete) "Si acum mergem multumiti catre libertate si nu catre exil".
Thank you.
Va multumesc.
(Applause)
(Aplauze)