Stories of Refuge
An American goes off the Syrian border; he finds a Palestinian separated from their Syrian spouse; and a story how to engage the Syrian Cold War develops.
Interview with Director/Producer Caleb Hobart
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
The Syrian Crisis will continue to devastate global stability. Innovation, small business, and story telling must engage the crisis to pivot away from the exhausted 'Western Narrative' of the media from Europe and the United States.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
No film I know of exists with a Palestinian female, white male and a Syrian as it relates to the migration crisis in the present age.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Human dynamics from different regions of the world meet in transnational Nation States. Hope dynamics are absent of an identified world religion. God dynamics by referencing it, but provide interpretation for individual expression. The film is tied to an unknown spiritual reality engaging the film.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
A complicated question. Inspiration came from knowledge, dreams, and spiritual senses tied to knowledge of self. Or existentially, more perception of historical humanism. The focus on the development was tied to grassroots, in person, dialogue with Syrians and other individuals who fled to Europe. I reflected, processed, and given the travel dynamics sought to tie it together in a story that could be processed given the complexity of the situation. The focus was how to bridge contemporary issues to a historical crisis which lead to the focus on the cycles of art across history.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Minimal and maximalist patriarchy.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
People are often drawn to the political dynamics, rather than the individuals featured in the film or what we seek to accomplish from a successful campaign following the film.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Dialogue around the cause to impact a historic crisis.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
All of the above. I am solo and a first time film maker.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Identify people who'd like to aid in the reunion of the family, mobilization of aid organizations looking to expand into unengaged Syrian populations in Lebanon, Sweden, or the United States, and partners to advance the work of tackling crisis situations through art and activism
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film
Should the US weaponize a rebel group in Syria or acknowledge the President (Bashar Al Assad), an alleged war criminal, and allow him to remain in power?
Who are the local refugee organizations in any given region providing transitional services to individuals applying for asylum?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Director/Producer: Caleb Hobart - Brazil documentary on the transformative developments of Brazilian education
Director of Photography/Editor: Nathan McBride - Commercial and lifestyle digital content.
Interview: September 2018
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
Stories of Refuge
An American goes off the Syrian border; he finds a Palestinian separated from their Syrian spouse; and a story how to engage the Syrian Cold War develops.
Length: 32:07
Director: Caleb P. Hobart
Producer: Caleb P. Hobart
Writer: Caleb P. Hobart
About the writer, director and producer:
CALEB P. HOBART is a global macro researcher-gone-creative. A man frustrated with the media coverage of the Syrian Crisis, even prior to 2016.
Key cast: Najwa Khalil (Refugee Wife), Eyas Adi (Syrian Interview #1), Elijah Waël (Syrian Interview #2), Ali Alhmeidy (Refugee Husband)
Looking for: Journalists, Distributors, Film Festival Directors
Facebook: storiesofrefuge
Twitter: @storiesofrefuge
Instagram: @storiesofrefuge
Funders: Friends and Family
Made in association with: Cause based 501c3 "Stories of Refuge" - www.storiesofrefuge.co
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Refugees Welcome in Berlin, Germany October 25th. Call Caleb at +1-512-777-1822 or e-mail hello@storiesofrefuge.co for a private screening.