Running Time: 56 minutesCountry: USA
Director: Glenn Baker
In Attendance: Tissa Hami
Stand Up: Muslim American Comics Come of Age is the story of Ahmed Ahmed, Maysoon Zayid, Dean Obeidallah, Azhar Usman, and Iranian comic, Tissa Hami [photo]. Muslims - and Americans all, and how each is responding to 9/11 in a different way. These comics face challenges from both mainstream America and within the Muslim community. All are at critical points in their careers, each evolving differently as a comic. But they are all striving for one thing: to break through the typecasting and achieve mainstream comedy success. Because above all, STAND UP is an American story. Which means anything is fair game for a laugh.
Tissa HamiIranian Comic
Tissa Hami is one of the world's few female Muslim stand-up comics. Her unique act and fresh perspective on life as an Iranian-American woman leave audiences in shock and awe. From Islamic fundamentalists to white liberals to good old-fashioned racists, no one is safe from her sharp wit. Tissa hopes her comedy will help break down stereotypes about Muslim women and foster understanding between Iranians and Americans.
Tissa grew up in a traditional Iranian family in a predominantly white suburb of Boston. She holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in international affairs from Ivy League universities. Her parents are thrilled that she is using her expensive education to pursue a career in comedy.
Tissa grew up in a traditional Iranian family in a predominantly white suburb of Boston. She holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in international affairs from Ivy League universities. Her parents are thrilled that she is using her expensive education to pursue a career in comedy.
Glenn BakerProducer/Director
Glenn Baker is a writer-producer with more than 40 documentaries broadcast on PBS exploring global security issues. Most recently he was Senior Producer for Foreign Exchange with Fareed Zakaria, a weekly international affairs program on PBS co-produced by Azimuth Media and Oregon Public Broadcasting. He was Executive Producer for Azimuth Media for the FRONTLINE program "Missile Wars," and wrote and produced "Arming the Heavens," a documentary on the weaponization of space. His film "Our Strange Love Affair with the Bomb" explored the lighter side of nuclear weapons. His productions on the military and the media, arms marketing, Cuba, conflict prevention, and firearms violence have been recognized with more than a dozen national awards. Baker grew up in Asia and the Middle East in a foreign service family, and lived in Muslim cultures for seven years (Turkey, Pakistan, and Tunisia). He is the president of Potomac Media Works Inc.
