D I A S P O R A

THE MOVEMENT OF BEAUTY

Introduction: A decade has passed since the Human Gallery an extraordinary vision, was born in Burnley Lancashire UK. We have witnessed and been stakeholders in the development of a world wide network of creative entrepreneurs coming together to co create to express and live through the present human conditions! Directors Intentions: It is our intention to translate in a documentary and meet those that touched and interacted in the gallery over the years. To explore, understand and document what took place in a social anthropological sense as well as showing the relationships that were created globally, how our co creation has affected each other creatively spiritually and materially, continuing the journey visiting the stakeholders in the present day! The documentary has taken inspiration and loosely based on the Epic piece of Sufi literature called the Conference of the Birds by Farid Ud-Din Attar written in the 12 century. Below is the hu gallery vision loosely based on the Attar story ! Once upon a time not so long ago! A little fledgling HU-bird, a creature almost invisible unless you are looking, embarked on a quest to find the truth. He made a living by busking wherever he went. He left his native England for the continent and onwards, making his way east. On his adventures he had many experiences which would change his outlook forever! He met many other birds from all over. They shared their stories and reasoned together in the pursuit of the truth realizing often that though from all over the world they sought the same thing: a way to serve. He journeyed far and wide searching, learning, and sharing with other like-minded creators and facilitators. In this way the HUbird acquired a taste for Art, Poetry, Music and Trade, and these became both his tools and his vehicle for expression as well a means to keep traveling.

HU-(Man) Gallery Productions 2012

He had many wonderful experiences, sometimes as a follower, sometimes as a guide but always as a willing traveler on his circumambulation of the globe. Eventually and inevitably he realized that the truth he searched for out there was actually within him the whole time! That day in Africa, as he stood on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and of his own knowledge and understanding, he reflected, He suddenly realized he was a Hu-Man and no longer a Hu-bird: he didnt need wings anymore since he had hands and feet and a heart. He decided to return to his beloved England and set-up a creative trading post for all fellow travelers. He called this the HU (Man) Gallery. We will like to illustrate in audiovisual terms the exquisite and the beauty of this piece. Asking during our journey and our encounters: WHAT DO YOU FIND BEAUTIFUL?

It is an exploration of the human condition in this particular historical period through the main form of expressions. We will like to shoot and record and document this piece of work in 7 different locations that recall the seven valleys that are narrated in the poem (The conference of the Birds) with a contemporary take as illustrated above! The seven different locations and valleys will also associate with the 7 episodes all in a very visually creative way,concentrating more on the visual experience of the broad spectrum of levity around the world! Each episode can be treated individually and will make the viewer think and wonder about the main theme and subject. Exploring locations, their inhabitants and habits leaving space to the viewer to breathe thru the cinematography and the sound.

HU-(Man) Gallery Productions 2012

The story narrates that the birds of the forest get together on a quest to find their king Simurgh, taking the Hopee bird as their guide. Passing trough the various valleys of: Talab (Yearning), Ishq (Love), Maarifat (Gnosis), Istighnah (Detachment), Tauheed (Unity), Hairat, Bewilderment and Fuqur and Fana (Selflessness and Oblivion).

They arrive at their destination to discover that Simurgh (which is translate as 30-birds in Farsi or persian) is actually they!!!!! Each episode (Valleys) will be lead by a narrator that can be an Artist who will take part in the production. Also each episode will be represented by an enigmatic character who will take the viewer on the journey of self discovery through sharing their experience in that context. We will explore in an audiovisual concept focusing on three main elements 1) Architecture 2) Poetry 3) Music

The intention is to give the viewer a multi sensorial experience enhancing the places and the performances and every person, we will encounter during our journey. We will be incorporating animation, creative and dynamic graphic design. In a style similar to the one below:

HU-(Man) Gallery Productions 2012

The sound will have a vital role during the production of the project and will enhance and complete the camera work. In Sufism sound has a great importance and the work that we will do in sound design will complete the beauty of this piece we will encounter some of the most prolific creative human beings. We will join and share in their very developed tastes, through music food and reasoning. The experience will leave the viewer in an ecstatic state. The documentary will show and illustrate the mind, body, spirit, and soul of Sufism through creativity and human interaction in the context of the 21st century!

HU Productions 2011

The locations: PUNJAB SIND NWFP Balochistan Sarhad Gujarat Kashmir The format:

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Adam Noah Moses David Abraham Abraham Mohammed

Pakistan Afghanistan Punjab Sind India Pakistan Pakistan

The format that we chosen Full HD The sound will be recorded and produced also in a digital domain. The times of the narration during the seven episodes they will follow the pace and the music and the beauty of the people and places that we will encounter during our journey. We will also experiment with other technology including an I phone to create new patterns and experimentation in visual terms.

The making of the documentary: We will follow our crew during this experience, simply utilizing an I phone we will pod cast on a regular basis the content and the people involved in the documentary addressing this production on a dedicated website. We strongly believe to build a relationship with our audience because this is what this project is about. So the audience can get intimate in a way with our crew and our experiences, and a feeling for how we arrived and completed the final production. The content on the website will be raw and with no cuts, and will be put to the audience to follow the making of, on a regular basis.

HU-(Man) Gallery Productions 2012

Our Team: Riccardo Martinelli: Camera and Director of Photography Mo Khan: Executive Producer / Logistic Simone Tripodi: Director and Sound Design Arieb Azhar: Location Manager, Anchor Man/Music Consultant

Some of the main Stakeholders and Contributors we will encounter: ISLAMABAD Location: Rawal Lake The Rock Musicarium about 10, 15 of us musicians in Islamabad have helped out in the project in some way or other. The Rock Musicarium and it includes an outdoor amphitheater, indoor caf restaurant, rehearsal hall, audio studio and a huge lovely garden. The formal opening will happen once the cafe is ready to be opened in a month or two, but the structure is up and we've started some activities already. This is the first time in Pakistan that someone has invested so much money in a purely music based venue, thats also run by musicians.

HU-(Man) Gallery Productions 2012

The People in Islamabad Zeejah Fazli - great guitarist and one of the partners of the Rock Zaman Hazir - underground 'guru' and driving force behind the Rock anda lot else that happens in town. Shani - Rasta guitar player who also plays with me and has just formed his own band - The Malang Party. Shehriar Mufti - guitarist and one of the brothers behind the project Bambu Sauce. Shehriar Mirza - song writer, musician. Alan Smith - one of the oldest drummers in the music scene - has played with everyone from Vital Signs, Janoon, to Arieb! Shane Brady - \ our Irish friend who is not a musician himself but his house (o Brady's bar!) often serves as a venue for a great jam session! Aafi and Bilal - two great kids from a classical music family(gharana) who are great musicians and sound producers. Ustad Raees Khan - great and versatile violinist. LAHORE The most happening venue to visit in Lahore is The Guitar School, Opened originally just to teach guitars, its now offering courses in drums, keyboards, vocals, flute, violin and song writing also. Though it is a small place, it become very respectable amongst musicians and there's always a good program on there. Hamza Jaffery - great guitar player/song writer, front-man of the bandCo-Ven, and founder of the Guitar School. Farhad Humayun - founder of fusion band Overload, and a renowned drummer and producer. Meesha Shafi - of Coke Studio fame Pappu Sain - legendary dhol player who still performs every Thursday night at one of the shrines. Goonga and Mitthu Sain - also now legendary dhol players. Akmal Qadri - one of the great flute players of this country who also plays Arieb Azhar. (through we will check out the Meerasi scene!)

HU-(Man) Gallery Productions 2012

Asad - Amazing experimental guitar player with a liberating approach to music. Haniya and Zeb - the two patthan girls of Coke Studio fame. Javaid Bashir - ex-vocalist of the Mekaal Hassan Band and now renowned soloist vocalist. Sher Miadad - legendary qawwaal. Mekaal Hassan - has one of the best studios in Lahore. Ali Azmat - pop/rock star Ali Noor and Ali Hamza - of the renownwd Noori band. Shezad Hamid - one of the oldest and most stubborn of the underground scene - guitarist/song writer. KARACHI Rohail Hayat - founder and producer of Coke Studio Asad Ahmad - one of the first 'rockers' of Pakistan, great guitar player and founder of band Caravan Gumby - legendary drummer with a terrible attitude! Shallum and Imu - of the pop band Fuzzon. Amir Zaki - practically an institution amongst modern musicians in Pakistan. Arguably the most talented guitarist around and the oldest. Mussadik Sanwal - Writer, poet, lyricist, editor of Dawn.com and a great guy surrounded by a lovely bunch of musicians. Ustad Nafees Khan - Great Sitar player and head of the music department of NAPA - national academy of performing arts. Farid Ayaz Razziuddin Qawwaal - my favorite Qawaal alive! Also a great sage to talk with. Zoe Viccaji - sings in musicals and has been trying to get her solo album done for quite some time - great vocalist Shahi Hassan - also one time member of the Vital Signs, now a great music producer. BHITSHAH Also Arieb favorite shrine in Pakistan of Shah Abdul Lateef Bhittai at Bhitshah - where there is live music 23 hours a day(with an hour of Dhamaal dance!). We will strongly play on our daily encounters with the locals telling in real time their stories improvising with the spontaneous live situations and material incorporating the best material into our planned format!!! Always endeavoring to project with spontaneity to demonstrate and illustrate The Movement of Beauty in Humanity through Creativity.

HU-(Man) Gallery Productions 2012