Arabic Music and Dance Legendary Supper Club Documentary - Kickstarter Campaign To Complete Production Under Way
HOLLYWOOD, California- February 10, 2015
The Fez was the first Arabic Supperclub in Hollywood, which opened in 1959 on the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Vermont Avenue. It launched the careers of many of legends of Arabic music and Belly Dance, became the center of the Arab-American community and the bridge for the American society, which was beginning to open their eyes to the exotic Middle East.
A Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to complete this significant documentary is under way. The campaign runs until February 27, 2015 with a goal of $20,000.
The prolific dance filmmaker Cari Ann Shim Sham is tasked with the job of telling the story of The Fez, told by Roxxanne Shelaby, daughter of the founder Lou Shelaby. Mr. Shelaby was a Syrian-Lebanese immigrant who came to California in 1949 searching for the California dream. He opened The Fez to showcase his culture in the most positive light possible.
Mr. Shelaby did so by providing the highest quality Arabic food made by his mother, music and dance. As a result, The Fez became a legendary piece of Hollywood history, drawing celebrity clientele such as Jane Mansfield, Marlon Brando and many more.
Many of the musicians and Belly Dancers who have gone on to teach and inspire generations of dancers around the world were discovered by Lou Shelaby or honed their talents at The Fez. Dancers such as Antoinette Khoury Smit, Aisha Ali and Marta Shill Kouzouyan and musicians like Saadoun Al Bayati.
The Fez Documentary recreates this Arabian Nights Dream in America. Only by reaching our Kickstarter goal will this documentary be possible.
Links:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1505586063/the-fez-documentary
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGXIx77WtBU
www.facebook.com/pages/The-FEZ-documentary project/259555070765907?ref=hl
Roxxanne Shelaby, Producer
Thefezdoc@gmail.com
213-712-0917