Make Your Contribution to the Arab Indianapolis Documentary for Public Television
Make a one-time donation
Make a monthly donation
Make a yearly donation
Choose an amount
Or enter a custom amount
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearlyThe Billing
Are Arabs really as foreign to Indianapolis as some think? Edward Curtis, an historian and descendant of the first generation of Arab immigrants, can’t believe what he discovers as he researches the unknown role of Arab-descended people in building this most American town. He invites other Arab Americans to take a journey with him to Indianapolis’ most iconic landmarks—Lucas Oil Stadium, Monument Circle, the Indiana War Memorials, the Indiana University School of Medicine, the Indiana Capitol. Together, they unearth a legacy that all Hoosiers must understand if we are to overcome the burdens of prejudice and discrimination.
The Characters
Contemporary Hoosiers such as Barbara Fisher, Diana Najjar, Shadia Jalal, Susie Baranyk, Andrea Watts, and Fady Qaddoura join presenter Edward Curtis to search for the people and the places at the heart of historic Arab Indianapolis. From the Syrian colony buried underneath Lucas Oil Stadium to the empty lot that once housed St. George Church, from the Indiana War Memorials to the Capitol, they unearth their shared heritage and reflect on the meaning of that history for the future of Indianapolis.
The Team
Becky Fisher, director and producer, has over twenty years of experience writing and producing films for national corporations, local small businesses, non-profits, and other production companies. She oversees projects from concept to editing and post-production coordination. Her credits include work for The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, The American Red Cross COVID-19 Vaccine Education campaign, and the Indiana Tree Project.
Vinnie Manganello, director of photography, is an Emmy and Telly award-winning producer, videographer, and editor of documentaries and other films. A trusted partner of WFYI-TV in Indianapolis, his credits include Eva: A-7063, Waves of Fortune: China’s Maritime Silk Road, When the World Answered: Florence, Women Artists, and the 1966 Flood and The Revolutionist: Eugene V. Debs.
Edward Curtis, writer and presenter, is the Arab American descendant of the Samaha and Hamaway families, who settled in the Midwest before World War I. The author or editor of more than a dozen books about Muslim, Arab, and Black history, he brings on-camera experience as a former college news anchor and an opera singer and actor.
The Intended Presenting Station
The Campaign
We have raised 31% of our $98,000 goal. Major donors include Edward Curtis, the William M. and Gail M. Plater Chair of the Liberal Arts at IUPUI, Indiana Humanities, the IUPUI Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Dr. Mohammad Al-Haddad and Hiba Alami.
The Budget
| FIELD PRODUCTION | ||
| Service | Rate | Cost |
| Director of photography and camera package | All: per day | $ 1,500.00 |
| 2nd camera package (gear only) | $ 500.00 | |
| 2nd camera operator | $ 800.00 | |
| Camera assist | $ 600.00 | |
| On-site producer/director | $ 750.00 | |
| Gaffer | $ 600.00 | |
| Sound tech w/gear | $ 800.00 | |
| Teleprompter | $ 600.00 | |
| Makeup | $ 600.00 | |
| Gear rentals (allow) | $ 500.00 | |
| Location fees | $ 500.00 | |
| Food, parking, misc expenses | $ 200.00 | |
| $ 7,950.00 | ||
| Primary production | 5 days @ $7950/day | $ 39,750.00 |
| Supplemental shoot (pick ups) | 2 days @ $3,500/day | $ 7,000.00 |
| Sub-total, field prodution | $ 46,750.00 | |
| POST PRODUCTION | ||
| Service | Rate | Cost |
| Editing | $600/day x 20 days (8 hrs @ $75/hr) | $ 12,000.00 |
| Music (library music, broadcast rights) | $150/drop | $ 1,500.00 |
| Custom animations (3rd party) | Allow | $ 3,000.00 |
| Narration recording in-studio (Edward) | Allow | $ 500.00 |
| Audio mix & sweetening | Allow | $ 1,000.00 |
| Interview transcription | Allow | $ 750.00 |
| Stock footage or image licensing | Allow | $ 5,000.00 |
| Sub-total, post prodution | $ 23,750.00 | |
| PRE-PRODUTION, PRODUCER SERVICES, SCRIPT SERVICES | ||
| Service | Rate | Cost |
| Pre-production planning | 100 hours @ $75/hour | $ 7,500.00 |
| Script editing & consultation | 20 hours @ $75/hour | $ 1,500.00 |
| Sub-total, pre-production | $ 9,000.00 | |
| SUPPLEMENTAL PRODUCTION SERVICES | ||
| Service | Rate | Cost |
| Drone | 2 days @ $600/day | $ 1,200.00 |
| PA | 4 days @ $600/day | $ 2,400.00 |
| Location scout/coordinator | 6 days @ $600/day | $ 3,600.00 |
| Additional grip/gaffer | 4 days @ $600/day | $ 2,400.00 |
| Sub-total, supplemental production services | $ 9,600.00 | |
| Project sub-total | $ 89,100.00 | |
| Contingency allowance (10%) | $ 8,910.00 | |
| PROJECT TOTAL | $ 98,010.00 |
