Zaban

New York City, New York | Film Short

Drama, Family

Latif Hashim

1 Campaigns | New York, United States

Green Light

This campaign raised $5,405 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.

25 supporters | followers

Enter the amount you would like to pledge

$

Through the lens of a Pakistani mother, this story features Amma's reunion with her estranged son Ahmed as she struggles to use memories and technology to reach him. But as she strives to reconnect with him through means outside of language, she discovers what it means to communicate her love.

About The Project

  • The Story
  • Wishlist
  • Updates
  • The Team
  • Community

Mission Statement

Language is just one way to express a parent's love. Told by a Pakistani-American, the film hopes to capture the unique barriers and unexpected gifts that language can present between parents and their children in their journey to see each other for who they really are.

The Story


Inspired by the Ones I love.


What started out as a writing exercise two summers ago has since transformed into a story I deeply wish to share with the world. After studying Film & TV at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts for over three years, I have begun finding my voice as a filmmaker: telling grounded narratives that explore the meaning of family and love through a South Asian lens. With your help, I wish to bring this beautiful exploration of parental love, technology, miscommunication, and languages to life – not for myself, but for anyone who understands the power of unspoken love.



Following the journey of Amma, the story begins with her preparation for her son's arrival after years of separation due to immigration and financial issues. As Amma lived in Pakistan, her son grew up in the United States with his father. However, upon her son Ahmed's arrival, she realizes that any Pakistani identity he once had has been abandoned in favor of American culture and the English language.



In her desperate attempts to connect with Ahmed, using food and old drawings and VHS tapes, she sends her son into a visceral backlash, revealing his reasons to leave his culture behind and, in the process, leaves her alone once again.



In her final efforts to reconnect with her son, she discovers what it means to truly support her son and communicate her love.


Whether you're a child of immigrants, speak English as a second language, or simply express yourself to your family, this quiet rumination on the meaning of language and culture will resonate with anyone who will watch it.



Amma

As most strong-willed immigrant mothers tend to be, this Pakistani transplant keeps a broad collection of artifacts, memories, clothes, and what others might call "junk" in the same cramped apartment she cooks her meals, watches her TV dramas, and practices English on her phone.


Ahmed

After years growing up in the States, this first-generation immigrant has lost all connection with his South Asian heritage and language in favor of a hardened exterior focused on getting a job and moving out of his parents' dusty apartment.



memories

With Amma's boxes of old memories lying around the apartment, the film strives to explore how memories can define a relationship from entirely different perspectives as one tries to forget the past and the other desperately tries to hold onto it.


technology

As Ahmed uses his phone to translate his mother's words and Amma uses her phone to learn what the world around her says, the story features technology – in both its modern glory and obsolete age – as a way to communicate but also hinder true meaning.


language

Unable to converse with one another through the spoken word, the two characters highlight how the language of love, and everything lost in translation that comes with it, comes in many different verbal and silent forms.



Why film?

From the very moment the first scene was written down, 16mm had to be an essential part of the filmmaking process. In a story defined by its explorations of memories and technology, film acts as a tangible medium for depicting Amma's gravitation to the forgotten past as Ahmed tries to move on.


Much like the imperfections of Amma and Ahmed, 16mm film is not without its own imperfections. Grain and dust marks may be inevitable, but those kinds of imperfections are what give the medium its unmistakable character. With such thematic relevance to the story's characters and plot, it would quite simply be a mistake not to shoot on film.



With shoot dates planned for March 14-17, here is exactly what our campaign needs to bring the film to life:



Fundraising can be a long and arduous process. However, with the help of you or anyone else you may know, it can just be another step in the journey to assembling a beautifully crafted short film. If any part of the story, characters, or thematic explorations resonates with you, our production would be honored to accept anything you would be gracious enough to donate.


A look at how our $15K budget will be used:



After months of research into the production process, our lead producer Hanna Dzaferovic has assembled the appropriate numbers to make a Pakistani immigrant's apartment appear and feel authentic, a scene to look beautiful, and a crew to be well fed for their hard work.



Outside of monetary donations, the very best way to help is simply by sharing the link to this very campaign.


Reaching immigrants, mothers, children, and anyone else who might be interested in this story, we hope to share the film outside of our immediate circles. Through Whatsapp, social media, and word-of-mouth, this campaign can reach all those who hope to see it come to life as much as we do.



When my mother first came to America, she found herself culturally and emotionally isolated in one of the biggest cities in the world. While my father worked for most of the day, she found ways to express herself through art, caretaking, and exploration while everything she once called home remained in Pakistan. Now, as her son, and an aspiring filmmaker, I hope to encapsulate that sense of alienation with the world around us, all while exploring the trials and tribulations that face any parent-child relationship – especially a mother and son.


Thank you so much for reading this far. From both myself and the team that will make this film a reality, thank you for contribute to our campaign in any way possible. Whether it be donating a small amount or sharing our campaign in a Whatsapp group, this film can use every ounce of support it can earn. I'm incredibly lucky to get started on production, and I'm even more excited to one day present the final film to everyone who helped bring it to life.



If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to [email protected].


Wishlist

Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.

Food & Lodging

Costs $500

Fueling our cast and crew to help them be the best they can be.

Camera and G&E

Costs $1,500

Using top of the line equipment to bring this 16mm film project to life.

Transportation

Costs $500

How we bring our cast and crew together.

Production Design

Costs $1,000

Bringing realistic texture to the fabric of our story.

Location

Costs $2,000

The third character of our story.

Festival Distribution

Costs $500

Showing our final product to the world.

Cash Pledge

Costs $0

About This Team


HASHIM LATIF writer/director



Raised in San Antonio, Texas, Hashim is a filmmaker at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Having grown up in a Pakistani-American household, he wishes to tell intimate stories focused on non-white, underrepresented communities across the country. Working in a variety of different roles on film sets, he hopes to use his years of experience as a filmmaker and intern at THE OFFICE performing arts + film to bring this incredibly personal story to life.


HANNA DZAFEROVIC executive producer



Hanna Dzaferovic is a born and raised Queens filmmaker, currently finishing a BFA in Film and Television at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. She’s been a creative force behind many independent student projects serving as a lead producer. Those films have gone to be accepted into festivals such as Hollyshorts and Popcorn frights. Hanna hopes to use her love of storytelling to help other people’s vision come to life.


COLE FLETCHALL-SILVA cinematographer



Cole Fletchall-Silva is a cinematographer at NYU Tisch School of the Arts in his senior year. Born in the Bay Area and based in NYC, Cole has worked on numerous short films, music videos and commercials. He recently shot his first feature film and a music video featured on the Colbert show. Cole can’t wait to bring his experience and connection to Hashim’s intimate story to help tell “Zaban.”


COCO WU associate producer



Coco Wu is a Chinese-American filmmaker from Orange County, California studying Film and Television Production at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She is currently producing various NYU projects, and has recently directed the short film “IRIS”, which will soon enter its festival run. Coco looks forward to associate producing with the “Zaban” team!


OLIVIA MOSCHETTI assistant director



Olivia Moschetti is a senior at NYU Tisch studying Film and Television with a minor in English. She’s held integral roles on over 30 NYU Productions while interning for several Academy nominated Producers. She’s now working as an Assistant Director on several upcoming Thesis productions.


MONMAR MANCILLAS sound mixer



Monimar, a senior at NYU UGFTV with a passion for storytelling, is beyond excited to help bring this incredible story to life. As the sound mixer, she’s ready to make every moment sound as good as it looks. Don’t worry, she’ll figure out how to mixhopefully before the first take. 


EMILY ZHANG script supervisor



Emily Zhang is a Chinese-American filmmaker raised in St. Louis, Missouri. Currently a senior at New York University, her studies are supplemented by her time at Waseda University in Tokyo. Dedicated to telling empathetic stories, she is interested in exploring the complex intricacies of our relationships. She is excited to be a part of Hashim’s story—one that rings familiar to her own.


CASE AVRON editor




Raised in Los Angeles, New York-based filmmaker Case Avron is currently pursuing a double major in Film & TV at Tisch School of the Arts and History at New York University. With a variety of experience, Case has edited for major brands and organizations like Chanel, Dandy Warhols, and Kai Cenat. In addition to editing, he has also written and directed short films that have premiered at Hollyshorts and Brooklyn Horror Film Festival. Case is also an avid fan and, possibly scholar, of Paul Newman. 

Current Team

Supporters

Followers

Incentives