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Short Form Video:
Famed record producer and The Police manager Miles Copeland struggles to bring top musicians from the Middle East to the West in his eye-opening documentary, DISSONANCE & HARMONY: ARABIC MUSIC GOES WEST. Copeland's efforts to find musicians in Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Palestine — who are willing and able to travel to America — are at times both dramatic and comedic. His keen ear for musical talent helps him locate the artists, but problems erupt that threaten to cancel the entire project.
Once the Arab musicians arrive in Los Angeles and meet their western counterparts, Miles finds it is no easy feat to bridge the cultural divide. Who will stay and who will head home? Culture shock finally turns to collaboration as the musicians learn about each other's worlds, as well as their own.
U.S. musicians featured include:
RZA (Wu-Tang Clan)
Serge Tankian (System of a Down)
Charlotte Caffee (The Go-Go's)
Nile Rogers (Chic)
Gustavo Santoalla (Academy Award winning composer of the Brokeback Mountain score)
Arab musicians featured include:
Illham Al Medfy (Iraq)
Saad Al Soghrier (Egypt)
Rayes Beck (Lebanon)
Tania Salah (Lebanon)
Waroud (Palestine)
Tarek Al Nasser (Jordan)
Blend (Lebanon)
Produced and directed by Jonathan Brandeis. Production by Firstars, Inc.