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Because Muslims have been underrepresented in popular films for decades, and many Muslim characters have been associated with violence, an advocacy group Pillars Fund collaborated with The Walt Disney Company to start an initiative to include more Muslims in the production process and to shift narratives.
Our Muslim community has quite a diverse range of experiences that are rarely reflected in the stories we see on television or in the media. Sourcing diverse talent is an important aspect of evolving the film business into a future that better reflects our current demographics and experiences, and The Pillars Fund has taken a significant step in that direction.
The project, The Pillars Muslim Artist Database strives to increase the number of Muslims involved in filmmaking. They include profiles for actors, directors, cinematographers, sound technicians, and other Muslim professionals working in the filmmaking industry in the United States, both below and above the line.
The Pillars Muslim Artist Database unites working professionals and budding creators in the United States who are looking for their next collaborators, supporting Muslim artists and assisting in the recruitment of additional Muslim creators into the filmmaking process. Pillars has also given out more than $6 million in grants to Muslim groups and leaders that work for social welfare. They give collectively to develop resources inside Muslim communities for social good, push back against damaging stereotypes, boost Muslim tales, and invest in community-focused initiatives.
