I have actually been very fortunate to be able to make films on my own credit card without having huge funders behind me dictating how the story should be told.

I'm interested in characters that are complex people.

Al Jazeera is one entity that everyone across the Arab world watches. Arabs are proud of that.

It's important in any project to remain focused.

I have actually been very fortunate to be able to make films on my own credit card without having huge funders behind me dictating how the story should be told.

As the world is getting smaller, it becomes more and more important that we learn each other's dance moves, that we meet each other, we get to know each other, we are able to figure out a way to cross borders, to understand each other, to understand people's hopes and dreams, what makes them laugh and cry.

You know, Arabs are critical of United States foreign policy, but they also associate the U.S. with democratic principles and opportunity.