Comments on: PROMINENT SOUTH AFRICAN FILMMAKER JAILED IN MIDDLE EAST http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/09/03/prominent-south-african-filmmaker-jailed-in-middle-east/ Thinking Ahead Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:46:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Esra'a (Bahrain) http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/09/03/prominent-south-african-filmmaker-jailed-in-middle-east/#comment-11104 Esra'a (Bahrain) Thu, 14 Aug 2008 06:41:52 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/09/03/prominent-south-african-filmmaker-jailed-in-middle-east/#comment-11104 <font color="red">For the record, any comment from now on having to do with this person and her colleagues will be deleted without question. I made it perfectly clear that we want nothing to do with this untrustworthy person, her abusive friends, and their supposed and personal "legal" threats (against a personal opinion on a personal website, via mere comments; how convincing.) She is weird, psychologically insane, incredibly suspicious, and rude, judging from my own communication and experience with her. If you continue to involve people who have nothing to do with this; you must be losers with no life, and failures with no real film career, which at this point has become quite obvious. I have reached a point where I almost pity her existence, for all the e-mails and comments we continue to receive even a year later, requesting the removal of this post, "or else." I will not cave in to any of your pathetic threats, the situation entirely is simply laughable. Stop spamming this site for your self-serving, racist, and utterly boring purposes. Stop e-mailing us. And once you do that, consider finding a real film school to attend, one with actual standards. Getting a life is also <strong>strongly</strong> encouraged. Good riddance!</font> For the record, any comment from now on having to do with this person and her colleagues will be deleted without question. I made it perfectly clear that we want nothing to do with this untrustworthy person, her abusive friends, and their supposed and personal “legal” threats (against a personal opinion on a personal website, via mere comments; how convincing.) She is weird, psychologically insane, incredibly suspicious, and rude, judging from my own communication and experience with her. If you continue to involve people who have nothing to do with this; you must be losers with no life, and failures with no real film career, which at this point has become quite obvious. I have reached a point where I almost pity her existence, for all the e-mails and comments we continue to receive even a year later, requesting the removal of this post, “or else.” I will not cave in to any of your pathetic threats, the situation entirely is simply laughable.

Stop spamming this site for your self-serving, racist, and utterly boring purposes. Stop e-mailing us. And once you do that, consider finding a real film school to attend, one with actual standards. Getting a life is also strongly encouraged.

Good riddance!

]]> By: Esra'a (Bahrain) http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/09/03/prominent-south-african-filmmaker-jailed-in-middle-east/#comment-11103 Esra'a (Bahrain) Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:57:20 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/09/03/prominent-south-african-filmmaker-jailed-in-middle-east/#comment-11103 Oh great, now she is basically going to send an army of her misguided students simply because we provided a PERSONAL opinion about a PERSONAL matter that she has to <strong>get over.</strong> The biggest mistake I ever did was consider helping this idiot of a person, Amour, or whatever she wants to call herself. If you remember, the first post written about her here was promotional. She abused this advantage and began spamming my personal e-mail address with ridiculous requests, including one having to do with money, and involving me in a legal battle that wasn't even successful. I posted this follow-up after I received legal information from both sides and formed my personal opinion concerning the matter. Suddenly, Amour's life is over, a year later and she is still demanding some kind of an apology, which she has never earned. If she was half as mature, experienced, and trained as she boasts to be, she would be old enough to solve HER OWN problems with the person solely responsible, instead of forcefully involving people half her age. <strong>Get a life, Daivd and Amour,</strong> what film school are you in if the only thing you are doing is listening to your teacher's request at fixing her stupid reputation, ON THE INTERNET of all places? Stay in South Africa if you don't want to be "sponsored" anywhere else at <strong>your own damned risk.</strong> <blockquote>I hope she sues the pants off you guys!</blockquote> I would sue her right back for her abusive personality, weird financial requests, and being generally annoying, and I'd sue you for spamming our site too! Because apparently you idiots are willing to sue anything in existence simply because of an opinion, so if any lawyer is retarded enough to even consider your case, I'm sure they would be retarded enough to consider mine. Any good lawyer, however, would shrug your case off as an embarrasment. Stop writing here if you hate the Middle East so much. And for once, study some FILM in your sorry excuse for a course. Whining incessantly on the internet will not boost your film career, nor will your aliases (Amour! What the hell is your name anyways? Get out of our lives already.) Oh great, now she is basically going to send an army of her misguided students simply because we provided a PERSONAL opinion about a PERSONAL matter that she has to get over.

The biggest mistake I ever did was consider helping this idiot of a person, Amour, or whatever she wants to call herself. If you remember, the first post written about her here was promotional. She abused this advantage and began spamming my personal e-mail address with ridiculous requests, including one having to do with money, and involving me in a legal battle that wasn’t even successful. I posted this follow-up after I received legal information from both sides and formed my personal opinion concerning the matter. Suddenly, Amour’s life is over, a year later and she is still demanding some kind of an apology, which she has never earned.

If she was half as mature, experienced, and trained as she boasts to be, she would be old enough to solve HER OWN problems with the person solely responsible, instead of forcefully involving people half her age.

Get a life, Daivd and Amour, what film school are you in if the only thing you are doing is listening to your teacher’s request at fixing her stupid reputation, ON THE INTERNET of all places? Stay in South Africa if you don’t want to be “sponsored” anywhere else at your own damned risk.

I hope she sues the pants off you guys!

I would sue her right back for her abusive personality, weird financial requests, and being generally annoying, and I’d sue you for spamming our site too! Because apparently you idiots are willing to sue anything in existence simply because of an opinion, so if any lawyer is retarded enough to even consider your case, I’m sure they would be retarded enough to consider mine. Any good lawyer, however, would shrug your case off as an embarrasment.

Stop writing here if you hate the Middle East so much. And for once, study some FILM in your sorry excuse for a course. Whining incessantly on the internet will not boost your film career, nor will your aliases (Amour! What the hell is your name anyways? Get out of our lives already.)

]]> By: Omid T (Iran/USA) http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/09/03/prominent-south-african-filmmaker-jailed-in-middle-east/#comment-11102 Omid T (Iran/USA) Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:06:17 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/09/03/prominent-south-african-filmmaker-jailed-in-middle-east/#comment-11102 Thank you David for your comment and we appreciate diverse opinions and commend your curiosity that led you to make a sound judgment. Thank you David for your comment and we appreciate diverse opinions and commend your curiosity that led you to make a sound judgment.

]]> By: David Karl http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/09/03/prominent-south-african-filmmaker-jailed-in-middle-east/#comment-11101 David Karl Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:52:05 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/09/03/prominent-south-african-filmmaker-jailed-in-middle-east/#comment-11101 I really felt compelled to add my comments to this site. Firstly, I met Amour almost a year ago when she returned to SA. At the time I didn't really know all the facts except that she had a bad experience in the Middle East and that she had been jailed. I didn't push for more info as I didn't really know her personally. I signed up to her film school as a student. I did not really know what to expect but went to her classes with an open mind. Her course was fantastic. I learned more in the 6 weeks that I attended her part-time course than I did in a full year studying film at a university here in SA. She gave of her time so unselfishly and helped me complete my script, even long after the course was finished. She often lets us know of industry jobs going and she has even personally arranged a few job interviews for me. My personal experience of her over the last year is that she is truly a remarkable lady with a deep passion for the craft of filmmaking. And very knowledgable at that. I came to know of these sites after a student was informed by someone to check out this and Mahmood's Den, who then let everyone else know about it. Knowing Amour as I do and having only experienced her in the most professional way, I contacted her and asked her about these sites. She gave me the links and encouraged me to visit them and form my own opinions. I consider myself to be an intelligent guy and from what I can see for myself, this is definitely a case of a bunch of vindictive people ganging up against someone (in this case, Amour). While she might have been naive and not got a contract signed with this guy she was meant to go into business with, I don't think it would actually have made any difference. This is not the first story like this I have heard about happening in the Middle East, that's for sure! It is very easy for people to go onto a site like this (and Mahmood's site) and bad mouth someone without actually identifying themselves. (Perhaps if they had put their full names and contact numbers their stories might have been believeable; the only one that put their contact details was Amour!) What saddens me is how readily people actually believe the garbage they read these days. I know for a fact that Amour is trying to put this behind her and get on with her life. When I spoke with her about this I did not pick up any bitterness in her. She is open and pragmatic about it, but she is focusing on her future and for that I have great admiration for her. She is still involved in producing short films that bring awareness to social issues in society and I have had the good fortune of seeing one of her scripts she has worked on for Human Trafficking. I also saw a short film she produced on Human Trafficking at the beginning of 2007 and it is a great piece of work. As I understand it she financed the production herself and its been viewed all around the world via myspace and youtube. Plus Skynews I think. There were 3 students in my group that couldn't afford to pay the fees for the course and Amour sponsored them as she believed they had talent. Does that sound like an evil con-artist who just wants to screw everyone over? Anyway my point is that you stipulate ABSOLUTELY NO HATE SPEECH OR DEFAMATION WILL BE TOLERATED yet you thought nothing to rip this woman to pieces on your site! A total contradiction of your terms and conditions. Did you think further into the future when you ripped her to pieces? Did you think that this site of yours would always be there for people to read? Even though these are just people's opinions, they are none the less very defamatory and I'm sorry to say: Hate Speech! I definitely think Amour should sue your organisation for defamation and printing hate speech about her on your public site. I know I would! I am disgusted by what I have read here. She has kept her chin up and she is doing a superb job. I value her support and contributions to my future film career and I find her to be a caring, sincere and warm person. I also totally believe her story about what she went through in jail. I hope she sues the pants off you guys! David Karl Cape Town, South Africa I really felt compelled to add my comments to this site. Firstly, I met Amour almost a year ago when she returned to SA. At the time I didn’t really know all the facts except that she had a bad experience in the Middle East and that she had been jailed. I didn’t push for more info as I didn’t really know her personally. I signed up to her film school as a student. I did not really know what to expect but went to her classes with an open mind. Her course was fantastic. I learned more in the 6 weeks that I attended her part-time course than I did in a full year studying film at a university here in SA. She gave of her time so unselfishly and helped me complete my script, even long after the course was finished. She often lets us know of industry jobs going and she has even personally arranged a few job interviews for me. My personal experience of her over the last year is that she is truly a remarkable lady with a deep passion for the craft of filmmaking. And very knowledgable at that. I came to know of these sites after a student was informed by someone to check out this and Mahmood’s Den, who then let everyone else know about it. Knowing Amour as I do and having only experienced her in the most professional way, I contacted her and asked her about these sites. She gave me the links and encouraged me to visit them and form my own opinions. I consider myself to be an intelligent guy and from what I can see for myself, this is definitely a case of a bunch of vindictive people ganging up against someone (in this case, Amour). While she might have been naive and not got a contract signed with this guy she was meant to go into business with, I don’t think it would actually have made any difference. This is not the first story like this I have heard about happening in the Middle East, that’s for sure! It is very easy for people to go onto a site like this (and Mahmood’s site) and bad mouth someone without actually identifying themselves. (Perhaps if they had put their full names and contact numbers their stories might have been believeable; the only one that put their contact details was Amour!) What saddens me is how readily people actually believe the garbage they read these days. I know for a fact that Amour is trying to put this behind her and get on with her life. When I spoke with her about this I did not pick up any bitterness in her. She is open and pragmatic about it, but she is focusing on her future and for that I have great admiration for her. She is still involved in producing short films that bring awareness to social issues in society and I have had the good fortune of seeing one of her scripts she has worked on for Human Trafficking. I also saw a short film she produced on Human Trafficking at the beginning of 2007 and it is a great piece of work. As I understand it she financed the production herself and its been viewed all around the world via myspace and youtube. Plus Skynews I think. There were 3 students in my group that couldn’t afford to pay the fees for the course and Amour sponsored them as she believed they had talent. Does that sound like an evil con-artist who just wants to screw everyone over? Anyway my point is that you stipulate ABSOLUTELY NO HATE SPEECH OR DEFAMATION WILL BE TOLERATED yet you thought nothing to rip this woman to pieces on your site! A total contradiction of your terms and conditions. Did you think further into the future when you ripped her to pieces? Did you think that this site of yours would always be there for people to read? Even though these are just people’s opinions, they are none the less very defamatory and I’m sorry to say: Hate Speech!
I definitely think Amour should sue your organisation for defamation and printing hate speech about her on your public site. I know I would!
I am disgusted by what I have read here. She has kept her chin up and she is doing a superb job. I value her support and contributions to my future film career and I find her to be a caring, sincere and warm person. I also totally believe her story about what she went through in jail.
I hope she sues the pants off you guys!
David Karl
Cape Town, South Africa

]]> By: Franz http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/09/03/prominent-south-african-filmmaker-jailed-in-middle-east/#comment-11100 Franz Sat, 13 Oct 2007 09:32:38 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/09/03/prominent-south-african-filmmaker-jailed-in-middle-east/#comment-11100 Hello Gaby, as we all know there are always two sides of the coin. Also you are right- no one knows it better than you because you were involved directly. However, after reading through some of the postings also on other websites and lacking of being able to say what is true or not I think your mom made some fundamental mistake: In the ME countries, we are only guests and there are not yet very democratic structures established here. So if you are here on someones work visa, you don't want to mess up with this person at all. Rather do the job you are required to do and after you have your proper visa, earned your benefits, gained a good business reputation you go or continue or reorientate. Also, it must be always assured that when you are in these countries, you are financially independent, otherwise you are anyway without chances when you get in trouble here. I am feeling generally sorry that this JV did not worked out because making films brings young people to think open minded and independently and that is what probably is what both parties wanted/ should have aimed at and what is an enrichment of any society on this planet. Hello Gaby,
as we all know there are always two sides of the coin. Also you are right- no one knows it better than you because you were involved directly.
However, after reading through some of the postings also on other websites and lacking of being able to say what is true or not I think your mom made some fundamental mistake:

In the ME countries, we are only guests and there are not yet
very democratic structures established here. So if you are here on someones work visa, you don’t want to mess up with this person at all. Rather do the job you are required to do and after you have your proper visa, earned your benefits, gained a good business reputation you go or continue or reorientate.

Also, it must be always assured that when you are in these countries, you are financially independent, otherwise you are anyway without chances when you get in trouble here.

I am feeling generally sorry that this JV did not worked out because making films brings young people to think open minded and independently and that is what probably is what both parties wanted/ should have aimed at and what is an enrichment of any society on this planet.

]]> By: Rhu http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/09/03/prominent-south-african-filmmaker-jailed-in-middle-east/#comment-11099 Rhu Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:20:12 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/09/03/prominent-south-african-filmmaker-jailed-in-middle-east/#comment-11099 Hahahahhah You got whats coming to you, u have walked all over people for a long time and now you got what you deserve. Hahahahhah You got whats coming to you, u have walked all over people for a long time and now you got what you deserve.

]]> By: Bahrain » Blog Archives » Consultants - Tata Consultancy Services Helps Bahrain Government ... http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/09/03/prominent-south-african-filmmaker-jailed-in-middle-east/#comment-11098 Bahrain » Blog Archives » Consultants - Tata Consultancy Services Helps Bahrain Government ... Sun, 23 Sep 2007 18:48:50 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/09/03/prominent-south-african-filmmaker-jailed-in-middle-east/#comment-11098 [...] PROMINENT SOUTH AFRICAN FILMMAKER JAILED IN MIDDLE EASTShe is a major South African film-maker who came to Bahrain to open a much needed film academy, only to find that things took a wrong turn and ended up in jail for absolutely nothing she has done. Please repost this anywhere you can … [...] [...] PROMINENT SOUTH AFRICAN FILMMAKER JAILED IN MIDDLE EASTShe is a major South African film-maker who came to Bahrain to open a much needed film academy, only to find that things took a wrong turn and ended up in jail for absolutely nothing she has done. Please repost this anywhere you can … [...]

]]> By: gaby http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/09/03/prominent-south-african-filmmaker-jailed-in-middle-east/#comment-11097 gaby Fri, 21 Sep 2007 08:49:51 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/09/03/prominent-south-african-filmmaker-jailed-in-middle-east/#comment-11097 thanks for all the feed back. not all of it accurate or good, but anyway. i am amors daughter gaby. i have alredy repied on mamoods den and this is my finaly say. it is not all as it seems. I was there with my mom so I know better than anyone what went down. she was completely honest in her article. she was telling her experience to the world so that no one else would have to go through what we have just been through. I heard those other girls stories too and it sickened me what was going on. that is the real point here- NOT a personal attack!she is not a con artist and she is most definately an international filmmaker. If any of you have even seen her CV the proof is all there. we also have all the documents and witnesses needed to back our story up. Yes amor has made her fair share of human mistakes in her life,but so have all of us. she is not as you put her out to be. my mother is loyal, kind and caring. all her decisions have been based on what she thought was best for her family. we all have our skeletons hiding in our closets...but to go and dig up even more and paste it publicly is disgusting. I am also sadened by the lies told about me by hejris. he never agreed to give me 50 percent of the modeling agencies profit. I infact did not work for him and told him so before we left for bahrain. not many of you(if any) know me or my family so you have no right to say the awful things that you have. If anyone want to call and know the truth- 083 940 3405. you can also email me : gaby_elliott@hotmail.com i look forward to hear what you have to say and i would like to take the opportunity to set the record straight. ciao thanks for all the feed back. not all of it accurate or good, but anyway.
i am amors daughter gaby. i have alredy repied on mamoods den and this is my finaly say.
it is not all as it seems. I was there with my mom so I know better than anyone what went down.
she was completely honest in her article. she was telling her experience to the world so that no one else would have to go through what we have just been through. I heard those other girls stories too and it sickened me what was going on. that is the real point here- NOT a personal attack!she is not a con artist and she is most definately an international filmmaker. If any of you have even seen her CV the proof is all there. we also have all the documents and witnesses needed to back our story up. Yes amor has made her fair share of human mistakes in her life,but so have all of us.
she is not as you put her out to be. my mother is loyal, kind and caring. all her decisions have been based on what she thought was best for her family.
we all have our skeletons hiding in our closets…but to go and dig up even more and paste it publicly is disgusting. I am also sadened by the lies told about me by hejris. he never agreed to give me 50 percent of the modeling agencies profit. I infact did not work for him and told him so before we left for bahrain.
not many of you(if any) know me or my family so you have no right to say the awful things that you have.
If anyone want to call and know the truth- 083 940 3405.
you can also email me : gaby_elliott@hotmail.com
i look forward to hear what you have to say and i would like to take the opportunity to set the record straight.
ciao

]]> By: Mahmood Al-Yousif http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/09/03/prominent-south-african-filmmaker-jailed-in-middle-east/#comment-11096 Mahmood Al-Yousif Thu, 13 Sep 2007 11:21:47 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/09/03/prominent-south-african-filmmaker-jailed-in-middle-east/#comment-11096 Fair enough. Now print a clear apology to Hijris. Fair enough. Now print a clear apology to Hijris.

]]> By: Busac http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/09/03/prominent-south-african-filmmaker-jailed-in-middle-east/#comment-11095 Busac Thu, 13 Sep 2007 07:56:38 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/09/03/prominent-south-african-filmmaker-jailed-in-middle-east/#comment-11095 This was never about "honour", all I'm doing is telling you the reason I posted this. My position has changed since I read the follow-up and I do owe Mr Hijris an apology for not thoroughly checking with him first. The reason I seemed to be over-defensive is that a small accustation like <blockquote> the issue was highlighted on this site is simply due to the personal relationship between the two persons rather than for the good of the tenets of the site.</blockquote> can really blow things out of proportion. I did not write it here only because I know her. I felt it was right to do so at the time which was an error in my judgement. That is all I am trying to say. This was never about “honour”, all I’m doing is telling you the reason I posted this. My position has changed since I read the follow-up and I do owe Mr Hijris an apology for not thoroughly checking with him first. The reason I seemed to be over-defensive is that a small accustation like

the issue was highlighted on this site is simply due to the personal relationship between the two persons rather than for the good of the tenets of the site.

can really blow things out of proportion. I did not write it here only because I know her. I felt it was right to do so at the time which was an error in my judgement. That is all I am trying to say.

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