Me, The “Other” reveals the inner and outer lives of people living on the frontlines of prejudice by asking the questions we don’t discuss in classrooms, workplaces, and social places. From three colleges in one Michigan county come the narratives of twelve students whose lives are shaped by being the “other” and whose struggles and triumphs reveal the resilience of the human spirit. The students share their personal journeys through mental illness, suicidal thoughts, loss of a loved one, substance abuse, racism, Islamophobia, gender dysphoria, sexual orientation, socio-economic status differences, sexual assault, physical illness, religion and spirituality, immigration, DACA, and deportation.

In these stories about “otherness”, we find ourselves.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

Me, The “Other” is the centerpiece of a platform for creating conversations about what connects us and what keeps us apart. With this film, we set out to tell stories of a diverse cast of characters who are experiencing prejudice. While they are from various backgrounds, in that deep place inside, they are all essentially one… and we are one with them. My personal hope for this film is to expose that sacred place inside where beyond the clouded isms of race, religion, class, gender, age, sexual orientation, physical appearance — lies a place of light, warmth, hope, and pure love called the human soul.

Shidan Majidi, Director/Co-Producer

CAST

Photo credit: Brandie T. Ekpiken

Javier, Keiko, Kit, Sam, Taylor, Ted, Tommy, Veronica, AJ, Celia, Christina, Hussain

CREATIVE TEAM

Director/Co-Producer SHIDAN MAJIDI

Shidan Majidi has worked in the New York film and theater industries since 1991. As a volunteer at New York's 52nd Street Project, an after-school project focused on inner city youth telling their own stories through theater, his awareness of the need for storytelling as a powerful social tool became strikingly clear. The empowerment and confidence-building capacity of this program inspired him to create The One People Project - an award-winning, conflict resolution-based “Reality Theater Project.” The project, sponsored by New York City Mayor David Dinkins’ Stop the Violence Program, received critical praise and media attention. For over twenty years, Shidan has been working on Broadway on some of the world’s most beloved musicals: CATS, LES MISÉRABLES, MISS SAIGON, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, and the Academy Award-winning film of the musical LES MISÉRABLES starring Hugh Jackman. He was the Associate Director of the North American tour of MISS SAIGON. He made his producing debut on the musical YANK! that was nominated as best New Off-Broadway Musical by the Lucille Lortel, Outer Critics Circle, and Drama Desk Awards. In 2018, he created, co-produced and directed the documentary film ME, THE "OTHER" set in the Washtenaw County of Michigan chronicling the lives of twelve students from diverse backgrounds. In 2020, he co-produced and directed a music video featuring Broadway and American Idol stars to honor frontline healthcare workers in this age of Covid-19. He is the Founder and Managing Member of Sugar Cube Productions, LLC.

Co-Producer SHAHRZAD MAGHSOUDLOO MIRAFZALI

Cinematographer SLOAN INNS

Film Editor CHAD KREMER

Soundtrack Composer LEVI TAYLOR

Script Supervisor CATHERINE CHAPMAN

REVIEWS AND AWARDS

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Deeply moving, stories that touch the core of everyone who has ever felt different..." Fred Kester, Michigan State University

"People need to see this film all over the world." Constantina Baroutsi, University of Athens, Greece

“A very important movie…“ Gary L. Freed MD, MPH, Professor of Pediatrics and Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan

“Moving profiles of prejudice, equality and diversity… ‘otherness’ is never one thing.” Nancy Gagnier, Community Coalition of Race, Maplewood, New Jersey

"Excellent film and a great way to begin discussion with college students." Jason Loscuito, Converse College Chaplain, South Carolina

“A powerful depiction of the painful and poignant ways that prejudice and othering impact individuals, families and communities. The film demonstrates the strength and courage needed to overcome bias, and points to the need to remove stigma and create communities that foster inclusion and equity for all.” Katrina Wade-Golden, Deputy Chief Diversity Officer & Director of Implementation for the DEI Strategic Plan, University of Michigan, Officer of the Provost

"We really enjoyed seeing Me, The “Other” and our students have begun deep conversations about what it means to be 'the other.'" Emily Zheutlin, Social Studies Teacher, Tappan Middle School, Michigan

"Sharing stories like these has to affect every individual that participates in viewing the film and thus changes our experience and our culture." Laurita Thomas, Vice President of Human Resources, University of Michigan

In 2018, the Washtenaw County Commissioners honor the film with a special Proclamation as it “voices an urgent message that our diversity should be the cause of unity for our communities in these challenging times.” And the University of Michigan’s School of Dentistry honors the film’s producer and cast member with the prestigious Ida Gray Award for its celebration of diversity.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Ted Motz and Keiko Diaz-Pezua — **Ted Motz and Keiko Diaz-Pezua**

**Taylor Brooks (left) with her parents**

Veronica Centeno-Cruz (right) with her mother — **Veronica Centeno-Cruz (right) with her mother**

Kit Jaspering and AJ Wickham — **Kit Jaspering and AJ Wickham**

Hussain Syed Haider (center) with classmates — **Hussain Syed Haider (center) with classmates**

Tommy Gayfield (right) with Osman Okwara Mukhwana — **Tommy Gayfield (right) with Osman Okwara Mukhwana**