Watch the segment here.

Even as the United States finds itself increasing enmeshed in the Arab/Muslim world politically, Hollywood exports a great deal of film and television programs watched in the Middle East. We are indeed the dominant cultural force in many Arab/Muslim countries. Meanwhile, Americans are finding more and more Arab/Muslim characters in their film and TV programming…

Recently SAG and DGA members discussed the issues and viewed excerpts from a range of features and documentaries. Invited panelists were actors Shohreh Aghdashloo ("House of Sand and Fog", "X-Men 3", "House of Saddam"), Maz Jobrani ("The Interpreter"), Raya Meddine ("Bosta", "CSI Miami") Omar Metwally ("Rendition", "Munich"), Oded Fehr ("The Mummy", "Sleeper Cell") and Tony Shalhoub ("The Siege", "AmericanEast"); directors Peter Berg (“The Kingdom”), Jon Favreau (“Iron Man”) and Stephen Gaghan (“Syriana”); writer Matthew Michael Carnahan (“The Kingdom”, “Lions For Lambs”); and casting director April Webster ("Lost", "Criminal Minds").

Among the issues discussed:
• How well have Arab/Muslim characters been created in the past?
• What are the biases and stereotypes that Arab/Muslim actors encounter in Hollywood?
• When will we see Arab/Muslim characters in the Middle East not as jihadi terrorists, but as dramatis personae with the same challenges and idiosyncrasies as those in Western dramas and comedies?
• How can we empower directors, writers, casting directors and producers to broaden their understanding, to help portray the complexity of Arab/Muslim characters?