Project Title: "Human Rights: For Everyone?"

Synopsis: The evolution of the "Declaration of Human Rights" is highlighted in the "Human Rights: For Everyone?" project. Prominent Iranians-Americans reach out globally for these hard fought and hard won principles to be honored everywhere. This project aims to cultivate a culture of human rights within societies and praises the "Declaration of Human Rights" for being established as universal principles that belong to every one of us.

Longline: A fair account of the history of human rights needs to be acknowledged by those aspiring to have theirs recognized. Cyrus the Great issued the first charter of Human Rights and freedoms known to civilization in ancient Persia in 539 BCE. This charter was recognized as the first official charter of Human Rights in 1971 by the United Nations and thus, Iran's name was hailed as the first place in history where human rights were recognized and observed in ancient antiquity. The manifesto puts at the forefront issues such as abolition of slavery and national or racial discriminations, freedom of religious beliefs, and establishing peace amongst nations. Such ideas are still alive and clearly esteemed by all those who believe in human dignity and human rights.

In modern times, what are human rights? What are the underlying principles of human rights? Who is responsible for protecting and promoting human rights? Now more than ever, it is the responsibility of each and every one of us to bring the culture of human rights into our sphere of life, not just in the area of politics but within our homes, in our daily relationships, with our families and friends. This culture of human rights should be cherished, as a way of life and existence.

The "Human Rights: For Everyone?" project brings together prominent and distinguished Iranians from many corners of the Iranian-American community to extend a hand and reach out to help cultivate a culture of human rights. This project aspires for a global reach with this wish that one day the Declaration of Human Rights will be honored everywhere.

The collaborators who have committed to participate in this exciting project with us will soon be introduced.

Genre: Documentary
Running time: TBD
Release date: TBA
Financiers: Sponsors Wished
Filming location: San Francisco Bay Area, California
Produced in: San Francisco/Bay Area, California, USA

Majid Baradar: Executive Development, Producer
Mansour Taeed: Director, Writer
Torange Yeghiazarian: Production Consultant
Sahar Driver: Screen Play Advisor
Ardalan Payvar: Art Direction, Design, Film
Shadi Yousefian: Art Direction, Photography, Film

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MAJID BARADAR
Executive Development-Producer
12Petals Media Group
www.12petals.org

Majid Baradar's long cherished career was in professional Civil/Earthquake Engineering. Awarded for his exemplary contribution to the profession throughout his public and engineering career, doing work towards the public good was of great value to him then, just as it is now. He is also the author for several published and well-respected books within the seismic engineering field (Professional Publication Inc.). Majid was always interested in film making. Coming from a background that has required strategic planning, Majid founded 12Petals Media Group with a focus on projects with social relevance. In 2010, this vision and his experience culminated in his first producing short film titled "Culture of Human Rights". His center of attention is presently on paving the way to ultimately produce his documentary film "Human Rights: For Everyone?" Majid is currently serving as Executive of Development for 12Petals Media Group.

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MANSOUR TAEED
Founding Artistic Director
Darvag Art Foundation
Javane Thearter Company
www.darvag.org and www.javane.org

Berkeley, California-based artist Mansour Taeed is a multifaceted talent whose artistic works have been hallmark for many stage theaters, featured in esteemed community social celebrations, and who has been profiled in numerous newspaper and on-line articles for his exemplary contributions. Mansour writes, directs, produces, and acts for the theatre. He is an Iranian born who holds a Master's degree in Physics from University of California in Berkeley, however, his passion has engraved for stage and community. Mansour has earned recognition and respect in the many artistic areas and among his work, "Shaparak Khonoom" (The Buttertfly), "Operetta Khooke Teezhoosh", "Suitcase", and "In Memory of Kazem Ashtari" are notable to mention. He has also been instrumental in founding Darvag Theater and young at heart Iranian-American "Javane Theater". Mansour brings his directing mastery and production experience to the Human Rights: For everyone?" project.

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TORANGE YEGHIAZARIAN
Founding Artistic Director
Golden Thread Middle East Center Stage
www.goldenthread.org/torange.htm

Torange Yeghiazarian writes, directs and acts for the theatre. A native of Iran and of Armenian heritage, Torange holds a Master's degree in Theatre Arts from San Francisco State University. Her plays (Call Me Mehdi, Waves, Dawn at Midnight, Behind Glass Windows, Abaga) reflect the perspective of the culturally displaced in tackling today's world of contradictory realities and values. As a teaching artist, Torange has taught playwriting to at-risk youth as part of the Each One Reach One program, incorporated theatre into social studies in Richmond's Washington Elementary School as part of East Bay Center for Performing Arts' Learning Without Borders program, and lead acting and play development workshops for Golden Thread Productions. She is the Artistic Director of Golden Thread Productions, where she has devoted her professional life to exploring Middle Eastern culture and identity through theatre arts. Torange offers her production consultancy to the "Human Rights: For Everyone?" project.

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SAHAR DRIVER
Screen Play Advisor
12Petals Media Group
www.12petals.org/company.html

Sahar Driver, a doctoral student in the Social and Cultural Anthropology Program at the California Institute of Integral Studies, is Screen Play Advisor for the Human Rights: For everyone?" film project. Coming from a background in television and documentary series production (Iran is Not the Problem) and building on a rigorous education oriented around issues of justice advocacy and social movements, Sahar brings her critical perspective, her capacities in participatory research and practices in feminist ethnography, cross-cultural alliance-building, policy research and media experience to the Human Rights: For everyone?" project.

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ARDALAN PAYVAR
Art Direction, Design, Film
Tact Design
www.tactdesign.com

Ardalan Payvar is an artistic director, graphic designer. He was born in Tehran, Iran and from very early age became passionate about art and music. Ardalan moved to the United States in 1993. He studied Graphic Design and Fine Arts at California Polytechnic State University of San Luis Obispo (Cal Ploy) and has been working as a graphic designer since 2000. He is the founder and Artistic Director of Tact Design. He is also an Art Director at Beedaar Production, a video production studio founded by him and Shadi Yousefian. Ardalan extends his all-embracing art direction, design, film, and media experiences to the Human Rights: For everyone?" project.

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SHADI YOUSEFIAN
Art Direction, Photography, Film
Shadi Yousefian Fine Art Photography
www.shadiyousefian.com

Shadi Yousefian is an artistic director and photographer specializing in Fine Art photography. Born in Tehran, Iran, Shadi moved to the United States when she was sixteen. She received both her Bachelor's (2003) and Master's (2006) of Fine Art in photography from San Francisco State University. She received the Thirteenth Annual Stillwell Show (2002) Award for her Self-Portrait series at San Francisco State University. As a student, she also received 3rd place International Photography Awards 2004 in Fine Art Portrait Category for her Self-Portrait series and 3rd place International Photography Awards 2005 in Fine Art category for her Universal Identity series. Shadi was also the recipient of the prestigious Jack and Gertrude Murphy Fellowship in the Fine Arts in October 2005. Shadi has exhibited her work in San Francisco, New York, Louisiana, Iran, London, and Barcelona. Shadi is also a founding member and artistic director of Beedaar Production, a video production studio specializing in music video procuction. Shadi proffers her art direction, photography, production experience to the Human Rights: For everyone?" project.