Here’s a picture of me on the red carpet at Cannes (my sister Dolly is behind me).

Me, my sister and my dear friend Phil Gorn in front of the Grand Lumiere Theater at Cannes.

Here’s some cool videos from the Cannes Film Festival:

I’ve also attached a video of the best “red carpet” moments from the Cannes Film Festival.

Here’s some fun disability stuff. Enjoy!

This is the very moment Kansas won the 2008 NCAA Basketball National Championship (look at the confetti in the background).

Scoreboard!

Here’s how Kansas won the 2008 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship.

This is the moment I should have known my beloved UCLA Bruins had something brewing in 1995. Thank you for lending me your ears and eyes!

I’ve also attached the “official trailer” from Steve Anderson’s film, “South Central.” Steve passed away on May 1, 2015. May he rest in peace. Thank you for lending us your ears and eyes.

Here are some of the most iconic film clips from Richard Linklater’s films. As always, we thank you for lending us your eyes and ears.

Here are some inspirational videos about disabled persons playing sports. As always, thank you for lending us your ears and eyes!

Here’s a great “first date” scene from the film, “The Invention of Lying” (Jennifer Garner & Ricky Gervais).

Here is a video from “The Firm” and some audio from the specific concert we attended in Wichita, Kansas, on March 2, 1985.  I want to thank you once again for lending me your eyes and ears!

Here are some of our favorite moments from Super Bowl 52. As always, we thank you for lending us your ears and eyes!

Seriously. This happened. Listen to how (and why) Hammad got Baptized at a Jiffy Lube. As always, we thank you for lending us your ears and eyes!

Here are some interesting baptisms.

Here are a few pictures from our trip. As always, we thank you for lending us your eyes and ears.

Thank you for lending us your ears!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LS36KVBQwk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9OAinGRrqs

Here are some clips remembering 9/11. As always, we are thankful for you lending us your eyes.

Everything you are about to hear is true; including vertically-challenged, 34-year-old Hammad being mistaken for an abducted 13-year-old boy, the local sheriff helping us secure our filming location!

Yes, it’s true:  Dr. Pepper helped to heal my medical condition as a child. I’ve also attached a classic Dr. Pepper commercial. I hope you enjoy the podcast, and I thank you kindly for lending us your eyes and ears!

I’ve also attached a short video of Hawaiian Tropic models shooting in Hawaii.

As always, we thank you for lending us your ears and eyes, and we look forward to borrowing them again, soon.

Here are Walt Hazzard highlights from game 7 of the 1966 NBA Finals

Here are highlights from Karl Dorrell’s signature win: UCLA beat #1 USC 13-9 on December 2, 2006. The win prevented USC from playing in the National Championship game. Go, Bruins!

IBeing disabled isn’t a crime! See how a piece of gum reinforces ethics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05ZpkzPHoIo

Hi everyone! Today’s podcast discusss how Hammad overcame a lifelong fear of skiing and learned how to do it earlier this year. As always, we thank you for lending us your ears and eyes!

We thank you for lending us your ears and eyes, and we look forward to borrowing them again soon.

Here are some shots of the “Plaza Lighting Ceremony” in Kansas City.

And here’s more fodder for my belief that a lot of couples break up around Thanksgiving.

Below are some really cool videos on disabled fishing techniques, as well as some fishing horror stories. As always, we thank you for lending us your ears and eyes, and we would be honored to borrow them again soon!

Here are a few wonderfully motivational commencement speeches from Lisa Kudrow and Jim Carrey. We thank you for lending us your ears and eyes, and we look forward to borrowing them again soon!

Here are a few clips of doing the right thing. As always we thank you for lending us your ears and eyes.

The biggest winners of this first year are Hammad Zaidi, Jonathan Nadeau and our Final Judges, Mark Bell, Valorie Stover Quarles, Kristine Lowe, and Bridget Johnson because we were gifted to the opportunity to read and watch such incredible work. Thank you to all of you for sharing your genius with us,  and we look forward to seeing what you do next. So, without further ado, here are our 2018 winners!

SCREENPLAY FESTIVAL WINNER:

“Six Letter Word” by Lisanne Sartor

HONORABLE MENTION:

“Red Shirt” by Mary C. Ferrara
“African Alien,” by Tatenda Mbudzi

FILM FESTIVAL WINNERS:

GRAND PRIZE

Zim High – Feature Film – (Zimbabwe – in English 1:24:00)

ZIM HIGH is a mockumentary filmed in Zimbabwe by Aboriginal Australian Exchange student Simon Kaantju (17), showing what it’s like to attend the harshest, most cruel, and most prestigious high school in Africa.Dir. Tatenda Mbudzi.

BEST FEATURE FILM:

In this incredible story based on true events, the mother and father are overwhelmed with emotion when their children are severely bullied in a public school, and the father wants his family to leave the Amish. The family struggles with raising a son born with an enigmatic mental disorder, as they are gripped by both fear and astonishment when they witness their son has unusual artistic abilities because the Amish religion teaches that any form of artistic expression is forbidden. “My Amish World” is a winner of 12 “Best Picture” awards. Dir. Samuel Wickey.

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE:

Central Bloc – Feature Film (Switzerland 1:17:32)

Daniel Ruchat has just started work as a prison officer. P. B., charged with attempted murder, has been transferred to the small Lausanne prison Bois-Mermet. As days go by, both discover their new environment. And as their paths cross, the viewer is taken through the twists and turns of life inside the prison.

BEST DOCUMENTARY:

The Race – Documentary – (USA 10:02)

A young, idealistic Huntington’s Disease researcher comes face-to-face with three generations of a family devastated by the fatal, incurable disease she studies. For the scientist, who has never met anyone with Huntington’s Disease, the stakes of her research become real. For a Huntington’s Disease patient at the center of the story who is watching her mother sicken, fearing her own demise, and afraid for her two kids, it’s a mother’s plea – and a race against time. Dir. Dina Rudick.

BEST FEMALE FILMMAKER

BEST WEB SERIES – HONORABLE MENTION

Breakers: Saving Harper Ross – Web Series (USA 26:00)

Jack is reliving the same day over and over and seeks help from his Papaw and a skeptic therapist, but when they prove unhelpful and Jack seems to be doomed to stay forever imprisoned, he stumbles upon a murder and becomes convinced that he can prevent it before the day resets. Dir.  Chason Laing. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWGPlJvtkrA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LHtidTwjJ4

Here are some cool videos about the Statue of Liberty. As always, we thank you for lending us your ears and eyes and we look forward to borrowing them again soon!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdnEp_kx7P8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0ZyGclmCHY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18A-FAipK8k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PJA1pJEb6I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE4k76VjGdY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2k3roW1-Nvo

http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-blind-male-musicians.php

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4MucPjVnMs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YlBEUOQaJQ

Here are a few videos on risking everything. Thank you kindly for lending us your ears and eyes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkB2WuzBrRs

Here’s a pic of Shahina, Hammad and their friend Anup on their trip to Italy.

Apparently, we weren’t the only people to be kidnapped by their cabbie in Italy…..As always, we thank you for lending us your ears and eyes!

I barely graduated high school (and I mean barely). I believe my graduating G.P.A. was around 2.08 – that is not 2.8 – which would be a stable “C.” It is 2.08, as in one slightly lower grade in any of my classes throughout high school, and I would have earned a second senior year. In fact, my high school counselor called a meeting with my parents in my senior year in order to urge them to not waste their money and my time to send me to college. “Hammad is destined for vocational school,” my high school counselor said repeatedly. While there is nothing wrong with the vocational school route, I did not feel it was a path I was meant to limp down.

As I enter my fifth decade of life, 32 years removed from barely graduating high school, and 49 years and five months after a head injury gifted my moderate disability, and it still blows me away that I was eventually able to attend my dream school, UCLA for graduate school. Of course, it took two junior colleges and three universities in three states over a six-year period to get my bachelor’s degree, but I never gave up.

I believe there’s a fine line between stupidity and genius, and the only genius I have ever had is that I am too stupid to give up on my childhood dreams. That brings us to the moment I wanted to share.

Last Thursday, January 25th, I took my wife and our twin daughters to the UCLA vs. California basketball game on the UCLA campus, when a friendly usher gave us a game program for free. That had never happened before. However, this day was different. This day was meant to teach me a lesson.

I started flipping through with moderate interest until I noticed a full-page ad (below) featuring my daughters and me. We did a photo shoot for UCLA months ago, but I had no idea when it would publish. So there I was, wondering how I got here. Several thoughts stampeded through my mind, like, how did I ever get through high school, much less graduate college? Why did I never opt to slide under life’s hurdles, even when knowing if I tried to jump over them, I would fall flat on my face? And, why did I never understand the meaning of “no,” when people rejected the projects I wanted to make? I remembered Peter Guber, who taught me at the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television Graduate Producers Program, telling us that when you hear a “no,” all you have to do is turn the word around to “on,” and move on to finding another home for your film. I remember my mom not letting me give up on learning how to ride a bike, even though I could only balance one side of my body, and I remember the immense joy I felt the day I taught my daughters to ride a bike. Life is a wild ride, but it’s a ride I’m endlessly grateful to be on.

So, if you’re thinking of refraining from chasing your dream, don’t. If you are thinking of “getting realistic” and walking down a safe path for the rest of your life, don’t. Life is to be lived, not compromised. Enjoy it. Live it. Inhale it and expect it to become everything you dreamed it could be, and it will. From one dreamer to another, I hope your most outlandish dreams become your most amazing realities. In the meantime, here are a few podcasts to keep your spirits up.  Thank you for lending me your ears and eyes.

Here’s some cool info on camel rides and the pyramids in Cairo! As always, we thank you for lending us your ears and eyes!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Do3oFnaoYCM

Here are a few clips from our promo.  Our Facebook Page has over 20,000 likes and is growing daily. Thank you again for lending us your ears and eyes!

Here’s the video of Kobe Bryant’s Jersey Retirement Ceremony on December 18, 2017. As always, we thank you for lending us your ears and eyes!

Here is the Oscar-nominated short film, “Little Terrorist.” As always, we thank you for lending us your ears and eyes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW2QU-qH4QU&feature=youtu.be

Here’s a little insight on how the city of Austin embraces “Keep Austin Weird.” As always, we thank you for lending us your ears and eyes.

Here’s a wonderful version of Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry.” We’ve also attached a few videos from Buff Bay, Jamaica. As always, we thank you for lending us your ears and eyes!

Here are some very cool, inventive and fun promotional trailers from Flickerfest in years past.

Here are some of the songs that defined key moments of our lives.

Here are some of our most memorable retro video games. Thanks again for lending us your ears and eyes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYXVtQYzOxg

Here are some links to some pretty fun stuff!

Here is the Justin Turner walk-off home run in Game 2 of the NLCS.

And below is  my family’s reaction just after Justin Turner’s home run. Just click on the link to see the video. As always, Jonathan and I thank you for lending us your ears and eyes.

Hammad’s Family Reaction to Dodgers Win

Here’s a commercial about the restaurant chain the incident occurred.

Here are some videos. We thank you for lending us your eyes!

I’ve also attached a short video of Hawaiian Tropic models shooting in Hawaii.

Here are a few roller coaster ride experience videos, including “Untamed,” the ride Jonathan rode.

Here are a few clips of the U.S. High Diving Show at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey.

Here is a fun clip of a Halloween themed Dolphin Show at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey.

Here are some cool videos from the people we met in unique ways. As always, thank you for lending us your ears and eyes.

Here’s an example of a wonderfully over-the-top Pakistani wedding.

Here are a few clips from the City Museum in St. Louis. As always, we thank you for lending us your ears and eyes.

Here is a scene from “Risky Business,” which further embedded my never-dying love of Porsche deep into my soul.Thank you for lending me your ears and eyes.

Here are some truths about writers. As always, I thank you for lending me your ears and eyes.

Here’s what can happen when you spread kindness. Thank you for lending me your ears and eyes.

Here are some wonderful Chuck E. Cheese videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph4mhRzQESU

Here are a few cool clips from Dawson City, Yukon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwmwrzEI1Zs

Here’s the hospital at which I met “Dan on Wheels.”

Here are some videos that chronicle similar instances. Thank you for lending us your eyes.

Here is a cool time lapse on how my friend Dave built Levi’s Stadium.

Here’s the high school radio station that I never made the cut for.

Here’s a few clips for WRRC 107.7 FM at Rider College, which was the first radio station that hired me.

Here is the radio station where I served as a supervisor for the”Alternative Show,” on Saturday nights.

Here is a key moment from the 1988 Paralympics in Seoul, Korea. As Always, I thank you for lending me your ears and eyes.

Since Brownsboro, Texas is also mentioned, here are a few quirky videos from Brownsboro….

Here are links to a few of our previous podcasts which are mentioned in this one:

Doctor’s Orders and the Amazing Healing Powers of Dr. Pepper!

Manifesting Your Dreams (Julian Lennon)

And of course, here’s how “Sgt. Dr. Pepper,” got the other half of his name:

Here’s a clip from the film, “Ripper Man.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YxFR-2skH4

Here are some of Chuck Norris’ best fight scenes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9oguJHWdAI

Here’s a great clip on the day the US Hostages were freed after 444 days of captivity.

The clips below are of the trailer for “Me and the Kid,” the first film Hammad ever worked on, as well as some amazing clips from other work from the actors in the film. As Always, we thank you for lending us your ears and eyes.

Here are a  very cool videos on Gypsies. As always, we thank you for lending us your ears and eyes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z70wX8wLRtI

Here are two awesome Kosheen songs:

Here’s me freezing at the Berlin Film Festival:

Hammad and Jonathan are fascinated with “Weird Al” Yankovic. Thank you kindly for lending us your ears and eyes.

Here’s a few clips from Weird Al’s 1989 film, UHF:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUi926ses94

And, here are some incredible “Weird Al” videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=notKtAgfwDA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2mU6USTBRE

And Here’s Weird Al Yankovich with Dr. Demeto from 1982.

Here is the official trailer to the first “Shrek” film:

Here are some very cool wheelchair sports. Thank you for lending me your ears and eyes.

Here are some interesting videos about remedial classes.

Here’s a roll down memory lane with Skat-Kat Minibikes!

Here’s what Hammad’s first moped looked like (it was a hand-me-down).

This was what favorite moped looked like. It looked a lot cooler in ’82.

Here’s Olympia Dukakis winning her Academy Award for “Moonstruck.”

Here’s a great clip from “Moonstruck.”

Attached below the ceremony when President Obama awarded Vice President Joe Biden with the Congressional Medial of Freedom, with Distinction.

And of course, we have to pay homage to the greatest medal ceremony of all time; the last scene of Star Wars: A New Hope (1977). Enjoy, and thank you for lending me your eyes and ears!

This is how I felt during the entire dentist ordeal.

This may well be how the dentist-in-training felt…Thank you for lending me your ears and eyes!

Here is a link to a very cool scene from the 1979 film, “Time After Time,” which is based one Karl Alexander’s novel of the same name.

This is the Father’s Day concert Jonathan attended, where, “Dave,” was brought up on stage to sing the lead vocals on “Brian Wilson.”

Here’s the theme song to “The Big Bang Theory,” TV show.

Here’s Hammad’s favorite Barenaked Ladies song, “Some Fantastic.”

Here is a great version of the the Barenaked Ladies song, “If I Had $1,000,000.”

This was the song played at the young man’s funeral.  Thanks for lending me your ears and eyes.

Here’s a picture of me on the red carpet at Cannes (my sister Dolly is behind me).

Me, my sister and my dear friend Phil Gorn in front of the Grand Lumiere Theater at Cannes.

Here’s some cool videos from the Cannes Film Festival:

https://youtu.be/qKOkKjXVvx4

Here is a link to the video of the 1-on-1 game.

Here’s a clip of Kareem Rush score six consecutive three point shots during Game 6 of the 2005 NBA Western Conference Finals, when the Lakers closed out the Minnesota Timberwolves en route to the NBA Finals.