When you’re driven to change the world━in this case, turning around the negative perception of Iranians━you’ve got to be open to new ideas. Shabnam Rezaei implemented software solutions for the financial services industry by day; by night, she worked on PersianMirror.com, a website she created to show the positive side of Iranian culture.
Think outside the box
But then Dustin Ellis, half-Iranian and half-American, appeared, seeking some publicity on PersianMirror.com for a script he was writing for a half-hour TV cartoon. Babak & Friends━A First Norooz is about an 8-year-old boy discovering the traditions of the Persian New Year and becoming proud of his heritage.
What better way to change perception about Iranians then by starting with children?
Rezaei and her husband, Aly Jetha (a serial entrepreneur), liked Ellis’ concept. They provided some funding and became partners in the production of the cartoon. By enlisting big name Iranian-American celebrities, such as Shoreh Aghdashloo and Catherine Bell (the star of CBS’s J.A.G.) to do the voice-overs and selling DVDs directly to parents, the animated show achieved success.