Principal Photography Complete! - Sally’s Iron Mustangs

On May 12, 2022, principal photography was complete for Reel Nation Media’s upcoming documentary, Sally’s Iron Mustangs, a film directed by Abdullah Abu-Mahfouz. This milestone successfully transitioned the film to the editing phase of production, keeping it on schedule for a Summer 2022 festival release date. Audiences interested in seeing the film as soon as possible can pre-order a digital copy and/or sign up for a free Reel Nation Media membership to be notified of screening information.

I wanted to find a story that would help heal me, inspire me to reclaim my determination, and be relatable to the plenty of strangers, friends, and family sharing my struggles. - Abdullah Abu-Mahfouz

Abdullah Abu-Mahfouz (Director, left) and Sally Winchell (right)

From Principal Photography to Post-Production

Sally’s Iron Mustangs is a documentary film I began researching in December 2021 and filming in January 2022. The story follows Sally Winchell, an age-defying bodybuilder and nutrition buff, building her morning training group of senior women to revive their passion for well-being and compete in powerlifting. The last day of principal photography wrapped on Sally’s sixty-fifth birthday.

Adobe Inc. defines principal photography “as the creative execution phase of film production, sandwiched between pre-production and post-production.” For me, completing this phase on a documentary film means that the story has been captured and narrating it through film editing has begun. My plan for the next three months is to study all the footage, organize it into a compelling, well-paced story, arrange a moving soundtrack, test the film with audiences, and test the technical performance of the audio and video for distribution on various formats (theaters, smart devices, TVs, etc.).

Director Abdullah Abu-Mahfouz

Intentions and a Personal Process

Sally’s Iron Mustangs is being produced almost entirely on my own as it’s deeply personal to me. In November 2021, when I set out to search for the subject of my next documentary, I felt that I was at a low point in my life and attitude towards it, especially after the pandemic and failing to launch two web series. With those feelings, I wanted to find a story that would help heal me, inspire me to reclaim my determination, and be relatable to the plenty of strangers, friends, and family sharing my struggles. When I heard of Sally’s story through her husband, a great filmmaking friend, my intuition felt her endeavors would perfectly match my intuitions. My gut was correct; making a film about someone so transformational as Sally motivated me to recover my passion for my own well-being, strength, and overcoming challenges. Ultimately, I want audiences to be inspired by the character transformations and then choose to reclaim their own strength. If these older women can strive for uncanny goals for their own well-being, then maybe so should we.

Sally Winchell (bottom right) and her Iron Mustangs

Plans for Sharing the Adventure

Upon completing the editing process, my goal for distribution is to screen the film at least fifty domestic (USA) screens, including film festivals, local and chain theaters, community centers, and religious centers. Following the theatrical/festival release, I aim to make the film available worldwide on video-on-demand on platforms such as iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play. Personally, presenting a film is a spiritual experience. I see it as providing a catharsis, an emotional release, through a window of empathy that has sacrificed months of myself to craft. My anticipation to see how audiences react to this incredible, personal story is sky high; it’s the reason I jump out of bed every morning.

Join the Adventure

To keep up with news on Sally’s Iron Mustangs, please visit its official page at www.reelnationmedia.com/sallysironmustangs and sign up as a free Reel Nation Media member to receive updates in your email inbox. Pre-ordering the film is also available for a limited time only. Pre-order audiences will be able to screen the film before the theatrical release, allowing them to be the very first to view the movie before any other audience group. Individuals and organizations can also request a screening local to their area and/or in facilities accessible to them. And finally, if you want a glimpse of behind-the-scenes footage and screenshots, please visit my social media profiles:

• Reel Nation Media IG: https://instagram.com/reelnationmedia/

• Reel Nation Media FB: https://www.facebook.com/ReelNationMedia/

• Reel Nation Media LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/11025754

• Abdullah’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/abdullah_abumahfouz/

• Abdullah’s FB: https://www.facebook.com/adullah.abumahfouz

• Abdullah’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdullahabumahfouz/

Keep it Reel!

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ABOUT REEL NATION MEDIA

Reel Nation Media is an independent film production company owned and operated by director Abdullah Abu-Mahfouz. The brand focuses on “conscious media art,” authentic stories that heal its artists and audiences. In 2022, Reel Nation Media aims to produce original short films exploring personal strength and calling for empathy for the worldwide family displacement crisis.

Stand Up (Wrestling Documentary) now Free to Watch on YouTube

I'm happy to announce that I published Stand Up on YouTube during Thanksgiving this year— 5 years after its theatrical release.

The Story

Stand Up is an intimate wrestling documentary that follows CD East High Wrestling, an underdog team battling Pennsylvania's elite District III tournaments. Their hopes of making it to the state championship for the first time in 5 years lie in two seniors, Cevon and Joe, who are best friends, goofballs, and unrelenting wrestlers. The 80-minute sports drama encompasses what it means to be a wrestler during the ups and downs.

Watch the trailer at the following YouTube link:

https://youtu.be/gEVxKmlW_wc

Where to Watch the Full Film

The full official release of Stand Up is public at the following YouTube link: https://youtu.be/MdCkW80q4ho

If you loved the film and know anyone who would benefit from watching it, please let them know where to see it!

What Stand Up Means to Me

In my six years of competing, wrestling taught me tenacity, grit, and what it means to accept your best efforts. However, it wasn't until my career ended (after a serious injury) did I fully realize these earned traits. The sport meant everything to me. When I lost it, I was heartbroken. It took time for me to heal physically and emotionally. It took years of reflection to accept how the sport improved my character. I set out to capture that aspect of wrestling; the spirit of never quitting, becoming stronger through hard work, and overcoming unavoidable challenges.

I couldn't think of a better story to represent that spirit than that of my high school alma mater. It was a team with inexperienced wrestlers, but they made up for it with their heart and love for one another. I witnessed how that love transformed teen boys into mentally tough men who were ready to wrestle through life's trials. While filming Stand Up, I wanted to capture the wisdom of defying defeat and share it with the world.

Director Abu-Mahfouz (right) Interviews Joe (left) and Cevon (right), Two Leads

Why Release the Film For Free?

As of the year of this re-release, 2021, the wrestling community has lost much from the COVID pandemic: be it a year of competition, an entire wrestling program, or more personal loss: health, well-being, jobs, or loved ones.

Aspiring to reclaim the wrestling spirit for wrestlers and myself, I made Stand Up free to watch on YouTube. As an artist who strives to heal and inspire with his work, I felt obligated to make this choice so that the film will reach and help as many young wrestlers as possible.

I also felt it necessary to publish on YouTube due to the film's dramatic relationship with its distributor, a now-bankrupt company called Distribber. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2019 while still owing filmmakers like myself thousands of dollars. Consequently, streaming platforms such as iTunes, Amazon, Netflix, and Hulu removed any films related to Distribber. Long story short, Stand Up entered a distribution limbo because of its relationship with a company that did not fulfill its service to filmmakers. Audiences were quickly unable to access the film on their favorite platforms anymore.

My Gratitude to YOU

I want to wholeheartedly thank those who have purchased Stand Up on DVD or Digital Platforms. Without you, I could not have sustained myself and continued my work throughout these years.

To the CD East wrestling family, thank you again for honoring me by allowing me to tell your story.

To both new and returning audiences, I have arduously crafted this movie with my heart, sweat, and tears for you. I hope the story entertains you, reaches your heart, and rekindles your love for the sport of wrestling. I strive to share conscious entertainment that inspires and heals with my independent studio, Reel Nation Media. If you would like to follow my future work, please become a member of my site to receive regular updates. If you prefer to subscribe on YouTube, click this link. You may also follow me on Instagram at @abdullah_abumahfouz.

Don't stay down. Defy defeat. Stand Up.

Keep it Reel!

Director Abdullah Abu-Mahfouz

These Artists Use Music to Heal Themselves and Women in Need (NEW mini-doc)

Written by Director Abdullah Abu-Mahfouz

Tyler Jazz, a musician, and Krisztina Szabo, a graphic designer, volunteer to play and sing Christmas music at a women's shelter. Both of these amazing artists, who have been victims of domestic abuse, use their talents to heal others and themselves.

Tyler Jazz (left) and Krisztina Szabo (right)

How To Watch

This second episode of our Reel Artist series was published on January 4th, 2021, and can be seen for free only on the Reel Nation Cinema page.

Production Story

The goal of this episode was to find a story where an artist challenged himself to accomplish an altruistic goal. I wrote this intention on my Facebook wall, and Tyler responded with what he was trying to accomplish at the Shalom House. After having a coffee with him and understanding his volition, I knew that his story deserved to be told.

Abdullah, Tyler, and Kirsztina

During filming, Tyler was open with his process; he showed me, in-depth, how he warmed up, practiced, and finished his session. Since I pretty much filmed all of this, my challenge in post-production was to find the emotional core of the story and then jettison everything else out in order to meet the 5-minute-limit this series has. Tyler’s story was so meaningful that I could have easily included more; it was difficult to delete a few great scenes.

What’s Next

Consider checking out Tyler's music and Krisztina's art at the links below:

• Tyler's music

• Krisztina's art

Donate and help shelter women and children at the Shalom House: https://shalomhouse.net/

We are currently searching for our next subject for episode 3.

If you are enjoying this series and if you’re interested in seeing more, please let me know on the Feedback Forum and make sure you’re a member at Reel Nation Media to get first news on new content and watch exclusive films for free.

Keep it Reel!

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About Reel Nation Media

Reel Nation Media was founded in 2014 by Daniel Roy Bills, Lauren Houdek, and Abdullah Abu-Mahfouz. In a world of billion-dollar franchises, binge-watching, and viral videos, they saw the lack of media art that was altogether authentic, fun, and healthy for audiences striving to be conscious and sincere with their media consumption. The motion-picture and art studio will continue to create entertainment crafted to heal and inspire audiences.