In the decade after 9/11, I was vaguely aware that it was not a good time to be a Muslim in America; nor was it a good time to be an American in the Middle East. But for me – like for most Americans –this awareness morphed into specific and non-specific fears about Islam and the extreme interpretations of it. Then in 2010, I met a group of people from the Niagara Foundation who invited me on an interfaith trip to Turkey. I am not religious; but I am curious and jumped at the chance to see Turkey and to have an adventure with a culture that was foreign to me. I also looked at the trip as an opportunity to discover new stories to film.

I never dreamed that it would change my worldview. After the trip I decided that others’ worldview had to be changed as well. After a lot of reading, several more trips and a lot of scouting and interviewing, we began our journey, which eventually had us filming in six countries. This film introduced us to the work of people whose motives I would have doubted had I not witnessed their selfless commitment and bravery with my own eyes. These members of the global Hizmet movement, a loosely-affliated group of people inspired by the work of Fethullah Gulen are dedicated to addressing social cohesion through education, dialogue, and anti-poverty work. We met people who went into war zones to educate but also to mitigate the hatred and desire for revenge that lasts long after the last body is buried. And we met others who repeatedly went to some of the most dangerous places on earth to bring medical relief. I met a woman who answered one of my questions with, “we have to love” as a simple declarative statement and a philosophical imperative.

At first I wasn’t sure what to make of these people and wondered why they would put so much on the line without complaint or question. I wondered whether it was a con that I couldn’t see through because of our cultural differences. Much later I was granted an unprecedented interview with the man who inspired this movement. I was touched by Fethullah Gulen’s genuineness (even to the point of a slight discomfort with me and our entire crew filming him) and surprised by his obvious shyness at being with a strange western woman. What you will see in our film is a tiny piece of what we saw and experienced. I may write a book about all of the things that didn’t happen on camera, about the importance of dialogue both among and between groups. After three years of working together, the first person who took me to Turkey, Hakan Berberoglu has become my family. I am still in awe of his continual modesty and his calmness under very diffcult circumstances. I am also in awe of the movement at large;people whose customs and belief systems are so different from my own who have enriched my understanding of the world and proven that Love is a Verb.

Terry Spencer HesserWriter, Director & ProducerLove is a Verb

D I R E C T O R ’ S M E S S A G E C R E WTERRY SPENCER HESSERWRITER, DIRECTOR & PRODUCER

Terry Spencer Hesser is a published novelist, biographer, produced playwright, award-winning screenwriter and recipient of three Emmy Awards. She has been telling stories in print, on television, and on the stage for three decades, and has worked with people as diverse as Audrey Hepburn, Oprah Winfrey, and R. Kelly while doing so. She has wielded garlic for A&E whilst searching for vampires in Transylvania and braved the equally potent aroma of Limburger to tell Wisconsin’s cheesy history for the Food Network. A lifelong Chicagoan, Terry is particularly passionate about telling stories about her hometown. From documentaries on the Art Institute of Chicago, Golden Gloves Boxing and the life of Chicago Tribune czar Robert McCormick to the architects who carved their imprints on the city’s distinctive skyline, she is thrilled and privileged to have spent her career writing about and filming the Windy City. Her novel “Kissing Doorknobs” was an American Library Association top ten pick and was translated into many languages. Her biography of female Teamster Regina Polk earned praise from Crystal Lee Sutton, a/k/a “Norma Rae” for, “honoring a woman who felt that it was important to truly help one person than to merely talk about saving the world”. Clients and audiences alike respond to her humor and commitment to storytelling. Even Fox (!) News was charmed by Christmas with Elvis, her bawdy tongue-in-check holiday tale about debauchery and loneliness - proclaiming it as “the funniest show in town”. She is currently producing a travel series on Islands Lost in Time and working on “Love is a Verb”, a documentary on Fethullah Gulen, one of the most influential Muslim leaders in the world.

terryspencerhesser.org

JAN SUTCLIFFECO-WRITER, EDITOR, POST PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR

STEPHAN MAZUREKDIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHYDIRECTOR & PRODUCER (SOMALIA SEGMENT)

Jan Sutcliffe is an accomplished long-form editor with a special expertise in shaping documentary programs for broadcast distribution. Jan’s passion is cinéma vérité — but she also excels in historical and interview-based documentary, as well as advocacy projects.

Beginning her career as a film editor cutting on 35mm and 16mm, Jan became an early exponent of emerging non-linear video formats and is equally adept on both Avid and Final Cut Pro platforms.

Over the past twenty years, Jan has had the good fortune to work as a long-form documentary editor with some of the best individuals working in documentary films and television journalism today including Bill Kurtis, Peter Gilbert, Tod Lending, Jonathan Towers, Bob Hercules, and Bob Schneiger. She has edited numerous programs for broadcast and cable distribution including American Justice (A&E), American Greed (CNBC), Biography (A&E), Investigative Reports (A&E), and POV and Independent Lens (PBS) as well as documentary specials for the NBC, National Geographic, History, and PBS networks.

A Kodak kid from Rochester, New York, film’s been in Jan’s blood from birth. An early interest in photography blossomed into a lifelong passion for the documentary film form, and after earning a Bachelor of Arts in French literature from Colgate University she completed her Master’s degree at the Center for Media Study at SUNY Buffalo where she studied with Hollis Frampton, Steina and Woody Vasulka, and Thom Anderson.

jansutcliffe.com

Stephan Mazurek was born in Fairmont, West Virginia. He studied European Literature 19th Century and Theater at the University of Kent (Canterbury, England) and Southern Methodist University (Dallas, Texas). He lives and works out of Chicago, Illinois. Stephan lives to travel and his work and assignments reflect his journeys through his videography and photography.

Stephan’s interest lies in exploring and creating visual forms ranging from designing video projections for theatrical events to long-form documentary films to commercials to photography. Stephan is a Director of Photography, Still Photographer, Editor and Director who brings excellence and experience to every project from Poetry Competitions to Demolition Derby Racers, from the Arctic Circle (Ice Road Truckers) to Yo Yo Ma and the Chicago Civic Orchestra, from High Definition to the Red Epic. Stephan has a talent for long form documentary work as well as creating a memorably lit interview and portraits and leading the team on spot work. Stephan’s skill set also includes the ability to be present in diffcult situations, where discretion, humility, and being a fly on the wall are as valued as “just getting the shot.”As a Director of Photography for Documentaries his client list includes: Siskel and Jacobs, The Discovery Channel, the National Geographic Channel, BBC, HBO, The Travel Channel, The Food Network, Possible Worldwide, LMNO Productions, ESPN, Leopard Films, Bombo and many more. Some of his commercial clients for his Photography and Spot work include: Miller, Nikon, The Museum of Science and Industry, Johnson and Johnson, Jockey, Steppenwolf Theater Company, Northlight Theater, Got Milk, McDonalds, and the Illinois Bureau of Tourism.

hombremitkamera.com | stephanmazurek.com

DANIEL ALEJANDRO RODRIGUEZSOUND ENGINEEER

VOLKAN TOPSAKALMUSIC COMPOSER

Daniel Rodriguez has been working in Chicago’s audio and video industry as a Production Sound Mixer since graduating from Full Sail University in 2007. His passion for sound has allowed him to collaborate with other creative minds in the arts and travel to such countries as Iraq, Somalia, and Bosnia. His work includes feature films, commercials, corporate videos and reality TV. He also dabbles in photography, short films and video editing. He’s bilingual in English and Spanish. He is based out of Chicago, IL but his work allows him to travel all over.

While working as a Freelance Audio Engineer in the Chicago area, Danny has worked on multiple projects from audio sweetening, audio editing, Foley and sound design. His work includes cooperate videos, independent films and shorts. As an Assistant to the Audio Engineers in a post-production house Danny assisted in voice overs, Foley, and mix sessions.

Danny gained experience recording music sessions for different parades and shows while working as an Audio Assistant in the Orlando area. He assisted during recording sessions for companies such as Disney, Busch Gardens and also assisted during instrumental recordings sessions of orchestras and choirs.

dannythesoundguy.com

Volkan Topsakal is a composer, arranger and producer who has a strong passion for film and documentary music production. He also has a considerable amount of expertise in sound design/engineering and digital media arts.

Born in a house full of music in Istanbul, Turkey, his passion for music sparkled while trying to accompany his guitarist father and transformed into amateur live stage performances in high school. His professional music career began while he was studying musicology in Istanbul Technical University, State Conservatory. Besides live performances in different forms and styles like ethnic/modern Turkish music, rock, pop, jazz and latin; he worked in many traditional/contemporary albums as arranger and sound mixer, composed music for numerous advertisement and corporate branding projects and even worked in a few graphic art projects for print and digital media while he was working for various media and music production companies.

After moving to Germany in 2002; he continued his live and studio work in several musical styles from around the world, worked for a tv company as a sound mixer and composed the original score for the award-winning feature-length film “On the Count of Zero” by director Gökhan Yorgancigil.

Volkan is still living in Germany, married to his lovely wife and working on studio albums and documentary/film music projects for international audiences.

NARRATED BY

Ashley Judd

WRITTEN, DIRECTED &

PRODUCED BY

Terry Spencer Hesser

CO-WRITER & EDITOR

Jan Sutcliffe

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Stephan Mazurek

ORIGINAL MUSIC

Volkan Topsakal

ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Güçlü KöseliRana Segal

LOCATION AUDIO

Daniel A. RodriguezBurak Ekil

Hüseyin Baran

DIRECTOR & PRODUCER,

SOMALIA SEGMENT

Stephan Mazurek

PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS

Kira Hesser Ajla KurspahicKaleb Mazurek

CAMERA ASSISTANTS

Fatih AyazKaleb Mazurek

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Güçlü Köseli

TRANSLATION

Ayşenur ÇobanSavaş Şenel

ARCHIVAL RESEARCH

Pat Lofthouse

ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE

& IMAGE COURTESY

Associated PressCihan News Agency

Ali DokumacıInternet Archives

public.resource.orgJournalist & Writers

Foundation ArchiveThe New York Times

Samanyolu TVThomson Reuters

InternationalTurkish Presidency

Media CenterThe WPA Film Library

POST PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR

Jan Sutcliffe

GRAPHICS

Ayhan CebeEverest Motion Design

ANIMATION DIRECTOR

Garrett Knisley

STILLS PHOTOGRAPHY

Stephan Mazurek

MUSIC MIXER

Murat MağzalcıMM Recording &

SoundsHannover, Germany

NARRATION RECORDING

Colin HeldtDark House Recording Nashville, Tennessee

SOUND DESIGN AND FINAL MIX

Mark Bandy SoundDesk

COLORIST

Güçlü Köseli

ONLINE EDITOR

Joe LangenfeldPunkvision

WEB DESIGN

Fatih Yazar

C R E D I T SFORMAT & STANDARDS

CONVERSIONS

Televersions

TECHNICAL ADVISORS

Jim MorrissetteCharles LangrallJoe Langenfeld

FILMED ON LOCATION IN

Bosnia-HerzegovinaIraq

SomaliaTurkey

United States

LOCATION MANAGERS

Hakan Berberoğlu, U.S.Savaş Şenel, Turkey

Mehmet Mutlu, Bosnia Talip Büyük, Iraq

Murat Kılıç, Somalia

ADVISORS

Hakan YavuzJohn Esposito

Helen Rose EbaughScott Alexander

Y. Alp AslandoganHakan BerberoğluAzam Nizamuddin

Gordon Quinn

COOPERATING ORGANIZATIONS

Directorate of Eyüp Sultan Mosque

Municipality of Eyüp

Directorate of Selimiye Mosque

Municipality of Edirne

Directorate of Izmir Hisar Mosque

Yamanlar High School, Izmir

Fatih Sultan Mehmet Interfaith Choir, Sarajevo

Burch University, Sarajevo

International Burch Schools, Sarajevo

Journalists & Writers Foundation, Istanbul

Samanyolu TV, Istanbul

Ebru TV, New Jersey

Zaman Newspaper, Istanbul

Fatih University, Istanbul

Cumhuriyet Newspaper, Istanbul

Takvim Newspaper, Istanbul

Horizon Science Academy

Atmosfer Baloons, Cappadocia

Directorate of Blue Mosque

Municipality of Urfa

Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism

Turkish Presidency Media Center

Directorate of Rumi Museum

Directorate of Mevlana Cultural Center, Konya

Fezalar Nilüfer Girls High School, Erbil

Fezalar Private Girls High School, Suleimaniya

Sema Private Hospital, Erbil

Kimse Yok Mu Humanitarian Aid Association, Istanbul

Nil Organization, Mogadishu

MAJOR SUPPORT FROM

2517 Indiegogo BackersIndividual Donations

THANKS TO

Aaron FreemanDr. Ali Bayraktar

Ali DokumacıBülent Akbenlioğlu

Canny HasanRev. Catiana P. McKay

Dr. Celal KadıCristina Jorge

Dr. Emine AlyaprakElif Açıl

Etyen MahçupyanGordon Quinn

Hakan Berberoğluİbrahim Çalışkan

İsmail CingözJames HarringtonJennifer A. Spitz

Jill CarrollJessica Carter

John EspositoLevent Timur

Lonie J. WalkerMarcia HermansenSr. Martha Ann Kirk

Mehmet BayraktarevicMete Tunçay,Mustafa AkyolNergis KhalidOral Calışlar

Sabahattin AtalaySaed AhmićSalim Uçan

Safaa ZarzourŞahin Alpay

Scott C. Alexander Syrna Sain

Tahera AhmedY. Alp Aslandoğan

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

Catiana McKay Kenneth L. Hunter

Paul Parker

SPECIAL THANKS

M. Fethullah Gülen

IN MEMORIAM

Mehmet Ali Birand

F I L M L O C AT I O N S

Kids playing in Mogadishu open air movie theather.

Sufi Dervishes whirling in Konya

PRODUCER’S CIRCLE DONATIONS

Alexander D KnyshAlperen Sahin

Ameripro Logistics LLSArjet Gega

Ava J ChopraAyse Arslan Cinar

Best Source Parts Corp.Betul Bilgin

Bob & Dickey Lee HullinghorstBrendan DowdBT Logistics, LLCBulent Aydogan

Cemal & Ayse YigitCharles AndertonCharles Middleton

Daniel SkubikDavid Ginsburg

David SheetsDe Anna Kayan

Dena DeLeoDick Simpson

Eagle Café, LLCEfe International Inc.

Emre CandanEnes KanterFred Stella

Gob HentschkeGuzeldere Consulting, Inc.

H. Ali YurtseverHanifi Tiryaki

Harran Productions FoundationIbrahim DemirIhsan Yilmaz

Isa HafalirJack D FranksJames B Davis

James HarringtonJDS USA LLC

Jessica WalkerJohn Wilson

Karen Lewis AlexanderKathy SwearingenKenneth L HunterKenneth L Smith

Kirk ReedKurt Kirchoff

Lancaster Awan and Associates, Inc.Louis Wu

Marianne M SmithMarrianne Armstrong

Merve SakarNancy J Kretsch

Nasip LLCNeslihan AsdemirOltjon Albajrami

Ozgur BerberogluPasha Grill LLCPatricia Steiner

Peggy ParfenoffSadik KucuksariScott AlexanderSimon Spearman

Teresa ThomeTransfirex, Inc

Trudy M BeckerTufan KaragozWarren Epstein

Y. Burak CanbolatYakup AltinisikYi-Chen Yang

Yngvild DaltveitZack YaziciZafer IpekciZeki Akdemir Ziya Bahmanli

Dr. Emine at Kimse Yok Muheadquarters in Mogadishupreparing for clinic visits

Staff at the largest Mogadishu prison introduce the cooking crew

Famous tunnel used during the siegeof Sarajevo

Suburbs of Erbil

S O C I A L M E D I A

https://www.facebook.com/loveisaverbmovie

@Love_Is_A_Verb_

https://www.youtube.com/user/loveisaverbmovie

https://www.vimeo.com/globalvisionpro

https://www.loveisaverbmovie.com

Kimse Yok Mu serves thousands of refugees at Camp Seytka in Mogadishu

Kurdish teacher, Nergis, discussing school activitieswith her mother