This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/13/anti-islam-trailer-police-california

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Film-maker behind anti-Islam trailer under police protection in California Film-maker behind anti-Islam trailer stays silent amid media siege
(about 5 hours later)
Police in California are keeping a protective watch over the makers of the anti-Islamic video who fear for their safety amid surging violence across the Arab world. The maker of the anti-Islamic video which triggered violence across the Arab world was believed to be hunkered in his California home amid a media siege and revelations about his criminal record.
Sheriff's deputies were sent to the home of Nakoula Basseley Nakoula in Cerritos, just outside Los Angeles, on Wednesday night because he feared retaliation after being identified as the producer of the Innocence of Muslims. Members of the FBI joint terrorism task force also visited his home amid growing evidence that Nakoula, 55, a Coptic Christian, was Sam Bacile, the pseudonym of the blasphemous video's director and writer. Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, 55, stayed hidden from view on Thursday as television crews camped outside his door in a leafy suburb of Cerros, just outside Los Angeles.
Police monitored the scene but Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for the LA county sheriff, said this did not mean the maker of Innocence of Muslims was under police protection: "We're only here because the media is here." Whitmore declined to comment on reports that FBI counter-terrorism agents had questioned him.
Nakoula, an Egyptian-American Coptic Christian, has reportedly expressed fears of retaliation amid growing evidence that he is Sam Bacile, the pseudonym of the blasphemous video's director and writer.
Police also visited a production company called Media for Christ, a Christian non-profit in Duarte, California, after it was identified as the one which obtained a film permit for the shoot.Police also visited a production company called Media for Christ, a Christian non-profit in Duarte, California, after it was identified as the one which obtained a film permit for the shoot.
No threats were reported but with violence in the Arab world spreading to Yemen – following attacks on US targets in Egypt and Libya which cost the lives of the US ambassador and three colleagues in Benghazi – authorities in California were taking few chances. With violence in the Arab world spreading to Yemen – following attacks on US targets in Egypt and Libya which cost the lives of the US ambassador and three colleagues in Benghazi – authorities in California were taking few chances.
As the media descended on anyone associated with the video fresh details emerged about its production and promotion by an alliance of members of Egypt's Coptic diaspora and militant rightwing US Christians. Police also visited a production company called Media for Christ, a Christian non-profit in Duarte, California, after it was identified as the one which obtained a film permit for the shoot.
As the media descended on anyone associated with the video, fresh details emerged about its production and promotion by an alliance of members of Egypt's Coptic diaspora and militant rightwing US Christians.
The director and producer known to cast and crew as Bacile – now thought to be Nakoula, a Coptic activist who has been convicted of financial crimes – commissioned Media for Christ to shoot the video at Blue Cloud studios in Santa Clarita, also known as Blue Cloud Movie Ranch, according to the Pasadena Star-News.The director and producer known to cast and crew as Bacile – now thought to be Nakoula, a Coptic activist who has been convicted of financial crimes – commissioned Media for Christ to shoot the video at Blue Cloud studios in Santa Clarita, also known as Blue Cloud Movie Ranch, according to the Pasadena Star-News.
Cast and crew, recruited through a trade magazine, said in a statement on Wednesday they were told the film was set in Egypt 2,000 years ago and would be titled Desert Warriors.Cast and crew, recruited through a trade magazine, said in a statement on Wednesday they were told the film was set in Egypt 2,000 years ago and would be titled Desert Warriors.
It was shot quickly and cheaply with green screens. Post-production dubbing inserted insulting references to Islam and turned one character, Master George, into a murderous, sex-obsessed version of the prophet Muhammad.It was shot quickly and cheaply with green screens. Post-production dubbing inserted insulting references to Islam and turned one character, Master George, into a murderous, sex-obsessed version of the prophet Muhammad.
It had a budget of just $100,000, Jimmy Israel, a realtor linked to the production, told Buzzfeed. Bacile claimed to have cancer and to have briefly returned to Egypt to raise funding, Israel said.It had a budget of just $100,000, Jimmy Israel, a realtor linked to the production, told Buzzfeed. Bacile claimed to have cancer and to have briefly returned to Egypt to raise funding, Israel said.
There are unconfirmed reports the film was screened once earlier this year to a largely empty cinema in Hollywood. Not in question is the fact that in July a 13-minute video in English purporting to be a trailer for a full-length film was posted on YouTube under the pseudonym Sam Bacile.There are unconfirmed reports the film was screened once earlier this year to a largely empty cinema in Hollywood. Not in question is the fact that in July a 13-minute video in English purporting to be a trailer for a full-length film was posted on YouTube under the pseudonym Sam Bacile.
It was subsequently promoted by a Washington DC-based radical Coptic activist, Morris Sadik, and the Qur'an-burning Florida pastor Terry Jones. An Arabic-language version was posted on YouTube on September 4. Five days later it was being denounced by media and Muslim clerics in Egypt, prompting assaults on US diplomatic missions in Cairo and Benghazi.It was subsequently promoted by a Washington DC-based radical Coptic activist, Morris Sadik, and the Qur'an-burning Florida pastor Terry Jones. An Arabic-language version was posted on YouTube on September 4. Five days later it was being denounced by media and Muslim clerics in Egypt, prompting assaults on US diplomatic missions in Cairo and Benghazi.
A small network of militant US Christians helped the video's Californian Coptic makers.A small network of militant US Christians helped the video's Californian Coptic makers.
Steve Klein, an anti-Islamic activist and self-described counter-terrorism expert, said he acted as a "consultant" on the film. He did not respond to interview requests on Thursday.Steve Klein, an anti-Islamic activist and self-described counter-terrorism expert, said he acted as a "consultant" on the film. He did not respond to interview requests on Thursday.
Klein has worked closely with Coptic groups over the years, according to Jim Horn, a fellow activist. "He's been helping them to stand up for themselves against Islamic terror in Egypt. That's what he does," he told the Guardian.Klein has worked closely with Coptic groups over the years, according to Jim Horn, a fellow activist. "He's been helping them to stand up for themselves against Islamic terror in Egypt. That's what he does," he told the Guardian.
Jones, the Florida pastor, was not involved in production, only promotion. Last year he visited Los Angeles and tried to whip up Coptic attendance at a Qur'an-burning protest outside the Egyptian consulate, said Bishop Serapion, head of the Coptic diocese in southern California.Jones, the Florida pastor, was not involved in production, only promotion. Last year he visited Los Angeles and tried to whip up Coptic attendance at a Qur'an-burning protest outside the Egyptian consulate, said Bishop Serapion, head of the Coptic diocese in southern California.
"He encouraged the Copts to attend, but very few did because we don't believe in insulting other religions. We are against such things.""He encouraged the Copts to attend, but very few did because we don't believe in insulting other religions. We are against such things."
Jones, who was accompanied by Sadik, the Washington-based Copt activist, blamed the bishop for the low turnout, he said. "In fact I didn't need to tell people not to go, they knew not to go," Serapion said. At the protest Jones read verses from the Qur'an and tore pages but did not burn it.Jones, who was accompanied by Sadik, the Washington-based Copt activist, blamed the bishop for the low turnout, he said. "In fact I didn't need to tell people not to go, they knew not to go," Serapion said. At the protest Jones read verses from the Qur'an and tore pages but did not burn it.
The bishop, whose southern California flock comprises around 14,000 families, condemned the anti-Islamic video and said it did not reflect the views of most Copts, even though they said they left Egypt to escape persecution by the Muslim majority. "Just a few individuals are behind this film. It would be unfair if all Copts were held responsible."The bishop, whose southern California flock comprises around 14,000 families, condemned the anti-Islamic video and said it did not reflect the views of most Copts, even though they said they left Egypt to escape persecution by the Muslim majority. "Just a few individuals are behind this film. It would be unfair if all Copts were held responsible."