Qasim “Q” Basir has been taking the movie industry by storm for years now, but it wasn’t always about the movies. He was planning on a career in law until he flew through the window of a car during a traffic accident in 2002. He said that while recovering from his injuries, "I decided I needed to do what I loved, and make a difference while doing so." That was making movies. After completing his first feature film, 1Nation 2Worlds, he began doing just that. He took the film to colleges and universities all over the country, challenging students and professors to open discussions on the important issue of race. “I feel like ignorance is one of the most significant issues hindering our society today,” says Qasim. His next film, award winning short “Glimpse,” dealt with a different subject but had the same idea, erasing ignorance. But this time, as it deals with Muslims in America. More recently, Qasim has been concentrating on more pressing matters, creating a short film series aimed at supporting Presidential candidate Barack Obama. The series, The Inspiration of Barack: “Yes We Can” Film Series, is a compilation of seven short films all dealing with different people who become inspired by Obama to take essential steps forward in their lives. Similar to 1Nation 2Worlds, he plans to take the series to theaters around the country, release the videos on the internet and eventually get them to the campaign itself. “My whole purpose is to help change the world. Obama getting in office will be a huge step in that direction. This is my way of trying to help him do so.”

Qasim has been featured in publications such as USA Today, The New York Times, The New York Post, Crain's Business Magazine, The Detroit News, The Michigan Chronicle and more. He has also appeared on a number of TV and radio shows as a result of his work.

Show full bio

Hide full bio