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Monday, July 02, 2007

Reminding you just in case you forgot

Bismillah ar-Rahmaan ar-Raheem,


As many of you know, the Reminder videos are free to watch on the web at no cost to the viewer. The only thing we are trying to gain from this project is reward from our Creator if He accepts our intention & our actions InshAllah. Unfortunately, making the Reminders isn't free and there are many costs involved.

We decided to stay away from advertisements on the blog, popups, and even google ads because we didn't want to be accountable if the something haram was marketed. We also stayed away from sponsorships which has allowed to be censor-free (no one to answer to but Allah (swt). We also have shied away from donations because we don't want to be accountable if we accept the funds and we don't deliver.

Although these standards make it nice for the viewer, its becoming harder for us to continue. Many people have asked for the Reminder on DVD set, so that is our current project. We hope the profits from the upcoming DVD set will help us fund our project so we can continue coming out with more videos InshAllah. If you want to support the Reminder videos, please purchase the new DVD set when it comes out InshAllah.

The DVD set will have all 18 episodes of Season 1 and 2 in DVD quality InshAllah. In addition, I have added 2 unreleased episodes, which were completed this weekend. You won't find them on YouTube until Ramadan/Eid time but the topics aren't on Ramadan but rather they deal with the famous Muslim Marriage issues (part of the series) so you know its will be interesting :)

For anyone that has purchased the Mecca to Medina game, you know that I'm not cheap when it comes to production quality. In fact, I like to make things a little unique. Yeah, the easy way out was to make another Triva Based Islamic Game (like we don't have enough of those already), but I wanted to make something different and Alhamdulillah, based on the number of games sold, it looks like there was a lot of people who wanted the same.

Well, now that I'm in the process of coming up with the DVD set for the Reminder, I wanted to once again, give our viewers something more than just another DVD set. First off, I decided to hire a professional design firm (they have made nearly over a million dollars thus far doing design work so I think they're good) to design our DVD cover (quoted us $490.00). Next, I wanted the case to be different so I decided to toss the standard DVD case and go with a 3 panel doublesided full printed DVD case (view sample). This week, I need to hire a writer to help me come with the content to put on the DVD case InshAllah. Finally, I am in the process of buying the Final Cut Studio Pro 2 suite from Apple (rjavascript:void(0)
Publish Postetail price is $1299.00) so I can work on the DVD menu InshAllah. If all this sounds expensive, I haven't even shown you the price of making these DVD yet...hehehe.

In order to sell these DVD sets, I have to go to conferences. ISNA for example, has airfare expenses and hotel expenses, booth rental expense, etc.. Even though, my role is the Reminder is purely voluntary and I don't get paid for it, as you can see there are many expenses (only a few have been mentioned above) just to make a DVD set. The tough part is getting the funds for these items because in order to make money, you need money.

If you notice of our products thus far, it has been very reasonable. We sell long sleeve and XXL Ummah Films shirts for only $12 (try finding a Muslim shirts with those sizes at that price). Plus we print on decent quality shirts and stay away from the super cheap brand because we want the shirt to be good InshAllah. Yeah at $12 our profit margin is less but we don't want price to be a factor when wanting one of the shirts. The same goes for the Season 1 DVD which sells for $12. When was the last time you walked into an Islamic conference and saw a popular DVD for $12? Do you know what I'm sayin' Yeah our profit margin is less, but the goal was for more people to be able to afford it.

Now with the new DVD set (of both Season 1 and 2), we decided to sell them for $24 but we will sell at least the first 100 sets for $19 InshAllah to reward the intial people who support us. In addition, we have 2 additional unreleased videos and between 1 to 2 interviews regarding the Reminder on the DVD set (plenty of extras compared to the first DVD we released). Finally, we are working on giving you a high quality product by getting the best design firm to design it and a professional company to produce them InshAllah. We hope our viewers who have benefit from the Reminder support us InshAllah

JazakAllah khair
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24 Comments:

At July 02, 2007 8:35 AM, Blogger CptRatib said...

Salams Ali,
I think its a great idea to make a quality DVD for season 1&2, and I believe many will buy it as the ISNA conference as a gift for others.
$24 is worth it considering the quality you described.
Love your insentives-- first day buyers get it for $19 AND they get to wear an UF shirt that fits!
Maybe you should note to the viewers/readers now on your blog that this is a firm price, no Fisabililah Discount!
Jazak Allah Khair for all.

 
At July 02, 2007 10:47 AM, Blogger Taqiudeen bin Patrick said...

As salaam alaikum --

After breaking down all of the costs I thought that you were going to explian how a 12 CD set could cost $65.00. But a double DVD set for only $24.00, al-humduulillah, what a bargin.

No Feesabilllah discount needed.

Jazack Allahuu Kahir.

 
At July 02, 2007 12:44 PM, Blogger Baba Ali said...

Walaikum Salam,

Ummah Films is planning to break the ISNA cycle this year by rewarding the early shoppers instead of the last minute shoppers by giving them a $5 discount, which will bring the $24 DVD down to just $19 for our early supporters.

As you know, many people wait till the last day to do their shopping, hoping to take advantage of the retailer's "I can't carry all of this with me on the plane ride home" sale. Alhamdulillah, the DVDs are light and the demand has been high so far so I don't see that being an issue for us InshAllah.

 
At July 02, 2007 1:27 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Alhamdulillah,sounds gud!Inshallah Allah will reward all you guys that have put effort in this,with much abundance, esp for all the precautions youv taken for the sake of Allah.

I tink many of us have watched all the vidoes, and i would buy the DVD even then. And i think its a great gift-as its dawa and I think its a great way to wheel non practising muslims in!

Inshallah Ummah films will flourish in abundance and be a great tool, in increasing our knowledge and bringing us closer to the quran and Sunnah.And inshallah will be well known amongst the non-muslims and muslims.Ameen.

 
At July 02, 2007 4:43 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Would it be haram to offer the public a pre-order purchase option for the new Seasion 1+2 DVD's?

 
At July 03, 2007 2:12 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

what design firm are you using to design the dvd cover?

 
At July 03, 2007 4:46 AM, Blogger Radiant Light said...

Assalamualaykum;

When will the DVDs be available for the UK-ers to buy?

Ma'assalam

 
At July 03, 2007 7:57 AM, Blogger Baba Ali said...

Walaikum Salam,

I'm not sure regarding the fiqh end of the "preorder".

We are using the Net Men Corp as the design firm. We posted the job on a special website which allows various firms to bid for your project. We agreed with contract terms with this company because we were impressed by their design skill, even though they were the highest bidder. Since the design is not made by us, it is kinda out of hands but we chose the best company with the intention of getting the best possible design. Yeah it cost more but certain things are worth it.

The UK viewers can buy the DVD online once it is complete (I'm working on it as we speak so I don't have a confirm date). Most likely sometime in August InshAllah. My goal is to ship the DVD worldwide.

 
At July 03, 2007 1:19 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

we love u baba ali :-)

 
At July 03, 2007 10:30 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

is the dvd going to come out at the same time in all countries?? so that everyone has the same oppurtunity to be part of the first 100 buyers. COZ I WANNA BUY THREE!! thery're a great gift idea!!! :) hehehe

 
At July 03, 2007 11:21 PM, Blogger Sang Kelana said...

Assalamualaikum wbt

me too. i want to buy two sets. one for my sweetheart one for my family ^_^

when will you ship to another country? i live in germany but i'm from malaysia. It'll be nice if the DVDs available this summer holiday as i'll be back in Malaysia and can give it directly.

 
At July 04, 2007 10:35 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

slaams bro
we love your videos very much and mashallah we get reminded about a lot of things concerning our religion! Alhamdulillah!
We are waiting patiently for your next video and are going down with the countdown!LOL! You know what im sayin...? No seriously you know what im sayin..?
I'm also waiting for your DVDs and Inshallah they will be good! Cant wait for them even though we've watched all your videos many times! No we're not kidding!
well inshallah we will get then soon! Jazakallah Khair for thr Reminders!
Wassalam

 
At July 04, 2007 11:24 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

As Salaamu Alaykum brother,
I love your videos and I wish to share them my friends, and family.
They don't speak good english though so they won't really understand them, but I read somewhere that you are making videos with arabic subtitles. I can't wait but how long is it going to take. I hope they'll be ready soon, so my family can learn more about Islam.
Jassakum Allah Khaar.
Salaam.
Faithful viewer

 
At July 04, 2007 6:34 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

no way! i never imagined you in front of the camera like that!! thats so wierd!

 
At July 05, 2007 6:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Salaam Ahlykoem,

I would like to buy the DVD and the game 'mecca to medina' but I don't know how to order it. I don't have VISA so is there any other way to order the DVD and the game?????

 
At July 05, 2007 9:19 AM, Blogger Baba Ali said...

Walaikum Salam,

The DVD is not out yet because I have yet to even write/film the Season Finale. Plus, once that is complete, there is a lot of work that is needed to put the DVD together. Menu system, design of cover (being worked on), text for DVD, and of course exporting all the videos to DVD quality. I hope it will be ready in August InshAllah.

The game, Mecca to Medina, is available and can be purchased by copying and pasting this link into your browser:

http://www.muslimgames.com

If your in the UK, you can get it form our UK distributor

http://www.muslim-games.co.uk

 
At July 06, 2007 1:25 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Assalam alaikum,

Have you thought about getting Apple product through someone who works there (i.e. employee discount)?

 
At July 06, 2007 9:22 AM, Blogger Baba Ali said...

Assalammu' Alaikum,

Yes, we recently found that alternative so that saved us some money but the software is still expensive :)

Alhamdulillah.

JazakAllah khair

 
At July 10, 2007 7:15 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Bismillah
Assalaam Alaikum

I am a writer. Insha Allah, let me take a crack at your dvd case. I will do it for free.

 
At July 10, 2007 7:52 AM, Blogger Baba Ali said...

JazakAllah khair for your offer but the back of the dvd case has already been completed. We are in the process of getting the DVD case designed. While a design firm is working on that, we are trying to figure out how much can we fit on 2 DVDs before out deadline (July 19th). I still haven't written the season finale let alone film it so that is something still sitting on my plate. At the same time, I'm need to figure out how to make the DVD menu end of the two discs and make sure everything works properly InshAllah in different regions around. There are so many variables in this process and if we miss one, then we'll have problems so its crazy trying to do all of this at the same time.

To add icing on the cake, I just got an email from Direct TV yesterday that we are going to start filming the 2nd half of the season so I need to get them their material by Monday InshAllah. I work on a news show (presenting the news in my own way) and have done about 7 episodes thus far. Nevertheless, having both on my plate at the same time keeps me really busy these days.

 
At July 10, 2007 11:07 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

slaams
wow mashallah! but dont forget datu still hav us to remind!lol
wasslam

 
At June 05, 2008 4:06 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh to you all. You guys are doing a great job, may allah reward you.
I have been trying to get a hold of your Mecca to Medina game for the past 6 months but without any luck. Please inform us were i can purchase your game in the UK.

Jazak Allahu Khair

 
At April 18, 2011 8:21 AM, Anonymous cheap viagra said...

Well that's great, I would sucks if youtube start to charge for videos hahah thanks for share this project it's very interesting and many people should watch it.

 
At November 10, 2012 7:11 AM, Anonymous Justinetos said...

Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh to you all. You guys are doing a great job, may allah reward you. I have been trying to get a hold of your Mecca to Medina game for the past 6 months but without any luck. Please inform us were i can purchase your game in the UK. Jazak Allahu Khair  

 

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