While the massive streaming platforms jostle for supremacy, a startup called
FamCinema sets itself apart with family-friendly and healthy entertainment choices. At its helm is Dr. Ali Shehata, a visionary whose diverse background fuses medicine and media to bring a new mission to digital content creation.
How one creator’s passion for diversity launched Famcinema
Dr. Ali Shehata grew up in the United States as a first-generation Muslim immigrant. As a child, he struggled with the stereotypes of Arabs and Muslims in modern media.
“On TV and in the movies, we’re always the villains,” Dr. Shehata observes. “As I started working with kids myself through community outreach, I began to see other young people dealing with the same issue. These young people asked, ‘Is there something wrong with me? Am I a bad person?’”
In the wake of COVID-19, Dr. Shehata watched the media landscape transform almost overnight. As theaters closed their doors and streaming companies rose to prominence, he seized the opportunity to launch a small company that could make a big statement.
His streaming platform, FamCinema, started producing content with two key qualities: it was family-friendly, and it was inclusive.
Having worked across the United States and the world, Dr. Shehata brings a global perspective and an appreciation for diverse narratives to FamCinema. His platform bridges cultural gaps and ensures that audiences have access to a broad spectrum of voices. Above all, he embraces stories that explore a variety of human conditions and perspectives.
“Because of my background, much of the platform’s initial content relates to Islam,” Dr. Shehata explains. “However, I see the platform growing in all directions. I focus on marginalized communities and people who have been negatively stereotyped, but we're open to all types of family-friendly content.”
Rejecting the subscription streaming model to offer healthy entertainment choices
Though Dr. Shehata is an award-winning filmmaker, he is not quitting his day job as a board-certified family medicine physician with specialized training in emergency medicine. His journey in healthcare began with an undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology from the University of Central Florida and a medical degree from the Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine. After working in emergency departments across South Carolina, Georgia, and Minnesota, he took on an Emergency Medicine Consultant post at King Faisal Hospital in Saudi Arabia.
Upon returning to the United States, Dr. Shehata shifted back to primary care. His keen interest in media may seem surprising, but it springs, in part, from a concern for his youngest patients.
“As a doctor, I firmly believe in screen time limits,” notes Dr. Shehata. “When kids get more than 14 to 15 hours of screen time per week, we see real developmental damage.”
Dr. Shehata feels the
subscription model for content streaming is largely to blame for today’s culture of
excessive screen time. Access to thousands of hours of programming for one price inevitably leads to irresponsible behavior. To help set limits, he implemented a pay-per-view model on Famcinema.
“Almost every child comes into my office with a tablet,” Dr. Shehata remarks. “Parents use them as pacifiers. Unfortunately, when kids grow up like this, they’re not developing coping skills. They need constant stimulation from a screen to find peace. From a health standpoint, it's imperative for us to take notice of this and to do something about it.”
Using the pay-per-view model to empower diverse content creators
FamCinema’s unique pay-per-view model also enables Dr. Shehata to promote his passion for inclusive and creative storytelling. In the streaming industry, algorithms and profitability often overshadow smaller creators with unique voices. FamCinema prioritizes creators and their stories over commercial interests.
“People are complaining about recent movies from large streaming companies,” Dr. Shehata observes. “Lately, the big producers seem to follow a formula for what they think most people want to watch. They bring in a couple of big names and throw a story together in a few months. It's no wonder that none of this programming is memorable. Meanwhile, the content creators, filmmakers, and writers are being forced out of their jobs.”
Dr. Shehata's vision for FamCinema is to serve creators first. Unlike streaming services that sideline smaller content providers and independent filmmakers, FamCinema places their needs and voices at the forefront.
“Our revenue share model is extremely direct,” says Dr. Shehata. “Our content creators come away with 50 to 70% of programming profits. Our transparent model allows creators to calculate exactly how many streams will allow them to break even. It also allows customers to directly support the content creators they appreciate.”
This model ensures that creators receive what they deserve and cultivates a sense of trust and loyalty between the platform and its users. Dr. Shehata eliminates the opaque practices plaguing the streaming industry by clearly delineating how revenues are distributed.
“Some of the most talented people in this industry are being marginalized,” Dr. Shehata warns. “We were privileged to grow up watching the greatest stories ever told. However, we're on the brink of losing all that because of unfair revenue models.”
By putting creators first, Dr. Shehata is setting a new standard for what a streaming service can be. In a market where algorithms frequently dictate content, FamCinema offers creators an environment that encourages creativity over conformity.
The venture is only just beginning, but the implications of Dr. Shehata's vision are profound. In placing creators at the forefront, he offers more than just a new streaming platform. He makes a bold statement about the purpose of media. By basing his vision on the needs of both consumers and creators, he promises to offer something rare in the world of digital entertainment: authenticity and heart.
