Maria Bangui personally understands the power of authentic storytelling, and potential narratives have to build bridges of commonality and connection between people.
As Vice President of Casting and Inclusion Strategies for The Walt Disney Studios, some of her team responsibilities include overseeing hundreds of film productions from corporate entities such as Twentieth Century Studios, Pixar, Marvel Entertainment, Lucasfilm, and more.
“I’ve loved stories all my life,” said Bungie. “The powerful thing about stories is that they use the language of feelings.” “The story is not data. The story is not, you know, science, the story is really about a lived human experience.”
Bungie believes that when a story is done well, it can create real change and help people connect with each other through the lens of better understanding and a willingness to rethink preconceived notions.
“As a Muslim, I’ve seen that in many ways when I come into contact with people who fear or doubt me, for me to be able to share something about me, it actually enables them to see that there are some commonalities and similarities,” she told ABC. “It’s a door through which you can start a conversation that can change the way someone understands you.”
Her team has worked on productions like “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and Disney’s upcoming “The Little Mermaid,” which audiences can’t wait to see.
Furthermore, Bunge says that stories through media enable us to understand those who may be different from us, but at the same time, storylines can instill fear and division.
“I know firsthand how stories can really hurt people,” she said. “I was a sophomore in high school when 9/11 happened.” “One of the things I saw was that overnight, my story was taken away from me. So a lot of people started projecting what they understood as who I was, and it was a deep alienation.”
Over time, the life-changing experience emboldened her to help people find their agency and reclaim their narratives. Today, Bunji feels incredibly privileged and honored in her profession, which gives her the opportunity to make a difference in the inclusion and representation space.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t until recently that bungee saw itself reflected in popular culture for the first time. As part of Project Ms. Marvel, a series released by Marvel Entertainment featuring a Pakistani Muslim American teen who discovers she is a superhero, Bunji and her team worked hard to make sure the series was authentic and felt appropriate for a global audience.
The response she has received about Ms. Marvel has been very positive. Both professionally and personally, Bangee is extremely proud of its team’s hands-on work on this history-making production.
As an American Muslim, Bunji celebrates Ramadan, a very special time culturally during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. This sacred time for Muslims around the world is filled with daily fasting from sunrise to sunset, prayer, reflection and community.
“It’s a really beautiful time in the Muslim community. It’s a time for family, celebration, and connection,” Bangui tweeted.
She sees Ramadan as an opportunity to change people’s perspective of what the holy month really means.
“What I’m hoping for is that we’re really starting to get over, you know, the fear and get to a place of learning. First of all, fasting in a lot of ways helps you refocus and reconnect,” Bunji says.
Part of Ramadan’s religious traditions is the idea of love and service, encouraging Muslims to consider one’s obligations to integrity and character and to consider ways of serving others.
Banji had an important message for future storytellers, especially young Muslim men.
Bungie said, “I dream big. I think my life is a testament to the amazing things that can happen when you take risks and believe.” “We need more storytellers to get out there and share their beautiful imagination.”
The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of this ABC station.
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https://abc13.com/storytellers-spotlight-marya-bangee-diverse-storytelling-on-the-red-carpet/13150711/
