The scene opens as the character frowns and rolls her eyes at her mother's suggestion to marry a man she has never even met. As she hangs up, she sits down and thinks about the man she does love, who is far away from her and in Pakistan.

English subtitles narrate this American-Pakistani movie that speaks to the audience about culture, love and drama.

The Associated Students of Performing Arts and Lectures presented the world premiere of Pakistani filmmaker, Hassan Zee’s second film, “Destination: Love” to an audience of about 40 at the Cesar Chavez Student Center’s Jack Adams Hall Tuesday evening.

Destination: Love, did not only make its debut at SF State, but was edited by SF State alum Dan Gitlin.

“SF State students have very good insight, are intelligent and work hard to make [my film] happen,” Zee said. “I like to work with people who want to make it happen and are hard working.”

Gitlin, who graduated in 2005 with a BA in cinema production, was called by a classmate who saw Zee's Craigslist ad to be an editor and production assistant for Zee's first film "Night of Henna" during his last year at SF State.

“He asked me to assist him once again because he probably wanted someone he knew and felt comfortable with,” Gitlin said.

The majority of Destination: Love is spoken in Pakistan’s native language, Urdu, with English subtitles. Gitlin said the language can be a barrier, in regards to editing the film, but in the end, it made for a good learning experience.

For the television-bound film, Zee and Gitlin traveled to New Jersey for two and a half months to shoot on location.

“Working with Hassan is very interesting because he has a very unique style,” Gitlin said. “It takes a little getting used to.”

According to Zee, he and Gitlin would spend over 16 hours a day together. At times Zee would wake up at 5 in the morning with an idea and call Gitlin up to edit a certain part of the film.

“It’s a little frustrating because I would’ve just dropped him off at 2 a.m.,” Gitlin said. “But it went to show how much love [Hassan] had for the project and it’s kind of endearing.”

Destination: Love follows the lives of two Pakistani individuals--a deeply cultured young American born Pakistani woman and a young man from Pakistan who are living in New Jersey (at the time).

It addresses deep cultural values and issues such as the topic of arranged marriages. The film is a Bollywood type of film made up of modern love drama mixed with cultural values and beliefs.

“I thought it was kind of funny,” said Peter Davy, 35, publicity coordinator for SF State’s Associated Students Performing Arts and Lectures. “I’m glad it didn’t have a typical Hollywood Spielberg ending and has a different style.”

Hassan is currently working on his third film entitled “Bicycle Bride” and is looking forward to working with more SF State students. He is currently in the works to start an internship cinema program at SF State by fall 2008.

Destination: Love will be broadcasting on Pakistani/Indian television in April.