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Squeegee Boys_Excerpt 1/2

Excerpt from a short documentary about the "squeegee boys" of Baltimore. This film is currently in development. Directed and Edited by Khalid Ali.

Rediscovering Paul Moscatt - Excerpt

Excerpt from a 30-minute documentary about Baltimore painter, Paul Moscatt. Directed and Edited by Khalid Ali

Ballad of the Knife Sharpener - Excerpt

Excerpt from a 19-minute documentary about a young knife sharpener from rural China who uses his penetrating voice and songs to attract customers as he tries to make ends meet on the streets of Beijing. Directed and Edited by Khalid Ali. Translated by Omar Ali.

Away from the Grasslands

Trailer for a 28-minute documentary about the ethnic Mongolian band, Hanggai. Directed and Edited by Khalid Ali

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About Khalid

Baltimore County

Khalid Ali is a filmmaker, photographer and educator.  Khalid studied filmmaking at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California with the intention of pursuing a career in Hollywood.  That all changed when he travelled to China for the first time.  Upon graduation, Khalid began taking yearly trips to China to collaborate with brothers Omar and Tariq on more ambitious personal projects.  These trips evolved into a series of short documentaries exploring Chinese kung fu,... more
View Khalid's Resume

Squeegee Boys Doc (In Development)

The "Squeegee Boys" are best known for washing windshields of cars stopped at intersections around Baltimore. Seen by some as entrepreneurial and by others as aggressive hooligans, little is known about the actual circumstances that drive these young men to pick up a squeegee. This film attempts to tell their story in their own words. The project is a first-time collaboration between Khalid Ali and photographer Brad Ziegler.

  • Squeegee Boys_Excerpt 1/2

    Excerpt from a short documentary about the "squeegee boys" of Baltimore. This film is currently in development. Directed and Edited by Khalid Ali.

  • Squeegee Boys_Excerpt 2/2

    Michael at work on the corner of North and Howard.

  • Michael, North and Howard

    At the age of 37, Michael’s beleaguered advance through the pulsing traffic at North Avenue’s four-lane stop light differs from the youthful energy seen in many of the boys who populate the corners. Though the gesture of window washing is a step above panhandling in his opinion, the end goal is just the same; the work is a last resort for a man who’s employment prospects have been impeded by felony charges. “Not everyone wants to do this their whole life,” Michael sighs, his bleary eyes skimming the ground. --Photograph and Text by Brad Ziegler

  • Khalil - North Avenue and Mount Royal Terrace

    Khalil Green is a twenty-two year old squeegee boy. In April 2015, he was the subject of a photograph that emerged from the unrest surrounding the death of Freddie Gray. The image, shared and used by several prominent musicians, shows an emboldened Khalil on the front lines of the protest confronting police officers in riot gear. The intensity of the photo strikes a strong contrast to the older and more contemplative Khalil that now squeegees on the corner of North Avenue and Mt. Royal Terrace (or occasionally on North Avenue and Howard Street). --Photograph and Text by Brad Ziegler

  • Taevon

    Taevon's room - Photograph by Brad Ziegler

  • Nigel

    Nigel - Photograph by Brad Ziegler

  • Washington Blvd and MLK Diptych

    Washington Blvd and MLK Diptych - Photograph by Brad Ziegler

  • Couch Session (Impact Hub)

    Brad Ziegler discusses the "squeegee boy" project at Impact Hub - September 30, 2018

  • Couch Session (Impact Hub)

    Khalid and Taevon field questions about the "squeegee boy" project at Impact Hub - September 30, 2018

  • Couch Session (Impact Hub)

    Former "squeegee boy" Taevon talks about his experiences on the corner of Washington Blvd and MLK in Baltimore - September 30, 2018

Rediscovering Paul Moscatt

This film explores the life, work, and artistic vision of prolific Baltimore painter and retired MICA instructor, Paul Moscatt. This intimate film catches up with the 86 year-old artist as he paints and teaches, taking audiences inside the mind of one of Baltimore’s living art icons.

Ballad of the Knife Sharpener

A young knife sharpener from rural China who uses his penetrating voice and songs to attract customers as he tries to make ends meet on the streets of Beijing. 2017 / 19mins

  • Ballad of the Knife Sharpener - Excerpt

    Excerpt from a 19-minute documentary about a young knife sharpener from rural China who uses his penetrating voice and songs to attract customers as he tries to make ends meet on the streets of Beijing. Directed and Edited by Khalid Ali. Translated by Omar Ali.

Away from the Grasslands

A behind-the-scenes look at the ethnic Mongolian band, Hanggai, as they gather in Beijing to record a new album. Woven with live concert footage, intimate interviews, and an all-access look at the recording process, this film captures the band's attempt to preserve the past while creating something altogether new. Hear it from the band members and their producer, acclaimed Dutch musician and producer, JB Meijers, as they weave together musical influences as far back as Genghis Khan, as distant as punk rock, and as personal as the herdsmen's songs from the prairies of their childhood.

Connect with Khalid

website:
khalidalifilms

Khalid's Curated Collection

View Khalid's favorite works from other Baker Artists

Brad ZieglerVisual Arts
Brad ZieglerVisual Arts
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