Producer Chris Nassif: Offering You The Stars

A descendant of Lebanese immigrants who rose to the top through sheer hard work and dedication, Chris Nassif climbed to Hollywood status using the same Lebanese morals, values and traditions he was brought up with –– strong family ties, hard work, honesty and respect. 

 

 

Nassif, Managing Director of Global Entertainment Ventures and CEO of Diverse Talent Group, is the name behind celebrities such as Ricky Martin, Luke Perry, Molly Shannon, Tara Reid, James Vanderbeek and many more. He doesn’t only reach for the stars, he creates them.

 

The beginning

The family history of the Nassifs is similar, in so many ways, to the history of many Lebanese American families across the United States. From humble beginnings, they have become a perfect example of the American dream. They have successfully built a new life and home, so that succeeding generations will have a better life than the ones who fled their homeland in search of better opportunities.

 

The story begins with George Nassif Attiyeh Sr. (Nassif’s grandfather), who left his hometown of Ain Arab in the Bekaa valley of Lebanon in 1907. It was his will for a better life that opened the doors for the future generations. 

 

In 1911, George married Alexandria and they had three sons – one of which was Sabin. It was at the University of Southern California where Sabin completed his undergraduate degree. He majored in business administration. It is also where he changed his name from Saba to Sabin, making it easier for people to pronounce.

 

Sabin married Anne in 1944 in Boston and had three beautiful children, Chris, Alexis and Paul.  All three children had bright futures to look forward to.

 

Nassif’s brother, Paul, is a renowned plastic surgeon and his sister Alexis is a restaurateur who owns and manages the regular Hollywood hangout, Holly Street Bar and Grill. But if it’s the stars you want, Chris is the man. 

 

Chris Nassif shines in Hollywood

Following in his father’s footsteps, Nassif attended the University of Southern California in 1981. Upon completion of his degree, he received many job offers but he opted instead to start his own company, now called Diverse Talent Group, at the early age of 22. “I didn’t want to work for anybody,” he stated. 

 

“Sometimes I regret starting my own company right after I graduated because it took me a lot longer to establish myself. It was a lot of hard work,” he said.

But all that hard work definitely paid off and after many years in the business, Nassif considers himself to be a success story. “I believe I am an example of the American dream because I have an immigrant grandfather who became successful himself and years later, he went back to Ain Arab and helped in rebuilding the town. Today, his grandchildren are well known and successful in the U.S.,” he said. 

 

Nassif can perhaps attribute his success to his business philosophy, which is to help clients broaden their expertise into new areas of the entertainment industry.  A perfect example are the Maloof brothers, well known in the sports world as the owners of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, who are venturing into the music, television, and film arenas.

 

Another example is Ricky Martin, whom Nassif met more than ten years ago. Nassif, with his knack for talent, immediately knew this guy was going to be famous one day. All he had to do was convince the music industry. “The studios weren’t interested,” said Nassif, “but I was the one who saw the big picture. The reason you know Ricky Martin is me.” 

 

The fact that Nassif is never satisfied can also be a contributing factor to his success.  “I’m never satisfied,” he said. “I like to keep expanding, growing, changing. I think working with the people of Lebanon has become my new challenge.”

 

A family man, Nassif considers his two precious children to be his greatest joy in life. His professional achievements have also brought him happiness by “building a successful company and helping many talented people reach fame and success,” he said.

 

If Nassif had one wish to ask from God, he wouldn’t lie and ask for world peace, he humored. What he would wish for however, is to have all the positive power he needs to affect change in his life and all those around him.

 

As for the Lebanese generation of today, Nassif advises them “to be open-minded, not jaded, have a fresh outlook, persevere and think of a greater, bigger, more powerful vision for the country of Lebanon.”

 

Home at last

Chris Nassif might not be a name you often hear in Lebanon but, with his collaboration with Roger Kalaouz & Associates (RK&A) for the making of Arab video clips, that will soon change. 

 

In a recent visit to Lebanon, Nassif and film producer and director, Michael Oblowitz, hoped to create a specialized film production company in Lebanon, specifically for the production of music video clips and television commercials in the Middle Eastern market. This has been a long-time dream for Nassif. “While I was doing this for Ricky Martin, I thought, ‘my God, it’s too bad I can’t do this for people in Lebanon.’ That was years ago. But what I found out is that what I usually think, manifests into something real… eventually,” he enthused.

 

These music videos will feature the most contemporary production design, editing, visual effects and camera-work. This opportunity will give some lucky Middle Eastern celebrities the chance to work with the very best. In fact, we’ve heard that Nancy Ajram, Yuri Mrakadi, Paolo K and Assi Hellani have already signed contracts with the company. 

 

Nassif regrets not visiting Lebanon in the past. “I didn’t really know Lebanon. I had no contacts here. In fact, I have many relatives I haven’t even met.” Although Nassif lives in the U.S., he grew up within a Lebanese community and, as he puts it, “I’m a second-generation American but I’m a Lebanese at heart.”