Oma Hamou
Entertainment Executive
BIOGRAPHY
Tricia Walters
Oma Hamou's background is as colorful as her ancestry, which includes
both Native American, Russian, English, Irish and German lineage. Oma
was born in a strict Christian family to a coal miner father on August
1, 1963, in Charleston, West Virginia, the oldest of six children. She
was named after her Grandmother who died when her father was an infant
her father eventually became a Southern Baptist minister. He suffered
from a rare heart disease that prevented him from working and gradually
in time he became a substance abuser.
Growing up she suffered from poverty and child abuse.
Often there was not enough food to feed six hungry children and many
times they went to bed without dinner. Some holidays were bleak as others
gathered around the Christmas tree to open gifts, Oma and her siblings
had nothing to offer except for gifts that they had made by hand. She
worked odd jobs such as cleaning homes and at the local A & W restaurant
as a waitress to help support her family during her father's long absence
away from home. To escape her abusive father she boarded a Greyhound
bus to Hollywood, California with only a paper sack as a suitcase. This
small frail child, wearing only a sailor dress, saddle shoes clutched
tightly to the brown paper bag - all of her worldly possessions were
inside of this brown bag. A doll, two pairs of jeans and some under
garments.
In Hollywood she met a man that took her in and eventually
became as a father. She went to school, did a lot of modeling
work and appeared in several films. Though moderately successful
she slowly became disillusioned with the Hollywood whirlwind.
Nearly a decade ago, Oma Hamou a young mother was a victim
of domestic violence. Also, nearly a decade ago, the concept of Battered
Women's Syndrome was relatively new, at least, far from the understanding
that the courts and society have now come to realize. Oma Hamou's marriage
is now over.
With this turbulent period of her life behind her, Oma
is currently a member of the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice,
Women In Film (W.I.F.), The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Pushkin
and Pavlosk, American Chamber of Commerce in Russia, and the U. S. Chamber
of Commerce.
Motivated in part by her own memories of childhood poverty
and abuse, her philanthropic initiatives have included work with abused
women and orphaned children, the blind, the homeless and the Native
American Culture.
Her love of acting and her desire to bring quality entertainment
projects into production prompted her to form her own production company,
Enigma Films, Inc., in 2001.
Being an American of Russian ancestry she has always been
interested in her cultural heritage. Her Russian lineage comes from
her Mother's Grandfather, John Forman. There is little known about him,
as he came to America in 1917 from St. Petersburg, Russia, when he was
5 years old. During this period of life it was very common of Russian
émigrés to change their family's surname.
She read Edvard Radzinky's book, "The Last Tzar"
and was drawn to the plight of the Imperial Family. She wanted to know
why they were murdered? She spent long hours researching and scouring
for information from deep within the UCLA Campus's libraries and other
sources. She wanted to know more and to understand how this happened?
Why did this powerful dynasty suddenly become a name without a voice?
This spurred her to write the book " A Matter of Honor".
Artists rendering of OMA, St Petersburg, Russia -2001
The initial concept of producing a film about the Imperial
Family broadened into a wider mission during her visit to Russia that
included restoring some of Russia's most renowned historical monuments.
Her visit to Russia in 2001 was an intense journey that had a profound
impact on her life and would change it forever. One of many things that
happened was that she became an Orthodox Christian.
Not forgetting where she came from and learning more about
her heritage inspired her to create her nonprofit foundation, "The
Sarskaia Foundation". She believes that protecting the world's
cultural heritage is vital to humanity's spiritual and social integrity,
and to our sense of pride and identity. Heritage preservation is an
opportunity to share in the stewardship of the world around us.
Her Foundation is actively engaged in the rehabilitation
of Tzarskoye Selo city's historic core; restoring the Fedorovsky Cathedral,
the Fedorovsky Little Town and the Alexander Palace, last home of Czar
Nicholas II and his family.
A truism of life is that timing is everything. The saga
of bringing the life of Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorvna to the screen
is a long and tortured one, marked by a succession of overtures that
led no where and one young woman: Oma Hamou, who is determined to see
the project through. As the adage goes: "Be careful what you wish
for, you just might get it".
Although the project was and has always been hers, she,
together with Director David Davidson, created the screenplay "As
A Matter of Honour" from her novel. Oma's personal ordeal has been
to bring "As A Matter of Honour" to the screen, this project
fell apart many times, but she never panicked, she couldn't give up.
Film projects do fall apart; some burst at the seams and are unable
to be pulled back together. Like a great recipe for a delicious dish,
"As A Matter of Honour" is a project that had to be marinated.
It took longer because the flavor of the story had to saturate, so that
in the end it became wonderful.
"I am very excited by the progress Oma has made with
"As A Matter of Honour". I say I am excited, yet in no way
am I surprised. I know, as do all who meet her, that this film, the
Russian restoration project and what both will mean to Russia and the
world are her life's passion. Over the years she has remained a pillar
of strength and commitment. I have seen her passion, strength and commitment
inspire others, myself included, to believe in the extreme importance
and inevitability of this endeavor. I am convinced this project is one
of historical importance and consider myself privileged to be a part
of it", said David Davidson the director of "As A Matter of
Honour".
Today, her life is full as she juggles parenting, writing,
running a film company and managing The Sarskaia Foundation. Inspired
by the words of Martin Luther King Jr., "To serve…you only
need a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love". Oma endeavors,
with her indefatigable spirit, to put her resources and charisma towards
making a difference wherever she can. Oma's personal mission is to be
courageous and help others, she states "I believe that the capacity
for courage is within us all, and there are no greater heroes that those
who serve others."
