 The two young filmmakers wanted the veteran actor to commit to a short film idea they wished to shoot.A few years previous, Badreya had met Shalhoub in a Cuban restaurant in L.A. by walking up to him and introducing himself and managing to leave the chance encounter with Shalhoub’s phone number in hand.Against all odds, and much to his credit, Shalhoub agreed to consider working with the two young men.