Little known about group behind movie

Clumsily produced film ridicules the Muslim faith.

LOS ANGELES — The shared belief that radical Islam threatens the world brought together an exconvict, an insurance salesman and a Christian charity in production of a crudely crafted film that ridicules Muslims and the prophet Muhammad and has incited violent protests across the Middle East.

Media for Christ, a nonprofit that raised more than $1 million last year “to glow Jesus’ light” to the world, was listed as the production company for the film. Steve Klein, a California insurance salesman and Vietnam War veteran who has spent years protesting at mosques and espousing hatred of radical Muslims, acted as the film’s promoter.

Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, who authorities say has used multiple names and was convicted of bank fraud, says he managed logistics for the film.

Federal authorities have identified Nakoula as the key figure behind the film.

A federal law enforcement official said authorities had connected Nakoula to a man using the pseudonym of Sam Bacile who claimed earlier to be writer and director of the film.

Federal probation offi- cers interviewed Nakoula, 55, for about a half hour early Saturday in his hometown of Cerritos, Calif., said Steve Whitmore, spokesman for the Los Angeles County sheriff ’s department. After that, deputies dropped Nakoula off at an undisclosed location.

“He is gone. We don’t know where he went,” Whitmore said. “He said he is not going back to his home.”

Federal officials are investigating whether Nakoula, who has been convicted of financial crimes, has violated the terms of his five-year probation. If so, a judge could send him back to prison.

Most of “Innocence of Muslims” was shot in about two weeks inside a warehouse that serves as the offices of Media for Christ, according to Eric Moers, who served as chief electrician for the production.

The clumsily produced movie, which looks like a spoof, alternately portrays Muhammad as a fraud, a womanizer and a child molester.

Moers said the film took 15 to 16 days to shoot and 90 percent of the work was done at the Media for Christ studios. Moers said there was no mention of the name Muhammad throughout the filming.

Other actors have come forward to say references to Muhammad were dubbed after the film was shot and they had no idea the film would be so denigrating.