We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Armin Nasseri a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Armin, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
It took time to build my confidence and self-esteem. Throughout my life experience, I built my confidence by learning to trust and getting rid of self-doubt. Having self-doubt will only hinder you from accomplishing your goals. I built my self-esteem by learning to stop comparing myself to others. Making comparisons to other people both online and offline is unproductive and doesn’t do you any good. I’m always recognizing my strength and working on my weaknesses. Always know your value when you recognize your strength. I just continue to surround myself with uplifting people that want to see you evolve. Be kind to yourself and ignore the naysayers.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am a first-generation, Iranian-American. I was born and raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. I was introduced to the arts at a very young age. My father was always painting landscapes and portraits in our household. I caught the bug and started painting and drawing pictures in my free time. As an ’80s baby and a ’90s child, I was consuming many commercial movies, television shows and music videos. My cousin and I would always reenact scenes from popular movies in our backyards.
At the age of ten, my parents took me to my first arthouse film, where we watched The White Balloon, directed by Jafar Panahi. I was in a movie theater surrounded by several members of the Iranian community as we watched a film that was not only a compelling story told through the eyes of a child, but a representation of my Iranian heritage as well as a reflection of my family’s native country.
When I was 18 years of age, my parents and I were at a social gathering with our friends from the Persian community. My childhood friend was there and he brought over a copy of a short film that he acted in. The short film that he screened was titled Backgammon, directed by Ramin Bahrani. This was early in Ramin Bahrani’s career before he went on to direct Man Push Cart, Chop Shop and The White Tiger. His short film resonated with me. It was the first time I ever watched a westernized, multi-generational, Iranian family on a television screen. I was inspired to see a person, who looks and sounds like me, capture a visual story in our hometown that brought generational conflicts and cultural identity to the forefront. The night I left the party, I was excited, motivated and found my calling.
I began my career in Wilmington, North Carolina before moving to Los Angeles. I went to acting school and then I enrolled at Los Angeles City College, where I studied film and production as well as making short films. After completing the program at LACC, I enrolled at West L.A. College. After I graduated, I worked on over 30 productions in the course of three years. I have done almost everything you can imagine on a film set from storyboard images to editing and everything in between.
I started Polar Underworld Productions and set my main focus on directing because there were a lot of voices that have not been heard on major platforms. I directed two major short films: Seeking Valentina and The Carting Call. Both of my short films showcased an inclusive, gender-balanced cast and eliminated stereotypes and tropes that have been perpetuated by Hollywood. Seeking Valentina and The Carting Call has received many awards, nominations and has gotten distribution.
I co-directed my first feature film The Central Authority with one of my long time collaborators Kristin West. We produced it with Dana Olita and Matt Chassin. We filmed it remotely during the height of the pandemic and we are all proud to make an inclusive film that has won multiple awards, including Best Ensemble Cast and Best Use Of A Diverse Cast from FANtastic Horror Film Festival.
I directed my first documentary feature George Hobbs: Stick Figure Wisdom. I produced it with Kristin West and Matt Chassin. George Hobbs: Stick Figure Wisdom is about an American artist named George Hobbs, who is using his art to bring people together. I’m humbled that the documentary took home the Grand Prize for Best Documentary Feature at Marina del Rey Film Festival and it also won Best Documentary Feature and Best Original Song for “Jesus Was A Liberal” at Sweet Democracy Film Awards. It’s great to see that people are responding to George’s message.
I was honored to direct both “Miles Around” and “Safe” music videos performed by Aventurine. Both music videos have received multiple nominations and awards at film festivals domestically and internationally. I also acted in a punk horror short film titled Play It All Night Long, directed by Quinn Bailey. I co-directed Rodney Damon Collins and Cristina Vargas in The Central Authority and it was such a joy to reunite and share the screen with them alongside Bill Oberst, Jr. Play It All Night Long is in the film festival circuit. I am currently working on a documentary feature with Todd Garner and Jo Harmon and another documentary with Bessy Adut, who is an award-winning filmmaker. I am just excited and privileged to work with a lot of talented artists. My purpose in life is to tell stories that showcase how we are all alike regardless of ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or gender. I want to give a voice to the voiceless and for the audience member to see a human experience portrayed on screen.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
My preparation for becoming a director began by doing many different jobs on many different sets. I have been an actor, photographer, camera assistant, second assistant director, boom operator, art director, set dresser, art department assistant, production assistant, craft services, storyboard artist and editor.
The three jobs that were the most impactful on this journey were acting, photography and editing. I feel this way because these are the three departments that I interact with the most as a director. As a director, I work with actors to help prepare them for their roles. I also work closely with the camera department to help set up shots that are aesthetically pleasing. I work closely with the editing department to create a finished product that hopefully the audience will enjoy.
For someone who wants to start out as a director, I highly recommend working on many departments, so they can understand what each department does and what their needs are.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
They brought me into this world. They gave me love and support. I’m forever grateful.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @arminnasseri
- Facebook: facebook.com/arminnasserifilmmaker
Image Credits
Bessy Adut, Steve Escarcega, Kristin West, Todd Garner, Jo Harmon, Lydia Keen Woodruff
