Meet Aziz Tazi

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Aziz Tazi a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Aziz, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

I truly believe that faith is what sustains me these days. As you know, the film industry is fiercely competitive and rife with rejection. Hearing “no” is a constant refrain, and as an artist, my heightened sensitivity makes me even more vulnerable to the persistent negativity. What empowers me to persevere despite the many closed doors is my belief in God and higher ideals. I feel that as a good person, God will eventually reward me with success or even greater blessings. So i just keep going.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am a Moroccan-born, LA-based filmmaker featured on Forbes 30 Under 30. My mission is to challenge stereotypes about my culture and share stories rooted in my heritage and experiences. My latest feature, Night Walk, starring Mickey Rourke, was filmed in five cities across two continents. It was acquired by Lionsgate, making it the first Moroccan film in history to garner Hollywood distribution. Since then, it has been released worldwide and is available in over 30 languages. Currently, I am working on a new project based on a true story, centered around a prison drama, which we aim to shoot before the end of the year.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

In this journey, I believe versatility is one of the most critical skills a filmmaker can possess. The ability to think quickly and adapt to any situation is paramount, as each day on set can present new challenges that require immediate solutions. I have found that my engineering background combined with my experience in film has been instrumental in developing this skill. I try to use both sides of my brain to find solutions, something quite unusual for a director, who is usually more geared towards his creative flair. This helps me remain level-headed when faced with adversity.

Another crucial skill is having a spirit of innovation. When faced with unexpected challenges, such as equipment malfunctions or last-minute script changes, I have been able to quickly assess the situation and come up with creative solutions. For example, while filming “Night Walk,” my DP and I encountered a problem when his Ronin II rig proved to be too bulky to fit through a door on our set. Drawing on my knowledge of manufacturing, we were able to quickly conceptualize and reassemble the rig into a custom-made outfit that allowed us to get the shot we needed. I could have changed my shot list, but I decided that spending the extra time was worth preserving my artistic vision.

Lastly, being adaptable is the most essential. I often liken a shoot to a constant battle against “Murphy’s Law”: anything that can go wrong will go wrong. On one of my films, I faced a major challenge when a renowned and physically intimidating actor became disruptive. I de-escalated the situation through assertive and diplomatic handling, ultimately strengthening our professional relationship and earning his public praise. Being able to put out fires as they arise will help manage large crews, complex logistics, and high-profile talent.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

I am a child of three worlds: Morocco, France, and the United States. Growing up in these places has fundamentally informed the stories I want to tell today. One day, I saw my dad perform his ritual Muslim prayer. I was curious, so my dad taught me to pray — something I began doing every day. However, I soon realized that my Muslim faith was nothing to be proud of. It was right around 9/11 and the “cool kids” were using drugs and skipping school. They weren’t pious or getting straight A’s. So, to fit in, I kept my faith a secret. If I was with friends, I excused myself to pray in a secluded area. At parties, I told my peers I didn’t drink alcohol because I was a student-athlete. When dating girls, I wanted to build relationships rather than indulge in one night stands.

Things changed when I moved to France. Ironically, I studied at a private Catholic school. There were crosses in every room and mass every day. To my pleasant surprise, every student – from the nerds to the cheerleaders and even the jocks – practiced their Christian faith with pride! I was envious: you can be attractive, strong, popular, and still be religious? Why was everyone proud of their faith, but I had to hide mine? That’s when I was inspired to change. I no longer practiced in secret. I wanted to be Muslim and proud of it too, despite the stigma that I experienced.

In 2013, with the support of my parents who have been there for me my entire life, I moved to LA with the conviction that I would one day be able to tell powerful stories based on my heritage and experiences, in the land of opportunity.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @aziztazi90
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aziz-tazi-b0862257/

Image Credits

Mickey Rourke
Sean Stone
Patrick Kilpatrick
Laouni Mouhid