Meet Timur Almazov | Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Timur Almazov and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Timur, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
The thing I like the most about any kind of art is when you see yourself in it: a line in a book that captures your feelings that you could not ascribe words to. Or a character in a film who you realise struggles with the same issues that you have. Art has this strange magic power to make us understand ourselves. It gives form to our fears and desires, our feelings and thoughts. I just think there’s no better way to try to make a living than by doing this – sit and wonder what’s going on with you or other people, why we treat each other the way we do, or what’s up with the state of the world. And at the same time, you get to watch all these films and read all these books and never feel guilty because it’s part of your job.

I decided on filmmaking because that’s what’s left the greatest mark on me over the years, probably because it’s such a rich medium – you can say things through dialogue, images, editing, or all at once if you’re good. Probably should have considered how expensive it is to make a film when deciding but here we are.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I studied to be an economist in my undergrad, but swiftly switched my careers after picking up a couple classes in Cinema Studies. I’ve never had anyone pursue a creative vocation either in my family or circle of acquaintances growing up, so it never seemed like a viable option, until I was exposed to people like that in university. After graduating, I tried to crawl my way into the film industry in London, UK, whilst writing scripts and eventually making some short films and music videos. They were quite uneventful years, but I think much needed ones as I was bashing my head against the desk trying to figure out what sort of stories I wanted to tell and how to possibly tell them.

Last summer, I moved to LA to pursue a degree in directing at the AFI Conservatory. It’s been a wonderful year of new experiences and challenges that helped me get closer to the next stage. I hope to make films in America – most of my characters are from here and it’s a place that’s left the greatest impress on me.

All of my scripts and films have been some form of slice of life stories. I love dissecting everyday moments and watch characters deal with problems that are slightly less serious than life and death or the end of the world. Although not exclusively, I’ve often veered into comedy and I think it’s such a difficult thing to do well in cinema even if it might not often look very visually impressive.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My favorite experiences exploring LA have strangely been inside a car. There are so many parts of this city that we’ve all seen in some movie or a photo and it’s fun to just drive around and run into those places – whether it’s the Sunset Boulevard or the Beverly Hills Hotel.

I also love how many different films you can catch on the big screen in LA. There’s always something fun showing at the New Bev, TCL. American Cinematheque also puts on some great showings at Aero and Los Feliz 3. And the Academy Museum is fun to explore to check out the history of Hollywood.

You have to have a beach day and so far, the best spot I’ve been to was Thousand Steps in Laguna Beach. The waves sometimes are a little too big for a swim but it’s never been too crowded, there are plenty of nice little cafes and restaurants nearby and you get some amazing sunset views there.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
A big influence on me has been my father who’s a great storyteller. He grew in the turbulent times of the Soviet Union and always had stories upon stories to tell about his escapades. Every time we would have dinner with family friends or strangers, I remember seeing the whole table staring at him as he would recount the times he was in the military service or working on an oil rig. I think those moments were the first that made me realise the power of stories and how innate it is to us, as well as how much we need it in our lives.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tim.almo/