Meet Adam Hashemi | Film Director

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

Hi Adam, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
If you have fun doing it, then why give up? If you don’t have fun… then definitely – give up!

Any kind of entrepreneurial work, or work as a freelancer needs to come from a place of passion. It is too competitive to survive otherwise, because you’re only as good as your last job.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I guess there’s a thread through my work, whether a commercial, a music video or TV show, etc. I’m always looking to thread a fine line that plays with the absurdity of a situation. Although my stuff is pretty life affirming, I think it makes the work better if you flirt with darkness. It’s more true to life that way, and I think most people feel that way, so it’s more honest. I didn’t think of that when I started, this is more what I’ve learned upon reflection.

Early on, I wanted to tell stories, so I tried to find ways to get it done. I met a band, who became friends, and one of my first chances, was making their music videos. What inspired me then (and still today) was lots of obscure Italian movies from the 1960s / 70s, and it definitely shows in my work. I’m just as inspired by B-movies as I am the classics.

I’ve learned lots of lessons along the way. Failure is important, and you can learn more from that than you do success. I’ve had lots of both, and some rejections are hard to take, but you can use those rejections as fuel to try again. Charles Bukowski wallpapered his Los Angeles home with all of his hundreds of rejection letters, because each “no” motivated him more.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
It would be a mix of food and nature, I think.

I’d take them to San Gabriel Valley for Chinese food
K-Town for some traditional Korean food, like Borit Gogae or Jinsol Gukbap 3rd. Some of the best soups I’ve ever had were there.

I love going to Griffith Park. Or up to the waterfalls in Angeles Forest, like Eaton Falls.

Locally, I love walking down to Clarke Street Diner in Beachwood Canyon. That diner has become lodged in our kids’ brain forever as the place for pancakes. I’d introduce them to Lou of Lou’s Wine Shop for the best wine in town.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would not have made it very far if my parents didnt’ believe in me, and also made me the critical thinker I am today. Beyond that, I would not be who I am, if not for my wife, who I look up to both in terms of work and personal life.

Website: https://resetcontent.com/us/directors/adam-hashemi/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adamhashemi/

Image Credits
Marcel Zyskind
Arndt Wiegering
Benjamin Mann
Adam Hashemi
Kaname Onoyama