Meet ÉLI SOKHN | Film Director & Entrepreneur

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

Hi ÉLI, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I find risk attractive because I love the feeling of winning. If the risk is big then the win comes at you bigger.

I still remember the first risk I’ve taken on my first week as an intern at a production company; I was 19, and I was sitting there observing an editor edit a TV show and when he went on his lunch break I jumped and took his seat. I had absolutely no clue what anything was. And I was playing around with the editing software when the owner of the company walked in with a bunch of DV tapes and he told me that the show airs next Sunday so I better get to editing. So I nodded my head and I said “YES” with no hesitation. That week, I would spend 16 hours daily trying to learn how to edit on AVID which looked like the console to landing a space shuttle. I would come to work at 8am and leave by 2am but I enjoyed the process and it made me realize I really love telling stories. So… Long story short, after I finished my edit I got a call from the owner and he told me that this was the worst edit he had ever seen. He called me into his office the next day. I thought my life in film had just ended before it even started. Except the owner who was also a film director said he thought I was an editor and he admired the fact that I was not afraid to take on the project and try to learn but I should have been more honest about my position as an intern. After this I vowed to myself that this would be the only bad edit I would ever make. And that was a promise well kept. I think part of me understood the risk there but there was power in not caring about it.

BUT in my opinion the most dangerous risk of all is the risk of spending your entire life not doing what you love in the bet that you can buy yourself the freedom to do it later.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is my visuals and my visuals are experiences I like to create IRL and on the screen. They have been described as powerful and cutting-edge, often surrealist, magical, they warp you up in an entrancing visual experience and throw you out of it with a new perspective and feeling (hopefully). While the goal was never to set myself apart from the rest but simply to do me by creating what I love to see out there, the genuine care about every project, small or big, is what set me apart from the rest and kept collaborators coming for more and new ones coming in.

Nothing is ever easy, but things become easy if you’re doing what you love. I am in the problem solving business through creativity. As an immigrant to LA, and someone who came in with absolutely nothing and with no prior connections, I have managed to create a solid network of collaborators and partners that has helped me overcome most challenges. I live by the motto “LIVE WIN, DARE FAIL” and that has served me well so far. When you don’t take no for an answer, when you’re persistent in your desires and consistent in your work and when you genuinely want others to win, there’s no escape, you will win too.
and That’s the BADASS KID story.

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?
The list is definitely long but it definitely all started with my parents believing in me more than I will ever believe in myself and the first person who believed in me when I first got to LA, Jeffrey Levin. Randy Phillips, who believed in me as a director which allowed for us to create iconic work together! I’m also grateful for work relationships that blossomed into family-strong friendships; Shab Kamoii, for her trust, support and loyalty & Rob Snyder for his trust, mentorship and friendship. Damon Sharpe for being an awesome friend and creative partner. OZ Ozmen for his friendship and support. My producers, the directors on my team, my team @ BADASS KID and all the artists that contributed to our ecosystem. 🙂 <3

Website: www.badasskid.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/elication

Twitter: www.twitter.com/elication

Other: www.elication.com

Image Credits
Matt Doheny