Meet Eugene Khazin | Film Writer & Director

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

Hi Eugene, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
I’d say for film director success is two things – one, is when audience “get you” – when those messages that you input into yours script and shots take shape as emotions in your viewers – when they laugh at comedic bits, when they having wet eyes at dramatic ones. And most pleasant of all is when after credits roll and somebody comes to you in theater, or when you receive messages on e-mail and social media – “that moment in yours movies made me rethink something in my life”.

And second one – is when people hearing yours name and recognize you by your work. Not once people I met first time ever in my life told me something like “Wait, are you that same Khazin who made “Steel Will?”

How my directing teacher used to say “That is that moment when you have nice warm feeling deep in your gut”. Now I started to realize what he meant back then:)

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What set me apart from other film directors? I’d wish that this question can be answered by audience of my movies – I’d say, they will be most qualified for this talk:) But, since it’s not possible – I’ll try to make some assumptions.

Probably and firstly, is that I am able to deliver some kind of vision different from widespread en masse. I can’t exactly breakdown to all the smallest details how my creative process work – I’m myself do not understand it fully – but in the end my team always coming with something on screen, that was not thought about or shaped in cinema before.

For example, I wrote and directed combo of two very different genres – cyberpunk and boxing drama – “Steel Will” – and, proud to say, this film is still one of a kind in its niche, with very visceral and felt-trough-screen camera work, unlike in most of boxing movies you will see. My other work “Trick of the Old Cat” – explored urban fantasy troubles of work of guardian angels in modern days setting – and it was almost a year before release of “Good Omens” and several more before “Good Fortune”.

Secondly – is that I always try to deliver some food for thought in my work. Not necessarily full fledged message – but starting point for inner conversation for viewer, leaving conclusions fully up to them. And, as I mentioned before – this aspect is also one of the most pleasing to any filmmaker – when you being contacted by random people, who watched your work and who telling you – “it changed my perspective in this or that way”. That means you achieved your goal.

How did I get to here, where I am now – writing and directing movies?

Rephrasing how Churchill once promised – by “Blood, toil, tears and sweat”. And I will add – a bit of talent and a bit of luck on top. Relatively speaking – being born in Ukraine, and coming to USA to professionally study filmmaking was pretty much a leap of faith. To be able to stay here after was that same persistence in my line of work – despite all “no” you facing, you just keep going. Not one producer told me that “Steel Will” will not work on screen, and yet – now this movie crawling to status of cult following one.

And also that eponymous luck – luck that I met and keep meeting talented and understanding people at right moments of my life in my career journey, who helped me and believed in my vision.

Speaking of lessons I picked up on this rocky path – is that you must cherish and keep in touch with such people I’m talking above. Finished successful movie is a result of team effort – not only as joined work of writer and director – and you want and need to have in your team goodnatured, talented and in general wholesome people. I truly regret that I was driven apart with several such individuals, and urge others not to repeat my mistakes. And also – as a filmmaker you must be flexible. Be ready to improvise and deliver results out of the box and mundane thinking.

As a film writer & director I specialize in sci-fi and fantasy, preferably dark one subgenres – my true passion since early years. My goal is to tap into those themes and ideas not yet fully explored on the screen, to make film adaptations of those books, comics and videogames that none tried yet, and make such said adaptation as true to its origin source ideas as possible.

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.
What I like about LA – is that this city is point on planet, where truly different cultures and things merge and boil together. In this soup you can find a bit for everybody:)

If speaking of places – there is plenty to choose. From those, you will expect to be mandatory fun – let’s say museums – Academy Museum of motion pictures to start with, with their rotating expositions on historical aspects of Hollywood.

To a bit hidden from common knowledge – I actually really like to make such tours for first-timers in LA to exact spots where was filmed car chase in “Terminator 2” or places used as sets for “Blade Runner”. And speaking of food and places to visit – near Bradbury Building featured in original Blade Runner there is Grand Central Market, full of different food stalls and people. If you want cyberpunk experience – visit it on weekday closer to evening and mingle with crowd!

Or you can go to a bit quieter places in city – I have one favorite spot on Mulholland drive, from which you can see all San Fernando valley, including Universal studios. After dusk and under star sky it is truly magical view! Or not so far outside of boundaries of LA there is Point Dume in Malibu – at early morning hours, shrouded in sea fogs this place is just perfect for a bit of solitude and rest from crowded big city.

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?
If only I would not be limited in space in this answer:) Because it is a lot – and I mean a lot of people I’d like to mention here! So, pardon me if I will not remember now all from top of my head.

First of all – my parents and close family – my father and mother, who brought me into this world, and together with them rest of my relatives, who shaped my vision in my early years.

My film school teachers – Nils Taylor and Rick Greenwood Jr. – who helped me with a lot of practical aspects – film slang terms, scheduling, framing, shotlisting and etc. I still tell our in-class jokes about Rick to new members of my film cast and crew – cause he is also a man with big heart and a good sense of humor.

Pantha Rahman – we worked on my early movies together, and there are very few cinematographers, who can get your intention perfectly from first three words of a spoken sentence. And I still miss you, buddy!

Mark Heron – top tier actor with that definitely present “charisma”. And speaking of guardian angels – probably he is mine in some kind. Yeah, Old Cat?;)

Chris Wirsig – music composer who made it quite high here in Hollywood and US music scene, but who maintained his human qualities and stayed true to himself. People like this really shape your own career path when you meet them.

Oksana Platero – my little muse. A pure casting chance brought her among 500 other actresses to end as a lead in “Steel Will”. I am grateful to fate for meeting Oksana – one with dedication and hardworking attitude, and I am simply happy that had in my life and on film set such cheerful and feminine person.

Guys and gals from musicians of HiiiTriiibe in LA – Golo, Dolo, Dean, Wake, Kevin and rest – my spirit animals. They let me into their small community when I really was at low point in my life, and music video “Call Me” I directed for them turned quite popular now.

Website: https://imdb.me/eugenekhazin

Instagram: https://instagram.com/eugenekhazin/

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/eugene-khazin/

Facebook: https://facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008793555264

Other: Eugene.khazin@gmail.com
filmfreeway.com/EugeneKhazin
vimeo.com/eugenekhazin

Image Credits
Photos with sword – by Milad Sabahi

Featured on images – in order of images uploaded – from left to right:
Chris Wirsig, Sean Ferguson
Golden State Film Festival – Uzo Opara, DoloDuceDuke, Wake&Bake, Kevin Livez, Dean Cee
With camera – behind the scenes on set of “Trick of the Old Cat”
Marina Del Rey Film Festival – John Gursha, Andres Vega, Eden Knodel, Peter Greene