Meet Joanna Azami | Aspiring film scholar

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

Hi Joanna, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
I am inspired by the resilience of the people around me, including those I work with, as well as the world and nature that surround me. My role models as a kid growing up have overcome so much difficulty, hardship, but have continued their journey, in life or their artistic one. I strive to see the world from their perspective, see it for its beauty, and chaotic order.

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.
I am a PhD student in interdisciplinary Arts. I like to think of myself as an aspiring film scholar. I love two things: films and writing about films. That’s where my degree in English literature comes in because I love analysing narratives and the story behind them. My challenges as someone who strives to become better in what they do have been trying to grasp what is going on during the making of a film, the myriad of details that go into making a film. That is why I make small documentaries about people or subjects I find myself passionate to learn more about. The biggest lesson I got as someone who is trying to stay loyal to the art and the stories I reshare is that I have to stay loyal as a narrator, especially while sharing someone else’s story. I have made small documentaries on recycling, the refugee journey of people who have crossed the Mediterranean sea from Turkey to Greece, and I am working on one about a taekwondo master who has been devoting his time and energy for nearly 50 years now to the community. There is no in between for me. That is why, as a hobby of mine, I act in small films to gain experience and challenge myself in this beautiful art that I find myself passionate about.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m someone who views grocery stores as a cultural experience, so I would say I would take them to Persian grocery stores for different kinds of bread, lol. The vegan food scene in LA is amazing; it’s worth a try. The numerous museums, the Getty, the Academy Awards, and so on are amazing places for inspiration and spending time with friends. Universal Studios is also a good choice if the companion is as thrilled as I am. The best thing about LA is that there are many, many hills to hike, and the best one is not the Hollywood sign, lol.

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?
I want to give a shout-out to my sister, who has always been there for me. She is my muse, my light in life, and my source of minions, lol.