Meet Khachatur Vasilian | Film Director and Writer

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

Hi Khachatur, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I’ve loved movies since I was a kid. For as long as I can remember. Film has always been a part of my life. I grew up in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, which is now under occupation. There were only two movie theaters in town where you could actually watch something in comfort. And my brothers, friends, and I used to go there all the time for premieres.
All my most vivid childhood memories are tied to cinema. I remember once we accidentally mixed up the showtimes and ended up at The Matrix Revolutions instead of Spy Kids 3. We spent the first ten minutes totally confused about what we were watching—but it was so amazing that the memory is still fresh in my mind.
There was also a time when the neighborhood kids and I used to play The Lord of the Rings. We made our own weapons, armor, bows and arrows, split into different factions, and chased each other around staging improvised battles. It’s a miracle no one got hurt 🙂
Cinema is magic. And since childhood, I’ve always fallen under its spell—until one day I decided to create that magic myself.
I kept trying, but I could never really answer the question: Why am I doing this?
I don’t think there’s a logical answer in my case.
It’s something that’s been growing inside me since I was a child—and at some point, it just broke through.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a director and screenwriter based in Los Angeles. I write, shoot and editing films, commercials, etc. — everything that even slightly resembles cinema. Sometimes I produce my own projects as well. I have a degree in directing and have been actively working in film since I was 22. Now I’m 33. There’s a long journey behind me — and a lot more ahead. What makes me unique compared to others in this field? I don’t know — maybe observation. At university, we were taught to look at the world from unusual angles — to notice unique moments in life that are often hard to spot. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always tried to look at things from an unexpected perspective, and I constantly find story ideas in everything I see. You could show me an object, a place, or even a phone book — and I’d quickly write a story about it. That’s just how my brain works. And I’m always looking for a fresh take, even on something familiar. I simply don’t know how to repeat what’s already been done. My brain always wants to add something original. Sometimes it’s good, but sometimes not. And I write fast. Sometimes alarmingly fast. For example, I sketched out the entire plot of the mini-series that won me a Netflix grant during one long walk, typing it out on my phone. The detailed episode breakdown for my historical horror project Regime came together over three days of hiking in Griffith Park. Recently, I finished writing a 140-page satirical horror script — think Don’t Look Up meets Dr. Strangelove and Exorcist. I came up with the story during a couple of long walks from Hollywood to Glendale and back. And yes, I did it without ChatGPT. I just drop into flow quickly, and the story writes itself. I have a ton of ideas and projects across different genres that I’m pushing to bring to life. And I really don’t like following well-worn paths — I’ve seen those outcomes way too many times. For instance, I got bored writing a regular resume once, so I wrote mine as a sci-fi scene: a guy walks into a job interview and nearly signs a contract to sell his talent. If you want to read that version — just ask, I’ll send it. When I was apartment hunting, I wrote a listing as a short story — two brothers meet at a café, and one tells the other about an apartment he rented where the power outlets are actually portals to every home he’s ever lived in. One of the outlets was labeled “Future”, and the main character got scared to press it — so he decided to tell his brother about it. I smoothly integrated my housing request into that story. That piece was inspired by a memory of my mom looking out the window of our old home in Mariupol. And yeah, that was still just a housing ad. If someone asked me to adapt Romeo and Juliet, I’d write a script about two rival tech companies whose prototype androids fall in love. Originality is always a priority for me — along with the ability to see both global and industry trends. I know film history inside out, I keep up with what’s happening, and I have a strong sense of where to steer a story so it feels fresh — even if it’s rooted in something familiar. Managers and agents love to ask their clients, “So, what’s next?”
With me, it’s better not to ask that unless you’re ready to spend 24 hours listening to my 10-year plan.
What am I proud of? I’m proud that I’ve never strayed from the path I once chose for myself. I’m proud of my family and the people around me. Life has thrown a lot of challenges my way — still does — but everything becomes manageable when you’re surrounded by loved ones, family, and true friends. Professionally, I’m proud that almost every project I’ve worked on became an event in some way. Whether it was the first film from Mariupol to be selected for an international film festival, or one of the loudest and most talked-about Ukrainian film projects in recent years — each of them had an impact. I believe originality and the ability to notice what’s relevant right now — and not being afraid to talk about it — are key to making work that gets noticed. I try to train my eye to stay observant. I don’t like to talk too much about the past — I’d rather let my work speak for itself. Instead, let me tell you what I’m working on right now. At the moment, I’m finishing a historical horror short film about totalitarianism — in the spirit of Orwell’s 1984 and the films of Guillermo del Toro. The project is called Regime. It’s a festival short, but also a proof-of-concept for a feature trilogy I’ve developed. At the same time, my Ukrainian producing partner and I, along with a colleague from Poland, are currently seeking funding for a feature-length social drama told in a very unusual narrative form. Its structure is somewhere between Memento and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. I’m also attached as director to a historical film about the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992–1996) — specifically the Siege of Sarajevo, the longest siege of a city since World War II. It’s based on the true story of Vedran Smailović, a musician who played his cello among the ruins during the siege. I didn’t write the script — I’m directing only — but I was drawn to it because it allows me to reflect on what happened in my hometown of Mariupol during its own siege and battle. If you’ve seen the Oscar-winning documentary 20 Days in Mariupol by Mstyslav Chernov, you’ll have some idea of what I’m talking about. As the mayor of Sarajevo once said, “Sarajevo and Mariupol are sister cities.” We have an international team working on this film, and right now we’re looking for financing to begin production. This project matters to me — deeply — as do all the stories I tell. And yes, there will be a film about Mariupol. I’m already thinking about it. I’m also currently looking for a manager or agent — someone to represent me and help move my career forward in Hollywood.
What have I learned, and what do I want people to know about me? To follow your own path. To keep growing — both as a professional and as a human being. All my life, I’ve dreamed of creating unique, original, and fresh projects — for myself and for others. And I’m pretty sure that over the course of my career, I’ll end up writing more projects for other directors than I’ll shoot myself. Most of them will likely be high-concept spec scripts with franchise potential. Or stories connected to major IPs and global issues that matter to me on a personal level. I truly believe art can change the world.
How? By inspiring just one person who holds the cards.

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.
I’d ask a friend to come over on December 31st at 11:28 PM. If he made it, we’d hike up to the Griffith Observatory and sit there in silence, watching Los Angeles lit up by fireworks.
The next day, we’d rent a car and set off on a road trip across all the states.
He’d drive, I’d walk alongside. In every state, we’d try one traditional dish, watch one film made there, and stumble into some harmless little adventure. And the whole thing would be under the secret codename: Pooh.

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 don’t think there was anyone who directly influenced my decision to pursue filmmaking. But there are people who have supported me on this path — and still do. My mom and my brothers are true champions in that. And of course, friends, colleagues, and teachers — there have been many. I’m grateful to all of them.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khacholis?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr