Skip to main content

Zahra Shahsavari - Issue One Full Interview

1. How do you find new people to work with? 

I’ve been fortunate enough to meet some amazing creatives while at University in London! This has led me to building a really great crew which I can work with for the majority of my projects, but I also like to reach out to people via Instagram. It’s a great platform to see people’s work and connect with those who are in the area. 

2. What has been your favourite project so far? 

My favourite project so far has been the new Spilt Milk Music Video for Moving Target, which I directed and edited! It’s the first time I’ve ever directed a music video, and it was something I was super excited (and also incredibly nervous) to do. There was so much preparation involved and we were taking such a small crew of only 4 of us! So we had to ensure everything was planned perfectly as our days were limited with the boys. Luckily most things went to plan, but it was quite a challenge, especially when we had 25+ extras taking part in a mini rave during a live band performance. That was definitely the highlight of the shoot haha! 

3. Which filmmakers inspire you? 

Greta Gerwig is someone who really inspires me as a filmmaker. She has recently broke out into mainstream Hollywood and it’s great to see more female representation in a male dominated industry. Taika Watiti is another filmmaker who really inspires me, due to his mixed-race background, it was something that I could relate to. Likewise, his style of filmmaking and the way he captures people’s attention to his storytelling is something I would love to achieve. 

4. Do you think there has been a gender imbalance in the film industry? If so, what can we do to reduce that imbalance? 

Yes I do think there has been a gender imbalance in the film industry. The majority of crew and top creatives roles in Hollywood are still dominated by men. I think the best way to combat that is to make female creative voices heard and give them a platform to share their work. The simplest way is to support your fellow female creatives whether they’re your friends or someone’s work you have come across online. A share of a post or a nice comment goes a long way in today’s online world. We need to be uplifting each other to spread awareness and rise against gender imbalance in the film industry. 

5. Do you have any stand out experiences in the film industry? 

Nothing in the industry as of yet, but I’m hoping my work over the next year will change that! I’d say a memorable moment was while attending a Short Film Premiere I worked on. During the evening I met the Director and he introduced me to other creatives in the industry and we exchanged contacts. It was a really special first film industry event that I’ll always remember. 

6. Where’s your favourite place to film in the North East? 

I love filming in Newcastle’s city centre. The streets are so vibrant and full of life, plus the buildings and night lights are so stunning to capture. Filming while driving over the bridges and looking out onto the whole city is something really special. I also loved filming at Newcastle Castle during my first work trip to the North East. It was an amazing experience and the view from the roof is incredible, especially during sunset. 

7. Are there any local creatives (musicians/artists/filmmakers) you urge us to check out? 

I would definitely recommend ‘Spilt Milk’, they are a local band from Gateshead, who are bringing something fresh to the indie scene and making their mark across the North East. You can check out their stuff over on Instagram at @spiltmilk_band! 

8. How would you describe your work in 5 words? 

I would describe my work as something fun, energetic, expressive, immersive and uplifting!

Questions by Emily Duff





Most Popular

‘Make Tattooing Safe Again’: Sheffield Based Tattoo Artist Exposed for Indecent Behaviour

 by Emily Fletcher TW: SA, Animal Abuse, Transphobia Photo Credit: @ meiko_akiz uki Recently, an  Instagram account  has been created to provide a  ‘space to safely give a voice to those who want to speak out about the behaviour of one, Sheffield based tattoo artist’. A  total of 40+ posts have been made by the above social media account regarding  one of Sheffield's most popular tattoo artists .  Thankfully, all posts are prefaced with a Content Warning prior to sharing screenshots of the messages that have been sent anonymously to the page. The majority of Content Warnings refer to sexual behaviour, abuse, and sexual assault. It is clear that there is a reoccurring theme within each submission, as many clients appear to have had the same experiences with the tattoo artist. Women, mostly, are being made to feel uncomfortable while being tattooed. One of the most vulnerable positions anyone can be in, tattoo artists should make their clients feel comfortable and safe during the pro

Now What? The Aftermath of the 'Manic Pixie Dream Girl'

by Susan Moore Here is a bit about me: I am an open, excitable, creative AFAB who is also moderately attractive. I have a unique sense of personal style and a personality that on the surface can only be described as “bubbly” and “quirky”. For this reason, dating is a nightmare. To be sure, I do not have a hard time finding dates or potential suitors. The problems arise when said dates spend some time with me and decide that I am a rare specimen, and the connection they feel with me is “unlike anything they have felt before”. Then, things go one of two ways.  Either a) they decide I am too high maintenance and no longer palatable, or  b) they choose to never look further than the surface and are content to date the idea of me rather than the real me. There is something rather interesting, perhaps funny, about my situation. It is in no way unique. I have met so many people who constantly dealt with the same problem. Even funnier still, is the fact that there is a trope that simultaneousl

Eurydice’s Last Words

by Kate Bradley I do not want to return To sit in the stalls, Of an empty black box Strewn with petals Leave the ghost light on, Let it shine like a call home, But I will not come back To turn it off alone. I learn this as we walk Our ever so solemn path Our thudding funeral march, You think we’re going back. As I trace my old steps, I fear of the day When the symphony swells, And I land my gaze On you, yet you will be Enraptured by the sound, If you did twist To turn around, You would not see me. So I am not sorry, I speak out into the empty air And I am not sorry. “Turn Around.” You do, you look You think  I fall But I run on, Arms wide open To fall in love With it all “Perhaps she was the one who said, ‘Turn around.” On the X45 bus, back from the Tyneside Cinema, I wrote a poem entitled “Eurydice’s Final Words”, after having seen “Portrait of a Lady on Fire”.  That poem was terrible, so I wrote a new one, as my response to the beautifully poignant film.  In one scene, Héloïse, an 18