P3Update magazine published a two-page spread on Mirmont Pictures founder and CEO, the award-winning director and producer of films like "The Freemason," and "Riddle of Fire," Sohrab Mirmont.
There’s always new filmmaker on the horizon in today's industry, but there's one young up-and-comer with a particularly bright future. Tehran-born
Director/Producer Sohrab Mirmont was raised in Ogden, Utah and studied film production at Full Sail University in Florida. He soon found work as a first assistant director, a job that solidified his love for filmmaking. In 2005, Mirmont founded his thriving production company Mirmont Pictures, where he develops and produces films for the international market and hones a shooting style that incorporates sophisticated lighting and camera moves along with dramatic performances.
After helming the feature film Blue Door in 2011, Mirmont has now wrapped The Freemason starring Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings) and is in development for the the sci-fi/action-thriller Mars.
As a director, Mirmont knows the benefits of having good communication and maintaining a happy production crew.
P3 recently caught up with Mirmont to hear his views on filmmaking and the ever-evolving film and television industry.
P3: What inspired you to want to workin the film/television industry?
SM: When I was four years old I stumbled into my uncle's editing room at his home in Iran. He was sitting next to what I recall to be a beautiful woman, showing her a scene from one of his movies. lt was that moment paired with a later moment around age seven in America while watching "Home Improvement" bloopers. The actors were having so much fun just working, and I thought to myself, "That's the world I want to be in."
P3: What is your current camera of choice and why?
SM: I love the RED EPIC. RED in general has come a long way in workflow and sensor modifications. You can light an intimate closeup with a single match. The ARRI ALEXA is also a great camera, but I haven't used it as much. I must say, however, one of the most 35mm-looking films I've seen was shot on the ALEXA.
P3: What filmmakers or individuals inspire you and why?
SM: Abbas Kiarostami, first and foremost, as he is my uncle and master filmmaker. I'd also say Akira Kurosawa, Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, Gaspar Noé, Mel Gibson, Francis Ford Coppola, and Stanley Kubrick, to name a few more.
P3: What is one unforgettable moment you've experienced while on set?
SM: This isn't a shocking one. It's more of an "I'm where I'm supposed to be" moment. It was day one of filming my last film The Freemason. It was a moment I had when driving into base camp for the first time and seeing all the trailers and production vehicles. It was a moment I had to stop and take in, as it was something I had thought about since childhood.
P3: How would you describe working in today's
industry?
SM: Glamorous with a dash of chaos.
P3: How would you describe your shooting style? SM: Intimate. I like to create a strong, all-encompassing, safe environment portraying the world the actors are supposed to live in. The crew helps [as] facilitators of that environment, and that intimate feeling we create while filming comes through in the final product.
P3: What's an important lesson you've learned while
shooting and working with a team of people?
SM: Efficiency. Time does not only save you money, but it keeps the production and people moving. There is nothing better than a happy crew, and you ensure that by always communicating with them, feeding them well, and using their time wisely.
P3: What changes have you noticed within the industry?
SM: I think we are noticing shifts in the way content is created, not only in regards to smaller and lighter equipment, but companies like Amazon and Netflix now becoming independent film studios with original programming. I believe the future of the film industry will become the future of the Internet industry.
P3: What are your hobbies when you take a break from
shooting?
SM: Cooking is perhaps my biggest hobby, as it is so easily accessible. The rest of my hobbies are hard to find time for, but they include backpacking in the wilderness, skiing, the oceans and the stars.
P3: What advice would you give someone just starting out in the film industry?
SM: Never say "no" to work, and to get to the point where people are offering you work, you have to create your own. If you want to act, direct, write, etc., pick up a camera and start shooting. Start small and eventually, like a snowball effect, it gets bigger and bigger.
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