Farnaz Khosbakht is a filmmaker, animator, visual artist, and translator who is currently teaching a stop motion animation class at the Florida State University School of Communication. She was so kind to allow me to interview her over social media, and I really hope to meet her one day! She has a unique perspective, and even provided some insight on the animation industry in Iran!
1. Tell me your story – how did you get started in film and animation, to how did you end up here? What inspired you to work in stop-motion?
Well....starting as a drawing enthusiast since I was 6 months, I was told. Drawing, painting, sculpting like crazy since then. Also [I was] an avid film and cinema fan. [I] grew up watching mostly European and Russian movies and animation, [but] living in Iran during war time and suppression, rarely Disney. Led to studying fine arts and design, and finally animation.
I've worked in most animation techniques. In fact, I'm academically trained in drawn traditional animation and most of my work and also teaching has been on this technique. I've loved stop motion animation a lot since my childhood, but there was not much opportunity back then for studying and working. Just in recent decades we see a new wave and rise of stop motion, highly due to advances in digital cinematography that made it much more accessible. I bought my first digital camera 15 years ago for making stop motion! Because it's magical.
"[I was] an avid film and cinema fan. [I] grew up watching mostly European and Russian movies and animation, [but] living in Iran during war time and suppression, rarely Disney. Led to studying fine arts and design, and finally animation."
2. What is your current job?
I'm teaching stop motion animation in School of Communication at Florida state University this semester. Besides that, I'm a freelancer animator, visual artist, and filmmaker. As an author and certified translator, I'm still working on translating some animation books.
3. What are some past projects you have worked on? Is there a specific project you are most proud of?
I've worked on lots of TV animated series when I was in Iran. Also worked for different advertising agencies, making TV commercials and PSAs. Well...it's not easy to be proud "custom made” animation. I stared a "sand animation" years ago and was working on it for almost 4 years! On a setup in a corner of my room. Unfortunately, [I] never could finish it.
I am more proud of my books. During years of teaching animation in Iran, I realized there are very few textbooks in this field and decided to translate some major ones in Persian. I also spent over 4 years to compile the first English-Persian dictionary of cinema and animation terms for graduate students. That and about 7 other books are all being thought in universities and art schools although Iran. I'm so happy that so many people have used them and became more successful than me!
"During years of teaching animation in Iran, I realized there are very few textbooks in this field and decided to translate some major ones in Persian. I also spent over 4 years to compile the first English-Persian dictionary of cinema and animation terms for graduate students. That and about 7 other books are all being thought in universities and art schools although Iran."
4. What is one of your favorite memories from your career?
Working with amazing friends and colleagues was at the same time stressful and super fun. I greatly miss those days...lots of good memories.
5. What’s the hardest thing about your job/the industry?
To be recognized as a real profession! The day that people accept that an animator- and maybe an artist in general- doesn't photosynthesis and like any other person in the world need to get paid for their job, will be an amazing day for me that I've been waiting for all my life.
6. What has your experience been as a woman working in the film industry?
In Iran...? It is a book. In 4 volumes. Here in US? Well...if you are not white and over 40, you basically don't exist for 90% of the industry. Because what is in your brain and hands are not really what they need.
7. How big is the animation industry in Iran, and what is it like?
And about animation industry in Iran- well, it wasn't bad till 1978, Islamic Revolution. When they stopped all cinematic and artistic activities and productions for decades. Just like 20 years ago people could slowly start again, but still the only companies and studios that has the permission and of course the budget for production are government and propaganda ones. At least 80% of all children animations on Iranian TV are made inside. Also TV commercials have become really important for animators. We have a few major universities that have animation majors, BFA and MFA. Though the number of students are really limited each year, especially for masters.
"[The] only companies and studios that has the permission and of course the budget for production are government and propaganda ones. At least 80% of all children animations on Iranian TV are made inside."
I think the quality of education and "artistic " animation in iran has grown very very much in past 15 years. Partly because now a lot of [people] can make them in their houses and don't need very expensive equipment like my time.
8. Anything else you would like to add?
I just can say if you don't have a good support, and want to have a good normal life, don't think about this as a profession. It's very difficult to live a life in this industry, and I have always told my students to have that in mind. You may end up [working] for other people you don't like for rest of your life on project you never like for a small payment. If you learn it to work on your personal projects, that's a different story. Then as I said, you should think of another job or support to pay for your life while you are busy with creating life. It's better being realistic from the beginning than getting disappointed later.
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