Daily Inspiration: Meet Ansel Faraj

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ansel Faraj

Hi Ansel , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
When I was a little kid, I saw PHANTOM OF THE OPERA with Claude Rains, and HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS – and they inspired me to become a film director – with no family connections to the industry. I would check out every film history and film technique book from the library and watched Turner Classic Movies all day long, just educating myself at a very young age. I started out making little movies on my VHS camcorder and my action figures, before graduating to friends from school and a better camera. I tried to get into film school, but they rejected me because I “knew too much” and they wanted fresh upstarts with no training. It was a bit of a blow at the time, as I wanted to go have “the college experience” but truthfully it was the best thing that could have happened for me – as it propelled me to just go make films on my own. Suddenly, I was twenty years old and my first professional (albeit very low budget) feature DOCTOR MABUSE received a limited theatrical release, and Fangoria Magazine interviewed me, and I was on my way… though I had to then learn how to navigate “Hollywood”, which is a whole other ball game compared to just making a film.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
At no point has it ever been easy. It’s always an uphill battle, especially when you have no money. But if you have a vision, and an undeterred relentless drive within you, and can be creative and resourceful with your limitations, then perhaps one can at least suceed in completing a project. But the greater journey is full of twists and turns, and punches that come from left right and center, which you have to roll with. You have to have thick skin in this business – and remember that its all business, its sadly not art – not as much as one would like – and its definitely not personal. Its a ruthless unforgiving industry, but within all that there’s opportunity for magical moments. The trick is you have to create those moments for yourself. And that’s not always easy.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an independent grassroots filmmaker slowly infiltrating the Hollywood scene. I’m probably best known for my thrillers LOON LAKE and DOCTOR MABUSE, but I don’t like sticking to one genre. I’ve directed a romance WILL & LIZ, which I’m incredibly proud of, and most recently my comedy THE GREAT NICK D was released on Blu-Ray & DVD this June.
A lot of my films have some kind of connection to Venice (Beach), as that’s where I’m from. It seems to be a recurring motif in my work, but Venice is such a unique place in LA and has a deep cinematic history itself, I love capturing its decaying hippie nature on camera.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I guess you could say I’m pretty relentless in my own way, I think you have to be if you want to achieve anything. You have to set your mind to something and go after it with all you’ve got. Making a film is like being caught in a circus that’s burning to the ground, and you yourself are the one that built the three ring tent and then set it on fire, but you’re trying to put on a show before the flames overwhelm everything and it’s equally aggravating yet enthralling, like the greatest drug in the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hollinsworthproductions.com
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-rau8H6iA89asHWl6CSPdw
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4043796/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk