Check Out David Mahmoudieh’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to David Mahmoudieh.

Hi David, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born to an Iranian father and a British mother, and grew up in England with a foot in more than one culture. I think that shaped my curiosity about people and the worlds they build for themselves.

My parents separated when I was young. My father had fled Iran after the revolution and worked every hour God sent, often sleeping only three or four hours a night. While he worked, my babysitter would take me to the Savoy, a little ramshackle cinema in the UK where her boyfriend was a projectionist. So when I say I grew up in a movie theater, I mean literally.

It was one of those joints where the seats were scuffed and people talked back to the screen – but I loved every minute of it. In many ways cinema was a sanctuary for my childhood, and having access to a smaller independent theater like that so young was such a blessing. It enabled me to watch the masters of the time like everyone else – Spielberg, Cameron, Zemeckis – but I also saw films from all over the world. I got to see re-releases from the likes of Kurosawa, Bergman and Ozu. I vividly remember watching Spike Lee’s JUNGLE FEVER when I was still in kindergarten and being stunned by what he did with the camera and how he told the story. After that I started paying attention to how films were made, and knew one day I wanted to make them too.

I started out in commercials, which taught me to work quickly, make strong choices and bring many people together around one idea. After a decade of doing that flew by, it was around Covid I underwent the same “life review” most people did, and remembered I first became a director: to make films.

So I made a short called SNAKE DICK (yes, it’s really called that) which qualified for the Oscars longlist after a number of festival wins, then had the good fortune of going viral online and opening doors to more narrative opportunities. I was selected for the Sony Diverse Directors Program and the DGA’s TV Mentorship Program, and went on to direct television, including the show SUPERMAN & LOIS for Warner Bros.

Today I continue to work across film, television, commercials and, more recently, animation. But it’s all storytelling at the end of the day – and I still get the same thrill as ever when an idea that’s lived in my head for months becomes something real because a group of people have brought their own talent and imagination to it.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No! It never is, and – as I’ve slowly come to learn and appreciate – nor should it be. This career rarely moves in a straight line. Even in success, projects stall, circumstances change and you learn to just keep writing, keep developing and making things while you wait for the right pieces to come together.

The hardest part has probably been learning to measure progress over years rather than weeks. I’m better at that now, though I still have my days. What keeps me going is the work itself. Every time I’m on set making something with a cast and crew, I remember very quickly why I chose this life.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Working across film, television, commercials and animation, I’m exposed to a variety of styles and formats, which suits me as my work often moves between genres – I’m as drawn to action and comedy as I am to science fiction, horror and stories with a little more heart than you might expect from the premise. What always connects them for me is character. I love a big visual idea, but I want there to be a person at the center of it whom I care about more than the idea itself.

A decade ago I founded the production company ALPHA WOLVES TV (www.AlphaWolves.tv) which has become my directing banner for commercial work.

I’ve had the pleasure of directing campaigns for brands including Google and Lego, music videos for artists including Coldplay and Just Jack, and television shows ranging from Superman & Lois to the TV movie See You Soon. My short film Snake Dick is probably the work people mention to me most, as it gained something of a cult following and I’m now developing it into a feature. Seeing it find an audience online and at festivals was a reminder that people will come along with you on a strange ride if you give them a reason to care.

As for the latter part of the question, I like to think I bring good instincts to my projects – a mix of hard-earned experience and curiosity. I’ve spent years learning how to make decisions under pressure, but I never want to be so attached to my own ideas that I miss a better one from an actor or someone on the crew. Some of my favorite moments on set have come from being willing to listen, adjust and follow something unexpected.

All that said, closest to my heart is my volunteer work as an Industry Ambassador and Directing Mentor for KIDS IN THE SPOTLIGHT (www.kitsinc.org), a non-profit that supports LA foster youth in telling their stories on-screen, and helps nurture them into the industry. I’ve seen those stories literally change lives and what happens when a young person realizes people want to hear what they have to say. Having recently become a father, it’s made that work feel even more personal. Every child deserves someone who believes in them, and a chance to show what they’re capable of.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I’m deeply spiritual, which might surprise people who know me through something like Snake Dick. My work can be loud, strange and occasionally ridiculous, but my spiritual life is a quieter part of who I am. Though, admittedly, both do involve a surprising amount of time asking, “What does it all mean??” That’s taught me to pay attention to people, and to remain open about what’s going on beneath the surface.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.alphawolves.tv
• Instagram: @darvood
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/david-mahmoudieh
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/wgpoc5tEGvM?si=lfdnzHj2PWpGySjW
• Other: https://www.vimeo.com/dmahmoudieh

Image Credits
George Lako