Today we’d like to introduce you to Artour Bajanov
Hi artour, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
After graduating from Rudolf Nureyev Bashkir Choreographic College, Mr., I started my early career as a ballet dancer and toured throughout Europe and USA.
I began my love affair with cinema at the age of 16 when I purchased my first consumer VHS camera while on tour with The Nutcracker in Los Angeles, CA in 1995.
I permanently moved to the United States in 1997. After performing, choreographing and teaching ballet for many years then I started a video production company that films live shows, music videos and short films. Working as a producer, cinematographer and writer on numerous projects led me to work as a DP and a director for ENYA MUSIC USA and Dos Hombres Mezcal with Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul.
In early 2017, I wrote “DESCENDENT” and the same year I began the production of my first full-length feature that took me seven years to complete.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Making films hasn’t been easy for me to say the least, although I found it to be one of the most satisfying experiences I’ve ever had in my life… The challenges and the obstacles are the integral part of the film game.
DESCENDENT is my directorial full-length feature debut, so I knew this would be a big challenge taking on this project… My previous experience working as a choreographer and as an artistic director in a ballet company helped to shape my vision for this particular story.
Considering the subject of this story is set in a remote wilderness, it was very important for me to shoot on real locations such as mountain lakes, a white water river, deep woods, on dunes of a desert and spectacular waterfalls… Although, we still had to create and build sets for this film.
Overcoming all of the difficulties that come with filming on real locations while dealing with the elements of nature shaped the cinematography of DESCENDENT. I believe this detailed approach to production design will enhance the audience’s engagement with the narrative.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
After performing, choreographing and teaching ballet for many years, I started a video production company that films live shows, music videos and short films. Working as a producer, cinematographer and writer on numerous projects led me to work as a DP/Cinematographer and a director for numerous artist like Ariana Grande, LOUISA, also companies such as ENYA MUSIC USA and Dos Hombres Mezcal with Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul.
In early 2017, I wrote “DESCENDENT” and the same year he began the production of his first full-length feature that took him seven years to complete.
The most proud work of my career so far was making my feature film DESCENDENT. I wrote, directed and worked on it as the cinematographer.
Watching films is an interactive experience for me, like having an intimate conversation. I only hope to create such an experience for my audience.
What sets me apart from other filmmakers is probably my personal experience as being an immigrant from another country… I grew up in the country that no longer exist, Soviet Russia (USSR). Although I feel very much like an American in so many ways, because I lived in the US since 1997. Somehow, I always felt like an outsider even when I lived in Russia. I feel very welcome in the US and I was given many opportunities here, yet I still feels like an outsider nonetheless.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I had many mentors when I was a young ballet dancer, although when I made a choice to become a filmmaker there weren’t anyone to mentor me on the subject…
One can always admire another filmmaker and aspire to become a better artist but ultimately you’re on your own when its comes to independent filmmaking career. You kind of have to become your own light in the dark, so to speak.
I’m very fortunate to meet many advocates and people, who offered tremendous support on my journey of becoming a filmmaker. My fiancé Jessica Kramer became an Executive Producer for my film DESCENDENT about 7 years ago. She was always my biggest supporter and a cheerleader, ever since I made a choice to become a filmmaker many years ago. I was fortunate to receive the support of my good friends such as Michael Kopelow (Composer/Co-Producer/Actor/Co-Writer), Trevor Nystrom (Producer), Bill Scott (Musician/Composer), Zack Andersen (Art Department), Kyle Rickard (Actor), Kristen Lynn (Actor/Musician) and so many others. My amazing cast of actors like Jacob Espinoza as NEIL and Diana Cochran as ANIMA, which both received BEST ACTOR AWARDS at different international film festivals in 2024.
I got very lucky with many amazing people that I had a pleasure of making my film projects with. I’m grateful that my film DESCENDENT won BEST SCI-FI FILM and got nominated for BEST PICTURE AWARD at a prominent 34 years running IFS LA FILM FESTIVAL in 2024. My film DESCENDENT got into 15 US and International film festivals, got 9 WINS (AWARDS) and got 3 AWARD nominations in 2024 because I had an amazing group of creative people around me.
Pricing:
- N/A
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.descendentmovie.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/art_khan?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/descendentmovie/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/artour-bajanov-b7641a90?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CALIWAG_CHANNEL
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4696475/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
Image Credits
Artour Bajanov, Jessica Kramer, Michael Kopelow, Trevor Nystrom, Diana Cochran, Jacob Espinoza, Lou Diamond Phillips, Gavin Newsom, Bill Scott, Kristen Lynn, Kyle Rickard
