Conversations with Zayn Saade

Today we’d like to introduce you to Zayn Saade.

Hi Zayn, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It’s been a long, long road to where I am today.

I started out as just a kid who loved movies, like, really loved them. I’d do anything just to get on a set. I didn’t care what I was doing or if I was even touching the camera; I just wanted to be around it. I was obsessed with the process and the people who made stories come to life.

Now I’ve got my own production company. I’ve directed three projects, produced six others over the years, and I’ve written more scripts than I can even count at this point. But if you’re asking how I got here… it all goes back to this little program called MMET, part of the Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts.

That’s where everything shifted. That’s where I met two people who pretty much completely changed my life—Michael Simmons and Bishop Rhone. Without them, I don’t think I’d be doing this right now. They didn’t just encourage me, they equipped me. They taught me how to write scripts and think critically about the stories I wanted to tell. How to make a vision work on a budget. How to operate basically every piece of film equipment under the sun, and more importantly, how to fix things when they inevitably break (which they always do).

That’s when it all started to click. I realized this wasn’t just something I dreamed about—it was something I could actually do.

Fast forward a few years, and now I’m the one helping people with their scripts and ideas. I’ve put in the time; hours and hours studying screenplays, watching behind-the-scenes documentaries, reading The Anatomy of Story, rewatching films just to figure out why they work. George Lucas was a huge part of that for me. I don’t think there’s anything on this Earth that defines me more as a human being than Star Wars does.

And somewhere along the way, I fell in love with the business side of things, too. Producing, organizing, handling deals, figuring out the strategy—I enjoy that just as much as the creative side. It’s all storytelling, just in different forms.

So yeah, it’s been a journey. But I wouldn’t trade any part of it. Every late night writing, every set meltdown, every budget nightmare—it all built this thing I get to do now. And honestly, it’s only been four years, so I’m just getting started.

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?
Oh man, has it been a smooth road? Absolutely not.

It’s been trial after trial, failure after failure—but I keep kickin’. If you know me, you know I’m pretty much unstoppable. There’s nothing anyone can say or do to make me stop making movies or doing something related to filmmaking. I’m kind of a monster that way. Always working, always studying, always building something. And honestly? That’s the only reason I’m still here.

If I were lazy, scared, or waiting for the “perfect time,” I would’ve quit years ago. But I didn’t—and I won’t.

I’ve dealt with so much: projects getting canceled, completely overhauled last minute, people telling me I’m insane or “there’s no way you can pull that off.” And of course, the classic: “All you make is Star Wars.” Like… cool, thanks?

Then there’s the weird competition energy that sometimes creeps into creative spaces, the mistakes I’ve made along the way, the stuff I had to learn the hard way—it’s all shaped me into the filmmaker I am now. Honestly, it’s made me a beast. I’ve been through some real stuff already in this industry, and I’m sure there’s plenty more ahead, but that’s just part of the journey. Part of leveling up.

You don’t get stronger by avoiding the hits; you get stronger by taking them and still moving forward.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a filmmaker who focuses on producing and writing, and if there’s one thing I’m known for, it’s my love of pushing boundaries. I’m all about experimenting with big, bold ideas, especially when it comes to the kind of blockbuster films that inspire me, like Star Wars. Those films taught me to think big, take risks, and never be afraid to stretch the limits of what seems possible. And I think that’s what sets me apart from a lot of other filmmakers: I’m willing to take risks and go for things that most people wouldn’t even try, especially at my level or age.

One of the biggest things I’ve learned, though, is to be hard on myself. It’s easy to get caught up in ambition and think you can do everything, but knowing your limits is key. Alfred in Batman Begins says, “Know your limits.” I love that, because while I’m all about breaking boundaries, I think you need to first understand where the edges of your resources are — whether that’s budget, scale, or time, and then push everything you can within those lines. There’s always room to break through them if you’re smart about it.

My first real short film was a Star Wars fan film. It was on a super low budget, and, honestly, I didn’t love how it turned out. But I am so glad I made it. Why? Because it was my chance to experiment, to learn, and to push myself in ways I had never done before. Even if the end product wasn’t what I hoped for, it taught me so much, and that’s the point — learning and practicing, especially before you start dealing with bigger budgets or millions of dollars. The earlier you get comfortable with failure, the better.

And beyond just pushing the technical limits, story is always what matters most. It doesn’t matter how wild or daring the shots are if the story doesn’t work. If you’re like me, you’ll probably want to experiment with different genres and styles until you find what clicks. I’ve done that a lot, and I’ve realized it’s important to embrace that process of finding your voice and understanding what works for you.

So yeah, I think what sets me apart is my willingness to try things no one else would, to be hard on myself, to learn, and to experiment. And even when I fail, I know it’s just part of the journey. Because, at the end of the day, it’s all about growing and challenging yourself to keep getting better.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I’ve always had this thing where I just can’t help but think of doing insane stuff. I don’t even know why, it’s just the way my brain works. Right now, I’m talking to skydiving companies across SoCal, trying to figure out if I can pull off a scene where I throw someone out of a plane, Mission: Impossible style. How cool would that be, right? But that’s just how I roll — always thinking bigger, always trying to push the limits.

Honestly, every film I’ve done has had an element of risk in it, and if it didn’t, it would be boring to me. My first real short film was a Star Wars fan film. First film ever, and I’m already trying to take on this huge universe. I had to shrink the story down to make it feasible on a super low budget, but I still wanted it to feel like Star Wars — not easy, right? Star Wars small? Doesn’t even sound possible. But I had to make it work. I built sets, found costumes, and then I had to do full-on lightsaber effects for about a minute straight, with multiple characters dueling. For a first film? Yeah, that’s a little insane. Everyone tells you to take it easy for your first one, and I was like, “Nope, I’m going big or I’m going home.”

After that, I directed, shot, produced, edited, and narrated a documentary all by myself. It was a massive project about the impact of Star Wars, and I had to narrow it down to just three main topics. Getting interviews, fitting it all into a 20-minute runtime, and making sure the editing wasn’t a total disaster (which, honestly, editing is probably my least favorite part of filmmaking) — it was all just a huge gamble. No help, no team, just me. It was stressful as hell, but again, I wouldn’t have done it any other way. I love a challenge.

Risk is everything, man. If you’re not taking risks, you’re playing it safe, and where’s the fun in that? You’ve got to take those chances, go for the wild ideas that people think are impossible. Otherwise, what’s the point of even making a film? You can’t just sit in the comfort zone and expect something memorable to come out of it. People remember the stuff that pushes boundaries. And yeah, it might not always turn out the way you want, but you learn so much from the stuff that doesn’t work. That’s how you grow. So…GO CRAZY. DON’T HOLD BACK.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.youtube.com/@SAADEFILM
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saadefilm?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
• Other: https://youtu.be/iEZjc-sfzjY?si=HwzVHXrXr3BVRAFO (my first short film, Star Wars: Echoes of Darkness)