Life & Work with Gary Karapetyan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gary Karapetyan.

Gary, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My love for filmmaking started in high school, where we had to film a short video for class. My classmates got together at my house, we wrote a script and filmed it. After a couple of visits, I edited the project and we later showed that video to the class. Seeing that excitement and interest in their faces was encouraging. I remember they kept wanting to watch that same video every period. After high school, I decided to take film classes at the University of California in Irvine while I was pursuing my bachelor’s in Biological Sciences. On the final day of my documentary class, after my student film was screened, my professor pulled me aside and told me that I should continue making films. I was shocked.

Long story short, I was fascinated by film. I was constantly writing stories that I wanted to see on screen. Film for me, quite frankly, has always been about pleasing myself first. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love for the audience to appreciate and enjoy the films I make, but I’m my own biggest critic, and it needs to thrill me first. It’s always been about one-upping my previous project. With this mentality, over the years, I continued working on different projects, attending film festivals, receiving awards, and connecting with talented artists in the industry. I’m grateful for where I’ve come, however, there is so much to be done in my life, and this is only the beginning.

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?
When I had first started filmmaking, no one took me seriously. People in my circle thought I was dreaming. How was I, an 18-year-old going to pull it off? Later that year, I produced, co-directed, and starred in my first film, “Czech Mate on Ice” The film went on winning numerous awards at different festivals. It served as the biggest motivation for me to create more and more. Was it easy? Not at all and it never gets easy, it only gets harder because the expectations rise. I remember once a host asked me at one of my Q&As, “What’s harder, getting started with your first film or the next film?” You could always start something, try it, and let it go. On the contrary, commitment is what keeps you moving forward. I’ve had many struggles while working on each and every film. Let’s just put it this way, I’ve been close to giving up on every project I’ve ever worked on. I’ve pushed my limits on every film with the capabilities and resources I’ve had. The biggest enemy to independent filmmakers is getting the desired budget for your story. Every film of mine has been a roller coaster, but as mentioned previously, expectations do get higher, and so do the challenges each time. However, I believe that staying true to yourself, maintaining your commitment and hard work ethic will go a long way.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m an indie filmmaker based in Los Angeles, specializing in directing and storytelling. I now have my own production company called “Dark Eye Productions”. All the films I’ve directed up to this point revolve around mental health and the power of following your heart. “Creating films that impact our society” has been my motto since the beginning of my career, and that will remain true for “Dark Eye Productions”. I’m the type of filmmaker that puts my entire heart into the stories I tell. And these are stories that need to be told, stories that inspire and move people no matter who they are.

In addition to my creative work, I am pursuing my doctorate degree in pharmacy (PharmD) at the University of Southern California. I am in my final year of rotations, as I’m expecting to graduate in May of 2024.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
When growing up, my father would always say, “Never look to the top of the mountain and fear how you’re supposed to climb it.” Don’t be afraid when tasked with challenges. Train your mind to never feel overwhelmed. Accept that we can’t do everything we want in a day. As long as we consistently put in everything we got, day by day, it’s all that matters. And most importantly, don’t expect to be successful in the short run, no matter how great your work is. “Rome wasn’t built in a day”.

Contact Info:

• Website: imdb.me/garykarapetyan
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garrr_bear/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gary.karapetyan.films/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-karapetyan-33a915166/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0mAQ-KCyrIBWZ8aLfD4fKg

Image Credits
Elias Shankaji Gonzo Vasquez Steve Escarcega Ethan Asin