Joseph Karimbeik - Interview

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How did your family react? 

During my childhood every parent in Iran wanted their children to be either doctor or engineer and every child wanted that too. So, when I went to England and studied at the Drama Centre and graduated as an actor and theatre director and when I phoned my parents and told them about my graduation they said: “We don’t understand your education, but we will call you Doctor”

Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?  

Elia Kazan, Alfred Hitchcock, Michael Curtiz. I want to tell you something very eye opening about Michael Curtiz. He would take a script and he would look at parts that could be very artistic from all aspects and when the film was finished you had Casablanca but when you look at the script in the beginning you would never think that script would have a chance to become one of the greatest movies of all time and that is what Michael Curtiz did, finding a stone and cutting it to become a jewel, that is something. When you look at Casablanca and see the way how he has directed and blocked actors in the street or in the club it is as he was directing a group of Ballerina’s. That’s the way they move.

Who's your biggest fan? 

My DAUGHTER

What brings you inspiration the most? 

When I am challenged to create something that is my happiest moment.  I like swimming in a bundle of problems of creating a film or theatre play and come out of it. 

Which actor or director would you like to work with? 

I like to work with actors who have the skill and like to take the risk and build and bring a character that you could never imagine. It is like being a child and being taken to a mobile theatre for the first time which shows fascinating pictures in two dimensions.

Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?

 I am not going to say better but definitely different because when you read the book you direct it in your head in different ways as long as you read the book first. If you read the book after seeing the movie you need to have a lot of patience to finish the book.

What's the movie that taught you the most? 

Every movie has a different flavour, colour, and stimulation and as you grow older your taste and your priority change. You look at things differently, e.g., you look at everything with deeper angles and that makes you more philosophical, more understanding and more forgiving. As a child if you look at something everything is shallow, and you would not like it anymore when you are older. You learn from all the movies, bad or good. 

About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?

No, never.

On set what excites you the most? 

Good & believable performances like characters larger than life. Quality acting so you forget where you are and takes you away from reality out of your chair. 

And what scares you the most? 

Flop of the show.

What's your next project?

I hope to find a producer to make a feature film of London Gangstah. I think it would be a great and very funny movie and we can make a successful trilogy of it. Hopefully a producer will come along after this festival. 

And also I have more original scripts I am working on in new genres and unusual beautiful and interesting stories which I am open to share with producers who are interested.

You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose? 

I really admire van Gogh. He always amazed me how with one set of colours he showed you the whole world

An actor/director/screen player is made of....

110% feeling and sensitivity

For you Cinema is.... 

LIFE & Creating Magic

Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact? 

Absolutely.

Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar? 

Since I was a child every minute of my life. 

Do you think you're gonna win it? Yes, I will.

 I am waiting for it. Give me a chance and I make it happen.