Gelare Khoshgozaran
Iranian videomaker
Interview: 10 questions
1. Tell me something about your life and the educational background
I was born and raised in Tehran, Iran. I finished my undergraduate studies at the University of Arts in Tehran. In 2009 I moved to Los Angeles to join the Master of Fine Arts Program at the University of Southern California. I received my MFA from USC in Aug 2011.
2. When, how and why started you filming?
I started working with time-based media when I was in graduate school. I first started with some performance for the camera and made photographic documentations. After that I began to work with video documentations and continued working with the medium.
3. What kind of subjects have your films?
I use a lot of found footage from family home videos to TV commercials, Pop song videos, etc. I am interested in the way these visual fragments form our individual memories as well as collective history.
4. How do you develop your films, do you follow certain principles, styles etc?
I make every single decision based on the subject that I am working on. I have my own criteria but there is no single path that I follow in all my works.
5. Tell me something about the technical equipment you use.
It is different from project to project; anything from HD camera to screen capture softwares.
6. The field of “art and moving images†(one may call it videoart or also differently) is manifesting itself as an important position in contemporary art. Tell me more about your personal position and how you see the future of this field (your personal future and the future of “art and moving imagesâ€)
Video art and film have been around in the art world since the 50’s and 60’s. And I believe it is of utmost important to pay attention to that history and the legacy of experimental video arts and performance documentations of the 60’s and 70’s when working with this medium today, as contemporary artist.
7. How do you finance your films?
I have always worked in very low budget projects. I personally finance my projects.
8. Do you work individually as a video artist/film maker or do you work in a team? if you have experience in both, what is the difference, what do you prefer?
I usually work individually. I occasionally ask for a friend or collaborator’s help for documentation.
9. Who or what has a lasting influence on your film/video making?
Pop culture, propaganda, mass media, avant-garde filmmakers, experimental videos of the 60’s and 70’s.
10. What are your plans or dreams as a film/video maker?
Keeping on with experimenting and exploring the so many potentials and aspects of this medium.
Can works of yours viewed online besides on CologneOFF or VideoChannel? Where?
List some links & resources
My personal website: http://towardstranslucence.tumblr.com/