narbeh nazarian

Narbeh Nazarian started working in the entertainment industry in 2007 after graduating from The Brooks Institute of Photography where he studied film and television production. After graduation, he started working as a production assistant on sets and soon decided he wanted to be an Assistant Director. He achieved that goal in 2016 when he joined the Directors Guild of America after completing the prestigious Directors Guild Producer Training Plan and has since quickly moved up to the position of 1st Assistant Director. Throughout the stages of his career he has worked on sets for filmmakers like Sam Raimi, Penelope Spheeris, Terrence Malick, Clint Eastwood, Patty Jenkins, Noah Baumbach and James Cameron.

How did you get started in the industry?

After college, I decided to just get out and work on sets as a P.A. to start making connections and continue to learn the craft. I found my first job from an online post for a reality television company producing content for The Learning Channel. I worked hard every single day and always tried to learn as much as I could about every single crew member’s position. That job led to the next one and so on. Each one growing in scale and scope as I moved from reality, to independent features, to network television and studio features films

What were some of the challenges of getting where you are today and how did you overcome them?

People who don’t work in the industry always talk about an overnight success story and the truth is that just doesn’t exist. Working your way into the entertainment industry is not an easy road and there are a lot of people trying to do the exact same thing as you. So, it can feel daunting from time to time, but the hardest challenge is to make sure you don’t lose the passion that led you to follow that dream. There are so many people along the way who are going to tell you, “Go do something else with your life.” Don’t forget why you’re there and never let anyone take that away from you. Just keep working hard.

What are some of the most valuable lessons that you have learned about this industry and wish you knew earlier?

When you’re green you grow and when you’re ripe you rot. A brilliant Assistant Director taught me the value of that, and I take that mindset with me into every single day. The second you think you know everything; you stop learning and you start becoming dull. We are craftsmen and you have to continue to sharpen your tools over the years in the hopes of one day mastering your craft. And that’s also the most exciting part of what we do. We’re always growing.

What is your advice for the aspiring industry professionals? Some steps to take? Some mistakes to avoid? Effective strategies to move up the career ladder?

Talk to anyone and everyone you can in this industry along the way but make sure you actually listen when they take the time. I mean really listen. There are so many aspiring hopefuls in this industry who don’t know how to, and you can see that they’re always just waiting for their chance to talk. And they miss out on the opportunity to receive knowledge and wisdom. If you can actually learn from other people’s experiences and missteps, you might just avoid wasting your time making the same mistakes. It will save you years on your journey to achieving your goals.

What do you love the most about your job, and what is your favorite project that you’ve worked on?

I am truly blessed in that I love what I do. Every single day. Even on the hard ones, with the brutal hours, lack of sleep and missing loved ones, I still manage to find the joy in my work. After all, we get to play make believe all day. When you strip away everything to its core, Hollywood is just a really big sandbox with a lot of really cool toys. One of the most brilliant Directors I’ve had the privilege of working with was Patty Jenkins on her limited series I Am the Night. Her passion and unbridled joy for what she does is the most amazing and infectious energy and it was addicting to be around it. She is a brilliant leader and inspires every single person on her crew to contribute and bring something to the table.

What is your most memorable or the funniest work story?

A standout experience for me was being able to join the A.D. team on Clint Eastwood’s film Sully. I was still a D.G.A. Trainee at the time and my role on the show was to run basecamp, but every single chance I got I would head to set to be a part of the filming. It was a group of masterful filmmakers across the board, both in front of the camera and behind. Obviously, the boss has an amazing group around him, that he’s been working with for decades, but being able to watch Tom Hanks act was something I’ll never forget. He is one of the greatest talents of his generation and witnessing him bring a character or in this case, a portrayal of a real person, to life on film was nothing short of spectacular.

What is your most recent success and how did you accomplish it?

I grew up watching James Cameron’s films. I’ve seen T2 and True Lies more times than I’d like to admit. He is a master of the artform and he’s constantly pushing the boundaries of what films are capable of. There’s no question his contributions have changed cinema and filmmaking forever. So getting to be a part of his A.D. team on the Avatar sequels for the better part of two years of my life was dream come true. The man is a genius and being able to learn from and help contribute to his process was something that has made me a better filmmaker and an experience I will never forget.

What is your biggest aspiration in this industry?

I love meeting exciting new filmmakers and storytellers who have a new voice and something to say. It’s an exciting time right now because there are a lot of artists with different perspectives that are finding more opportunities to tell their stories to the world. I love collaborating and working with them to help bring those stories to life. And, I might just have a few of my own to tell.

How are you personally connected to the Armenian culture and what is your favorite thing about it?

It’s everything. Being Armenian shapes the lens in which we experience life. It defines us and provides the foundation that we build our lives on. I am extremely proud to be an Armenian-American and I hope to do my part to bring our stories, our culture and our history into the mainstream through honest representation of who we are.