Today we’d like to introduce you to Rose Farahi.
Hi Rose, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
For as long as I can remember, I had an impulse to tell stories. Playing with other children at preschool, I took the lead in imaginative play over dumbfounded playmates who could not grasp the intricacies of characters and plots. Fortunately, my parents encouraged me to write down these ideas instead of just sharing them verbally. As strange as it may sound, I found myself at four years old hunkering down at a laptop pecking out my immature ideas into plays and later, musicals. Instead of envisioning myself as a character, I saw myself as the director in charge of the performances.
As I got older, I stopped writing plays and focused on first-person narratives. As a novice writer, my works transitioned to a filmic medium. Live theatrical performances slowly morphed into storytelling that relies on a controlled production environment where scenes could be executed perfectly. At ten, I knew I wanted to be a screenwriter. At twelve, I went behind the camera and became a filmmaker.
For the past several years, I’ve been grateful to have been immersed in the supportive Knoxville arts community. From 2015 to 2017, my first three documentaries were placed in the middle and high school divisions at the Knoxville Film Festival (KFF). At fifteen, I led my own team for the KFF 7-Day Shootout Competition as one of the youngest competitors in the festival’s history. That year I earned the Emerging Filmmaker Award, which is typically given to college film students or graduates.
Back then, my only ambition was to perform on par with the other seasoned competitors, who were all adults, without embarrassing myself too badly. Where I am right now, I am preparing for projects on a larger scale.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Filmmaking is a group effort. An independent filmmaker must build a network of talent and crew. When I first started as a tween, my biggest obstacle was that I didn’t know anyone and didn’t know how to reach out to complete strangers.
When I did find the courage to talk to filmmakers at local festivals, they were surprisingly open and helpful. One filmmaker gave me advice on the essential equipment I needed to acquire first, which immediately put my films at a higher quality. I was very lucky to have been invited to the sets of two of the best filmmakers in Knoxville. One of the most important things I observed was how directors interacted with the cast and crew.
When I was competent enough to make reasonably good films, my next obstacle was not having any time. Being a full-time student at Oak Ridge High School meant tons of homework that tied up evenings, weekends, and even breaks. Now that I’ve graduated and am taking a gap year, I finally have the time for my creative pursuits. My current obstacle is money, or the lack thereof.
In order to produce a high-caliber film that can be monetized, serious funds are needed. I think that’s a challenge I’m going to be working on for the rest of my life.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
For a few years now, I’ve been a freelance filmmaker working in and around East Tennessee. My services include wedding videography, photo sessions, fashion cinematography, commercials, demo reels, and editing for commercial and personal use. I also welcome local talent clientele who would benefit from having affordable headshots and sizzle reels.
What sets me apart is a good question. There are so many talented filmmakers in East Tennessee that I would definitely not mind being included in that community. Maybe the only thing that sets me apart is my age. However, that won’t last long.
My gap year so far has been an exciting, frustrating, and rewarding experience. Unlike some stereotypes, I actually do know what I want to study and do not need a gap year for the sole purpose of undergoing self-discovery. However, I needed a gap year to have the time to pursue a passion project.
After finishing the script in late 2019 and being lucky enough to have gathered a motivated cast and crew, my original goal was to finish a feature film before graduating from high school. The pandemic put a stop to production in early 2020. As of October 2021, this project has been rebooted, and a funding campaign is set for launch in February. Production is planned for the summer of 2022.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I wouldn’t consider myself a success at this point. However, I’ve been working to set myself up for success.
I’ve tried to surround myself with good people that are competent, trustworthy, and want me to do well. I try to get better with every film that I make. With each project, I always conduct postmortems and take corrective measures. I’ve also been learning about the many aspects of the film business so that I can make filmmaking a viable career path.
Our society is saturated with all kinds of media, prosumer video gear, and capable software, so essentially everything is available to anyone who wants to do the film. The main thing that sets apart a successful filmmaker from a wannabe is that a successful filmmaker figures out how to get things done.
Pricing:
- Headshot Sessions start at $50
- Photoshoot Sessions start at $150
- Production Services (film/sound/lighting on location) start at $15/hr
- Editing (films, commercials, reels, social media) starts at $10/hr
- Wedding Videography starts at $500/day
Contact Info:
- Email: rosemariestudios@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/rosemarie_studios
- Other: www.imdb.me/rosemariestudios
