Iran actor reveals 3 secrets of cinema in Fajr workshop

Iranian actor Reza Kianian has revealed three secrets of acting during a workshop on the sidelines of the 35th Fajr International Film Festival (FIFF) in Iran.

Speaking to the film community and students during the FIFF Talent Campus workshop in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on April 21st, Kianian revealed three top secrets to cinema and acting.

“The first is to know how to tell a story. A great artist should be able to tell others the story of his daily life. He should know comedy and say it differently on each and every occasion. Even a shy person could handle this. I myself used to be shy and hide in the closet whenever we had some guest. But I used to act a lot and by myself in front of the mirror. I would replay things that happened to me in the day,” he said.

The second secret to acting, Kianian noted, is your ability to be naughty.

“You should be naughty, just like a little kid. As a kid, I was quick to ask for food from my mother whenever I got hungry. It didn’t matter if we had guests or not. Kids have no idea about social conducts and norms. But when they grow up they all wear masks. This turns us into imperfect humans,” Kianian said.

The Iranian actor went on to add that kids and animals serve as the best playmates “because they don’t care if they are playing in front of the camera. They are easy with themselves and the surrounding environment. They are always candid. As an artist or an actor, you should discover this. If you don’t, then you become a fake.”

The third secret to cinema is skill and it could be learned, he said, adding that, “Just like a magician, you should learn how to entertain and create suspense. Always leave something for the imagination of the audience. You should always try and lead them to that shock discovery at the end. A clear example could be finding the killer in a detective movie.”

Kianian’s last bit of advice included watching more movies and reading more stories.

“Read detective stories and make sure when people watch your movie they leave the cinema in shock and awe. This is the most gratifying part of cinema,” he concluded.

The 35th Fajr International Film Festival takes place in Tehran from April 21-28.

Over 100 students from 33 countries are participating in various academic workshops of the ongoing Talent Campus.

AI/AI