Alex Eskandarkhah

Alex Eskandarkhah | Cycles

“Cycles” is described as a meditation on grief, lust and habits. What inspired you to explore such emotionally and socially complex themes in one narrative?

The script, written by Andre Kelly had this specificity that was humanizing in such a mundane setting. I saw an everyday slice of life story that had room for so much texture.

How did your Afro-Iranian heritage and upbringing in Toronto influence the visual and emotional tone of “Cycles”?

My intersection informs all my work, along with many other intersections. Art and commerce, hyper visibility and erasure. Spending time in many unique circumstances gives me a rich palette of my own lived experiences to pull from. This story was set in a Toronto suburb, and I think we were really able to use the underbelly of the region as an isolating backdrop.

Alex Eskandarkhah | Cycles

The laundromat setting is a powerful metaphor for purification and repetition. How did you arrive at this concept and location?

Andre really wanted to have the adage of “airing out your dirty laundry” to have a sort of omnipresence in the theme. It’s not uncommon for two strangers in a metropolitan to connect over a conversation like this. That lifeline is in the mundanity yet symbolic choice of the laundromat.

What was the most challenging scene to direct, both technically and emotionally, and why?

All shoot days in the film are overnight, so that was definitely a challenge. The human body isn’t meant to be up late around the clock, so I know that was tough on the crew as well as the actors. Jerome’s monologue that we used was a pick up scene, as the emotional exhaustion this script carries was palpable on our team. Oners are always tough to pull off. But we got a away with one.

Alex Eskandarkhah | Cycles

How did your years of collaboration with Andre Kelly on The Gifted Gab shape your dynamic on set for this film?

There was a strong sense of comfort in the agency I was able to give him from a directing standpoint. Our collaborative nature involves many discussions before going to camera and our rapport allowed us to really align on the vision of what we were trying to accomplish.

How do you balance being a storyteller and a business owner? Do these roles ever influence each other creatively?

My life has been just an extension of organic pursuits that align with who I am. That kind of alignment has afforded me the flexibility to pursue filmmaking intentionally. I have a strong support system and I’m continuously encouraged by the people around me to continue to take creative risks that stretch my capabilities and contribute to growth.

Alex Eskandarkhah | Cycles

What lessons or emotional truths do you hope audiences will take away from “Cycles”?

Everyone carries something you know nothing about. Sometimes a listening ear can be a lifeline for another person. Be kind.