Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Hamzah Tarzan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hamzah, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Since 2007 when I started the real thing in making movies, as a self thought and move on to get my degree in filmmaking from Hollywood, and after making my second feature I realized that you learn more from being on set than behind a table in front another filmmaker who thinks his way is the right way.

Main thing to know about filmmaking is if you are not fully in it, it can break you easily to pieces in all aspects, you have to know and have what it need.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

It started when I was doing badly in computer engineering in KFUPM Saudi Arabia in 2003. I faced myself and decided to follow my passion, which is filmmaking. The problem at that time their was no books about filmmaking no theaters no future jobs for a filmmaker. Didn’t stop me, our university club won the best club that year and the reward was a trip to Dubai, UAE. I went to all book stores with no luck of finding a book that teaches filmmaking, and while visiting the last store, they said we don’t have one, but still I went to the film book section and between all books of film history, I found one only book between all these books one copy about filmmaking and it was at that time big budget for me and I bought it. The journey started with short films and festivals, I start to make my name with my movies in the middle east, I won awards, I made over 20 shorts, that lead me to get offers from women’s universities in Saudi to teach filmmaking as an elective for their students, 3 different universities and my knowledge was self-taught and my experience in the field.

I start to make good money from it and friends asked me if I would like to follow the dream and get to Hollywood, so I apply for a degree in New York Film Academy and got accepted, and after a few years, I graduated as first on class with honor degree and made my first Hollywood movie “Mike Boy” which was my thesis project too 2017. Afterward, it was hard to establish yourself in Hollywood with all what’s going on, after all that Allah almighty reward me with a big contract to make a feature film with the first Saudi Soccer club Al Ittihad, the project titled is “I am Al Ittihad” attached to this project my dear friend and famous executive producer Ted Field who produced Jumanji series, the Last Samurai and many more. Over 5 name actors from Saudi on this project, we wrap the picture last October and now we are in post and we estimated to be released in summer 2023. Big steps start with small ones. I imagine for a living and my imaginations come true and better than expected. Inshaa Allah.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Watching movies is very important in our field to a certain point, when you start to be a very picky with what you watching, as a filmmaker a great one, you can’t watch bad movies anymore, it might effect you in some how.

If we want to pick a movie that make change the way I look at movies, I need to say THE GODFATHER, with all the mistakes you can find in this movie, based on the period was produced in, but till now I consider it a masterpiece in story telling, acting, editing, and even life lessons.

It make you feel how great movies should be approached and made, its a good reference to start with.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Yes, simply to tell great stories again, not what we seeing now from sharing agendas, styles, philosophies etc. way from telling stories, that’s my goal.

Contact Info:

• Website: tarzanstudios.com
• Instagram: tarzanstudios
• Facebook: tarzanstudios
• Twitter: tarzanstudios
• Youtube: tarzanstudios

Image Credits
Tarzan Studios