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

Alex , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Who is your hero and why? What lessons have you learned from them and how have they influenced your journey?

Growing up, I had many heroes — from world-renowned filmmakers to athletes I admired long before I ever picked up a camera. But today, without hesitation, I can say my greatest hero is my mother. She embodies hard work and has always shown me that if you truly believe in something and stay persistent, it will find its way to you.

Every time I hit a low point in the filmmaking industry, I think about her — what she went through at my age, how she pushed through her own struggles, and how she did it without complaint. That reflection always grounds me. I think a lot of people from my generation fall into the trap of comparing themselves to others who are decades ahead in their careers. But my mother reminded me that everyone moves at their own pace — and that growth in your 20s looks very different than success in your 50s.

Growing up in Bulgaria, the film industry felt distant. It existed, sure, but 18-year-old me believed the UK offered a better path. My mom was the one who fully supported me leaving home to build my own life — first in the UK, then eventually Los Angeles. She was the backbone of those moves. Even when I was unsure if it was the right path, she told me, “It’s better to try and fail than to do nothing at all.” That mindset is what got me here.

Back in high school, I wasn’t a photographer, I didn’t even own a camera. But she never made that feel like a limitation. She used to say, “If you’re meant to be behind the camera, the camera will find you.” She made me believe that even though we didn’t come from a filmmaking family, the industry wasn’t out of reach — that belief in yourself is half the battle.

Eventually, I bought my first video camera and started making short films with my classmates. Looking back, they were pretty embarrassing, but at the time we thought they were festival-worthy. We submitted them everywhere — spent way too much money on submission fees — and didn’t get into a single one. But we had the best time making them, and that joy was real.

My mother taught me that success isn’t just about achievement — it’s about the courage to try, the strength to keep going, and the faith that if it’s meant for you, it will come. That lesson continues to shape me every day.

Alex , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a filmmaker with a deep passion for visual storytelling, currently based in Los Angeles. I completed two filmmaking degrees — one in the UK and one in the US — and both were pivotal in shaping me, not just as an artist but as a person. My journey started with producing and directing, but since moving to LA, I’ve fully leaned into my true passion: cinematography.

I’ve proudly served as Director of Photography on a range of narrative and commercial projects. While I always wish there were more — that’s the nature of being creatively hungry — I feel confident in my craft and my ability to bring stories to life visually.

My love for cinematography traces back to my high school years in Bulgaria. There’s something about Eastern Europe — the light, the architecture, the unspoken weight of the environment — that made me want to “capture” it even before I had the tools. That emotional texture has stayed with me, and I believe it transcends into my cinematography today. I’m drawn to mood, to atmosphere, to the quiet tension that lingers in a frame.

What sets me apart is that I’m not just a technician — I’m someone who brings a personal and emotional sensitivity to the camera. I aim to elevate the story, not just shoot it. Whether I’m working on a short film or a brand video, my focus is always on crafting visual language that serves the core of the narrative.

What I’m most proud of is simply not giving up — pushing forward, moving countries, starting over, and finding my voice in an industry that’s as rewarding as it is challenging. I want potential collaborators, clients, and followers to know that I’m always striving to evolve, stay honest to the work, and bring something grounded and visually distinct to every frame I touch.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I genuinely believe that people are meant to create. Creativity has been part of who we are since the beginning — from ancient cave paintings to architecture, music, storytelling, fashion, filmmaking… the list goes on. Even early humans carved on stone walls to make sense of the world around them. That instinct to express something deeper than words is still in all of us.

I also believe that everyone is creative in their own way — it just takes time to find your thing. Storytelling, for example, is something we all do without realizing it. Whether it’s a five-minute conversation about your day or a two-hour story from childhood, it’s built into us to want to share, connect, and be understood.

For me, the most rewarding part of being an artist is getting to follow that inner voice — the one that tells you what feels right, what moves you, what you want to say. I had a hidden passion for the camera for years — I couldn’t quite express it or even name it early on. But once I found it, everything started to click. Now I get to tell stories through visuals, through light, through movement — and that sense of fulfillment is hard to describe. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about being aligned with what feels real.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Honestly, it’s the oldest method in the book: meeting people organically. No amount of LinkedIn connections or social media posts can replace the power of real, in-person interaction. It’s not that those platforms are useless — they absolutely have their place, and I’ve seen Instagram work well for many people — but at the end of the day, people remember energy. They remember your face, your attitude, your voice. Social media just can’t fully capture that.

All of my most meaningful collaborations have come from real-life encounters — meeting directors at parties, through mutual friends, in school, or even by chance. Even in this digital age, there’s still nothing that beats walking into a room, having a genuine conversation, and clicking with someone creatively. That kind of connection builds trust in a way that’s hard to replicate online. For me, it’s still the most effective way to land new projects.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexlevonp/

Image Credits

Anton Sinitsyn, Catherine Frawley, Allen Rivas