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

Alright, Dean thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I started out as a kid, inspired by action movies and dreaming of being part of them. As an adult, I decided to make that dream a reality. I threw myself into the world of auditions, showing up to random calls for music videos and extra roles, eager to learn and make connections. With each opportunity, I built a network and slowly figured out how to get more involved in the industry. Eventually, I was auditioning for real film roles, stepping into the world of acting and performing in action movies.

But as I kept moving forward, I realized my true passion was directing. I wanted to create stories, to guide the vision from behind the camera. So, I applied the same relentless approach that had worked for me before: I started small. First, I created skits, then I moved on to short films. And then, I took a leap and tried to write and direct my first feature film. It didn’t succeed – it was a tough learning experience, and I didn’t know enough at the time. But I wasn’t ready to quit. I went back, learned from my mistakes, and tried again. The second time, it worked. And the third time, even better. Now, I’m directing my third feature film, *Symutal*, based on a book I wrote in 2022, and I’m currently deep into post-production.

What’s been consistent throughout my journey is that I’ve never had formal education in film. I never went to film school or had any professional training. But over time, I came to realize something: less than half of the people I’ve worked with have formal education either. In fact, most people in the industry are figuring it out as they go. No one has a perfect path. We’re all learning on the job, making mistakes, and adapting along the way. Knowing this, I’ve gained the courage or, if you will – arrogance – to keep pushing forward, even when I’m walking into unknown territory with no qualifications or experience. I’ve learned to trust myself and my ability to figure things out, to keep moving forward with faith that every challenge is just another step toward growth.

It’s a journey of self-belief, taking risks, and embracing the unknown. And the more I do it, the more I realize that you don’t have to have all the answers, or any of them – sometimes, you just need the guts to start.

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.

I’m a feature film director who has (like everyone else) traveled their own path – for me, starting as an action performer, moving on to acting, then writing, and ultimately finding my true calling as a director.

So far, I’ve had two feature films released and are currently in distribution, and my third is almost ready to go. *Symutal* will be released later this year, and I couldn’t be more excited for it to be shared with the world.

I love diving into all of these disciplines – acting, writing, and directing – and it’s a dream of mine to live in a world where I can continue to move in and out of all three, bringing stories to life in different ways. It’s this versatility that keeps me inspired, always learning and growing.

Alongside *Symutal*, I’ve written four completed scripts and have several more at various stages of development. I’m always working on new ideas, always building and creating.

Right now, I’m also playing the character “Bergerfeld” in *Alien: Earth*, which will be released this summer. It’s another exciting opportunity, and I’m psyched to see it on the screen.

Each step in my journey has shaped me, and I’m grateful to be able to wear so many different hats in the world of filmmaking. There’s no better feeling than being able to tell stories across multiple platforms, and I’m ready to see where it all leads.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

For society to truly support artists and creatives, and to keep our cultural landscape vibrant, we need to hold big businesses in the entertainment industry accountable, especially when it comes to monopolistic practices.

Creative communities are like the local grocery stores we rely on – they need protection. Without it, they’ll be wiped out by corporate giants that see only profit, not the value of individuality and creativity.

Think about it this way: A large enough corporation can move into a neighborhood, buy up all the local grocery stores, and run them at a loss. They do this until they’ve driven every competitor into the ground. Once all the local shops are gone, that giant corporation can charge whatever it wants and produce whatever it pleases – having manipulated the market to the point of breaking it. This is exactly what we’ve seen with companies like Starbucks, McDonald’s, and other big franchises, whose products are nothing more than generic, mass-produced slop that lacks any real flavor.

The entertainment industry is no different. Mega-corporations have nearly destroyed the cinema as we once knew it. The days of heading to the theater to watch a medium-budget indie film have become a thing of the past. Now, we’re left with just a few enormous companies controlling the cinematic landscape across the country, if not entire continents. What’s left is a cookie-cutter slate of bloated, mega-budget productions that have taken the place of real art. But real art doesn’t come from corporations. Art is the product of individuals, of creators who pour their unique voices into their work.

If we want to continue enjoying true art, we have to protect the artists. This means preventing mega entertainment companies from swallowing up every creative space that was once a platform for true, original storytelling. We need to make sure that there is still room for the diverse, authentic, and meaningful art that reflects the heart and soul of our communities.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Being in communities where you get to see and experience things you have never seen before. Living in a world of authentic, originals. Crazy artists making insane art. Taking chances on doing things without knowing “the formula”, and doing things for the sake of doing them, – thats art. It’s fun.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://deanalexandrou.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deanalexandrou/
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1525674/

Image Credits

Josh Sullivan,
Tarsem Singh,
Brandon Li