We recently connected with Nauzanin Knight and have shared our conversation below.

Nauzanin, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

As the CEO of 1844 Studios, the most meaningful project I have ever worked on is “BE Collective,” a mentorship initiative for entry level film practitioners from the BIPOC and equity-seeking communities. This project aligns perfectly with our company’s mission to build a complete ecosystem that promotes unity and diversity within the film industry. Through “BE Collective,” we are able to provide hands-on experience and critical networking opportunities to underrepresented groups, helping to create a more inclusive and diverse industry.

Additionally, as women of color and the directors of 1844 Studios, my business partner, Mitra Knight, and I are committed to promoting diversity and equity within the film industry. “BE Collective” is a way for us to not only fulfill our mission, but also to give back to our community and help pave the way for the next generation of filmmakers. This project has been truly meaningful for us, and we are proud of the impact it has had on the industry and the individuals who have participated in it.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am the CEO of 1844 Studios, a film production company with a mission to build a complete ecosystem that promotes unity and diversity within the film industry. My business partner, Mitra Knight, and I founded 1844 Studios with the goal of creating stories that emphasize the oneness of humankind despite the diversity of experience, and strive to reflect the true diversity of our community both behind and in front of the camera.

We got into the film industry because we believe in the power of storytelling to bring people together and to inspire change. We are passionate about using our platform to tell diverse and meaningful stories that challenge the status quo and inspire our audience to think differently about the world.

At 1844 Studios, we provide a range of products and services related to film production, including development, production, distribution, and consulting. We work with clients to create unique and impactful stories that speak to their audiences, and we are always looking for ways to push the boundaries of what is possible within the medium.

Some of our films include, #SHADESOFWORTH (2021), an exploration of self-worth and beauty in Black women; My Lyric I Never Knew, about a young singer who decides to debut a song i that will expose her turbulent past and forced adoption of her child (CBC Canadian Reflections, American Indian Film Festival 2019, National Screen Institute Film Festival 2019); Precarity, a short documentary about the lived experience of Temporary Foreign Workers in Alberta (TELUS Optik, On-Demand); ColorBlind (2022) a Romantic Comedy on the theme of the paramount importance of the elimination of racial prejudice; Abu & Mo: Two Orphans (2022) about the oneness of religion.

One of the things that sets us apart from other film production companies is our commitment to diversity and inclusivity. We believe that representation matters, and we strive to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all members of our team. This is reflected in our mentorship initiative, “BE Collective,” which provides hands-on experience and critical networking opportunities to entry level film practitioners from the BIPOC and equity-seeking communities. It is also reflected in our research and consulting work. For instance, in 2022, to contribute to the societal discourses around diversity and inclusion in the film & television industry 1844 Studios designed, led, and published “Building Inclusive Networks in the Film and Television Industry” (2022) to further this aim. The study can be found on the Telefilm Canada Website as well as the Canada Media Fund Website.

We are proud of the work we have done to promote diversity and equity within the film industry, and we are always looking for ways to have a positive impact on the world through our storytelling. We hope that potential clients, followers, and fans will recognize our commitment to excellence and to making a positive difference in the world through our work.

To find our more about our work you can visit our website, https://www.1844studios.com/ or check out our social media links.

Have you ever had to pivot?

As the CEO of 1844 Studios, a film production company, I have had to pivot several times in my career. My background is actually in psychology and crime science, and I received my Masters in Countering Organized Crime and Terrorism from University College London. After working in this field for a few years, I realized that I wanted to effect deeper, societal change that would address the root causes of issues like crime.

To pursue this goal, I spent three years serving at the Baha’i World Centre in Haifa, Israel, where I was inspired to find a way to use my skills and talents to serve humanity in a more meaningful way. As I prayed about what direction to go next in my life, the idea of film production came to my mind. Despite having no prior experience in the industry, I decided to pursue this path and started my own film production company, 1844 Studios.

Since starting 1844 Studios, I have had to pivot several times in order to adapt to the changing needs of the industry and to stay true to my mission of promoting unity and diversity through storytelling. This has required me to be flexible and open to learning new things, and to be willing to take risks in order to achieve my goals. Ultimately, I am grateful for the opportunity to pivot and to use my skills and talents to make a positive difference in the world through film.

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

As a filmmaker, I was inspired to use my craft to create social change by the aims of the Baha’i Faith, which emphasizes the oneness of humankind and the importance of promoting unity, justice, and equality. The Baha’i Faith teaches that every person has the potential to contribute to the betterment of society, and that it is our responsibility to use our talents and abilities to serve others and make a positive difference in the world.

For me, this meant using the power of storytelling and film to inspire change and to bring people together across lines of difference. Through my films, I strive to create stories that challenge the status quo, promote understanding and empathy, and inspire my audience to think differently about the world.

The Baha’i Faith also emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusivity, and I try to reflect these values in my work by creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all members of my team, and by promoting diversity both behind and in front of the camera.

Overall, my faith plays a central role in my work as a filmmaker, guiding my values and shaping my vision for the impact I hope to have through my films.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.1844studios.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1844studios/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1844studios
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nauzanin/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/1844S

Image Credits
Moein Habibi Kristin Breitkreutz Samuel Secret Donna Knorren Veronica Scallion