Transitioning from art sculpture to music videos and commercial films, our Featured Filmmaker Timur Civan has crafted a diverse film career for himself. At the age of 21, after showcasing one of his video/sculpture installations at an art gallery, he began making his first music video by combining his love of art and passion for film. It’s challenging in a scientific way, mathematical way, and purely artistic way," says Civan, "which are all my favorite parts of sculpture." When it comes to filmmaking, Timur's focus is purely in cinematography. He draws inspiration not only from the art world, but also from cinematographers who "blend artistry with science and even a bit of alchemy."
Why did you get into the film industry and how did you transition from art to film?
I got into the film industry by accident. I was a sculptor, went to school for it and was showing work at galleries in New York and Europe. I had just completed a new round of Video/Sculpture installations, a new venture for me at the time, and received some press about one of my pieces. I got a call from a producer about a musical group that needed a music video, and asked if I was interested in directing it, based on the work I had done in the video piece. I had done it for free, because I never really looked at it as a paying job, my job was making/selling art. I agreed, shot it, and at the wrap dinner one of the producers' friends (another producer) asked me what I had charged to shoot. Before the words " oh I did it for free" left my mouth, the producer chimed in with a number that (as a 21 year old) made my head spin. before I could wrap my head around what was happening, the producer’s friend said, "Oh great, can you shoot a video for me on Thursday….. I can even pay you more…." I did my best to contain my excitement… I mean, you can get paid for shooting music videos?!?!?!, I agreed, and that job led to another, and another and the next thing I know, I'm a full time DP. I truly love this job. It’s challenging in a scientific way, mathematical way, and purely artistic way. — all my favorite parts of sculpture. [ photo above: timur civan on Parade ]
From where or from whom do you find inspiration?
I am naturally attracted to creative outlets that present a challenge on many levels. Once you think like DP, it’s hard to see the world any other way but through a camera lens. Its amazing seeing the work of some the most incredible cinematographers, Roger Deakins, Gordon Wills, Jordan Cronenweth, Darius Khonji, Thierry Arbogast, and many more. Looking at their unique perspective – seeing how much of their personality winds up on the film, is truly inspiring. They blend artistry, with science and even a bit of alchemy. Its fun to think how different some of your favorite films would be had they been shot by someone else.
What do you love about the film industry and the process?
The best part is knowing that someday, if I keep it up, someone will hopefully enjoy my work the way I do my heroes. The on set experience is the only way to get there. Building your own visual palette and visual vocabulary with your audience, is thrilling when it works, and agonizing when it fails. Practice makes perfect. I hope to practice for the rest of my life.
What do you like most about being a DP and/or a Director?
I focus on cinematography, and only cinematography. A lot of filmmakers are simply dynamos and do it all, but I feel that if I take that same amount of energy, and focus it, I can get a better final product for the directors I work with. I like taking a script, or treatment and doing my best to create a visual language catered to the piece. That's my favorite part, using my eye to translate the story into images, both beautifully, and while maintaining the psychology of the scene. There is nothing quite like it.
Anything unusual ever happen on set or location?
Well I wouldn't call it unusual per say, but often when I arrive on set I come up with a complicated lighting plan, and often, right as we are about to shoot, some small miracle happens, and the sun comes pouring in a beautiful was, and I have my gaffer strike down the lights, and we use that pearl to its fullest. Some of the most beautiful I've done has been a happy accident.
Watch Timur Civan's Reel Above.
What's next for you?
Right now I'm building my new company, Tstop Cinema LLC, a production services company, meaning I provide all services from camera, lenses, recording, and DIT all the way through Post and finishing. I'm focused on stepping up my game and bringing forth my best on every project I work on. As far as what I want to shoot goes, I'm actively pursuing high end commercial and feature film work. I like to shoot both slick glossy footage as well as natural, dramatic scenes. So far I've been pretty lucky, because I've been able to do both in the past few months.
Timur Civan is an acclaimed Director of Photography and fine artist. He has the natural ability to take a seemingly impossible, logistically nightmarish photographic demand and turn it into an award-winning piece of art. In his years of undergrad at New York University he honed his talent for creating visually stimulating art; he left the school with an appreciation for the capacity of the moving picture
Initially Timur was a showing visual artist. Upon receiving praise for video artistry at several gallery showings in New York and Istanbul, he was offered the opportunity to shoot his first music video. This early display of an eye for the medium led to a series of videos by acclaimed directors and recording artists. This cemented his love of telling a story with the camera.
Find out more about Timur Civan
www.timurcivan.com
http://timurcivan.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/TimurCivan
http://twitter.com/Timurcivan
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