In continuation of publishing its series of oral history programs on the occasion of the birthday of “Malek Jahan Khazaei, the veteran cinema set and costume designer and artistic director”, Edemad Cinema, Cinema Museum has published parts of the conversation of this artist, which you can read below.
Malik Jahan Khazai, set designer, costume designer and art director Stating that he grew up in an Iliati and Malak family, he said: I had decided to become a painter since childhood and I spent so much time for this work that my family forbade me to do so.
He continued: I remember I used to remove the carpet and paint on the mosaics, and when I heard the footsteps of the family members, I would put the carpet in its place so as not to be punished.
Khazaei noted: My father believed in education a lot, that’s why I and other family members went abroad to continue our education because At that time, the city of Mashhad did not have a university, and I studied in Iran until a short period of high school, and then I left the country to complete other courses. It was interesting for me to be able to appear in the academic environment because Until then, I had only encountered the atmosphere of the university in books.
Referring to his studies in foreign universities, he said: When I entered one of the prominent universities for an interview, the light of the projector was placed on my works and nine judges were in charge of judging my works. Rather than wanting to evaluate my work, they were interested in how I got to know the university and they were asking me questions for about an hour. The day the acceptance letter was sent to me, I couldn’t believe that the famous university where great painters such as Turner and Constable and many famous figures of the painting world had studied, accepted me only because of the evaluation of 3 works.
Khazaei stated that he was not familiar with all the directors I worked with, but he had carefully observed their works, and said: For example, when Masoud Kimiaei offered me a collaboration, I saw some of his works and from all of them Most of the movie “Deer” caught my attention. In my opinion, Kimiaei is one of the most professional directors of Iranian cinema. I never once heard him scream on the set, and every morning when they showed up on the set, they finished their work according to the predetermined decoupage, and I didn’t even witness the slightest tension between the crew.
He said that democracy is very important for him in his work. He added: First of all, I ask the opinion of each of the actors regarding the things that are not of their interest, and I note them all down and pay attention to them. I try to include things in the sequences that will help the actor in playing his role, and for this, I do a detailed design. Also, the current mood in the story is very important to me, and I consider creating it in a cinematic work as part of the art director’s duty.
Khazaei said: I am happy that Iranian cinema has taken on a good image and continues to live in the right direction. It is an honor for me to be a servant of Iranian cinema from the beginning until the day I continue my work.