Slog

News & Arts

The Stranger Suggests

Critics' Best Bets
Music Arts & Food


Line Out

Music & the City
at Night

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Zia Mohajerjasbi: Genius of Film!

Posted by on Wed, Sep 30, 2009 at 12:25 PM

Damnit, Im getting my hair cut tomorrow.
  • "Damnit, I'm getting my hair cut tomorrow."

In the sunny front window of Cafe Pettirosso this morning, local filmmaker Zia Mohajerjasbi (young, gracious, a few minutes late) received his sheet cake, declaring him the 2009 Stranger Genius in Film. He seemed confused, then excited, then confused again. "Your timing is really perfect," he said. "Three days ago I was sitting at my desk saying, 'November 1st I'm quitting.'"

In last year's Genius Awards shortlist, Charles Mudede wrote this about Zia:

The eye of the Hollywood studio sees little more of Seattle than the Space Needle; the local filmmaker, however, sees a dynamic relationship between the urban and the natural, between concrete and trees, between outside and inside. In his latest video for Blue Scholars, "Loyalty," director Zia Mohajerjasbi contrasts the rural with hiphop's multicultural solidarity. A group of urban youth walk across a field of wild grass. Though we do not see a single building, we never feel that we are anywhere else but in the middle of Seattle.

His next project is a short film about early-'90s life in Yesler Terrace. You can view his work, including music videos for the Blue Scholars, Common Market, and Jake One, HERE.


UPDATE: Congratulate Zia (and all the other 2009 Geniuses) at the great, big, fun Genius Awards Party! November 13 at the Moore! Hooray!

 

Comments (13) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment
Posted by Grrr on September 30, 2009 at 1:28 PM
2
Awesome! Congrats Zia!
Posted by clint on September 30, 2009 at 1:28 PM
3
Yikes, he's handsome.
Posted by The Cap'n At Work on September 30, 2009 at 1:32 PM
T 4
Dude makes some gorgeous music videos. Congrats to him!
Posted by T on September 30, 2009 at 1:33 PM
5
I wouldn't mind having coffee & cake with him.
Posted by CommonKnowledge on September 30, 2009 at 2:00 PM
DOUG. 6
I'm pretty sure it's never the Blue Scholars.
Posted by DOUG. http://www.dougsvotersguide.com on September 30, 2009 at 2:05 PM
reel grrls 7
Reel Grrls is so proud of Zia! About time he got the recognition.
Posted by reel grrls http://www.reelgrrls.org on September 30, 2009 at 2:17 PM
Stacy in Austin 8
There is not a damn thing wrong with that man's hair.
Posted by Stacy in Austin on September 30, 2009 at 2:24 PM
9
Zia is an awesome person along with being a very talented one. Nice work on this, Stranger.
Posted by Meinert on September 30, 2009 at 2:57 PM
seattlemommy 10
Great job Zia! Congrats!
Posted by seattlemommy http://www.seattlemommy.com on September 30, 2009 at 3:54 PM
11
Good work Zia!
Posted by MTK on September 30, 2009 at 4:17 PM
12
congrats zia!
Posted by sergio mottola on September 30, 2009 at 4:20 PM
Larry Mizell, Jr. 13
congrats Zia! get a fucking haircut!
Posted by Larry Mizell, Jr. on September 30, 2009 at 5:52 PM

Add a comment

Advertisement
 

All contents © Index Newspapers, LLC
1535 11th Ave (Third Floor), Seattle, WA 98122
Contact Info | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Takedown Policy