A Journey from Trailer Editing to Directing
In this exclusive interview, we had a delightful conversation with Ahmet Atalay, a successful film editor and director. Ahmet Atalay shares his journey into the world of cinema, the pivotal moments in his career, and his future projects. He opens up about his passion for cinema and shares his dreams with us.
- HELLO, AHMET, WELCOME. FIRST OF ALL, COULD YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF A BIT? HOW DID YOUR INTEREST IN CINEMA BEGIN, AND HOW DID YOUR CAREER START?
AHMET ATALAY: Thank you, it's a pleasure to be here. I'm Ahmet Atalay, 43 years old. My interest in cinema actually dates back to my childhood. Initially, I didn't have general goals like going to Hollywood or becoming famous; my real dream was to make films. Around 2002, after graduating from university, I started working on film trailers and video game trailers.
- ONE OF THE IMPORTANT MILESTONES IN YOUR CAREER WAS INTERNING AT MIRAMAX FILMS. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT EXPERIENCE?
AHMET ATALAY: Yes, interning at Miramax Films was indeed a significant experience. My first trailer was for Pokemon Forever, and this experience led me to move from New York to Los Angeles. My internship at Miramax was a great learning process for creating film trailers and TV spots.
- THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER, YOU'VE EDITED TRAILERS FOR MANY MAJOR PRODUCTIONS. WHICH PROJECT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF, AND WHY?
AHMET ATALAY: One of the projects I'm most proud of is the Mission Impossible: Fallout trailer. It was chosen as the best trailer of the year by Forbes magazine in 2018 and won several awards. It was a significant success for me.
- YOUR PASSION FOR CINEMA LED YOU TO DIRECTING. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THIS TRANSITION PROCESS AND YOUR EXPERIENCES IN DIRECTING?
AHMET ATALAY: Yes, after working on editing, directing became a new passion for me. While working on big projects, I couldn't fully do what I wanted due to the time constraints I had. Therefore, I decided to start directing my own short films. Especially my short film called "Reaper" was a project where I could use my freedom to create exactly what I wanted.
- CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THE DIRECTORS WHO INSPIRE YOU AND YOUR CINEMATIC STYLE?
AHMET ATALAY: The directors who have influenced me the most usually come from the 80s and 90s. Michael Mann, Michael Bay, Mel Gibson, and films like Ronin and those from John Woo in Hong Kong are a source of inspiration for me. I try to blend their style with modern technology.
- FINALLY, WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUNG FILMMAKERS AND THOSE WHO WANT TO REALIZE THEIR DREAMS?
AHMET ATALAY: It is crucial to pursue your dream and be passionate about it. If you really want something, focus on that goal and consistently make efforts. Despite the challenges that will come your way, move forward with consistency and determination. If your dream is big, it is possible to achieve it.
We listened to Ahmet Atalay's sincere remarks about significant moments in his cinema career and his future projects. His determination and passion remind us of how possible it is to pursue our dreams. We wish Ahmet Atalay success in his career and future projects. We will continue to follow his projects to get to know this talented figure in the world of cinema more closely.
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