Ali Pourahmad - Hundred Studio Productions

Sci-fi film director, Actor, VFX supervisor, Screenwriter and Music composer, Ali Pourahmad shares the artistic lifestyle he embodies, and the feats he accomplishes along the way as he blazes a new trail in the science fiction realm.

Photo courtesy © Ali Pourahmad

Hundred Studio Productions strives to provide the best 3D animation, motion graphics and visual effects service for feature film, television and trans-media clients all around the world.

They apply the highest standards of creative and technical skills results to give clients a competitive advantage.

AN ARTIST FIRST

A master of oil painting at an early age, Ali Pourahmad was only 7 years old in 1978 when he won first rank of painting in Bandar Abbad city in Iran. When he turned 16, he easily gained the first rank in Iran and in 1987 and 2004. He achieved first rank by competing in a high-level painting contest between 38 best painters of 16 countries in Dubai Artist OASIS.

When asked how he learned to paint with such skill, Ali answered:

"This is just a God-given talent to me because I never trained, but I easily draw and paint everything." - Ali Pourahmad

OIL PAINTINGS

FILM PRODUCTIONS

Trailer - Sci-Fi movie "Repiton" - Directed by © Ali Pourahmad

CGI/ VFX Showreel / © Ali Pourahmad

© Ali Pourahmad , VFX Reel 2013

Tunnel - by © Ali Pourahmad

© Ali Pourahmad , VFX Reel 2013

MEET ALI POURAHMAD

Amy Fulton:

Please tell us a little about yourself!

Ali Pourahmad:

Thank you very much Amy! It's my pleasure to talk with you about art which is the most beautiful gift of God to man on earth!

I was born on September 4, 1971 into a noble family in southern Iran. My father was one of the

sport champions in field running and a famous captain of football for the Esteghlal team and my mother was a teacher. We were a family of six. Two sons and two daughters. I graduated with a degree in accounting from the Azad University In 1996. A field that I could never love! But I had to get it for more chances to find out a suitable job, and I got it! Amy Fulton: Your artwork is stunning! How long have you been painting and has your style changed over time?

Ali Pourahmad:

Thank you for your kind words! I took to painting when I was seven years old in 1978. That year my paintings were chosen as the best in the tournament of all the entire schools and I received an interesting bonus! A small metal boat that moved with an oil engine!! I have had a tendency towards

realism from the beginning and I've carried an extraordinary ability in processing of details, but since 1990 I've gone through other styles like abstraction, cubism, expressionism, surrealism and finally I would like to have the super realism style with very high detail processing!

I've had many exhibitions at home and abroad. For more than 10 years I was a teacher in every style of painting and designing in institutions and schools. I drew an enlarged painting in the

realism style by just using my fingers, achieving immense details without use of brushes and scrapers. This occurred in an artist OASIS festival in Dubai 2004 which provoked much admiration from the audience. I received the award for best painter.

© Ali Pourahmad, Oil Painting 2002

Amy Fulton:

How large are most of your paintings, and are the originals for sale?

Ali Pourahmad: I've painted more than of 560 paintings to 2004 that I've sold all of them. Some were small, such as 10 x 15 centimeter but the most and popular size that I worked was 100 x 70 cm and maximum size that I painted was 250 to 140 cm. Most of my paintings are registered with artistic identity documentation at the National Library of Iran as a national monument.

I've not sold 10 of my best oil color works because I consider them an integral part of my memories. The senses and smells of paint color is the best smell for me!

Amy Fulton:

Your music is fascinating! How long have you been composing music? What instruments do you play?

Ali Pourahmad:

Thank you Amy! Since 1998 I'm working music. At first I was familiar with the piano but over time I learned classical instruments like the violin and guitar and percussion instruments such as drums and percussion, wind instruments and electronic instruments.

I have a good ability for music arrangement in all styles but my interests are in classical music and

pop. I'm listening a lot Symphony like by Chavez, Andriessen, Beethoven, Harris, Williamson, Hummel and . . . Almost all of the soundtrack of my films made by myself, unless I'm really busy with other works and I don't have the opportunity to make the music.

Honestly, film making is my first priority and making science fiction movies is my best talent

compared with other arts.

© Ali Pourahmad 2002, Garden Alley Apple Trees in Iran 2002

Amy Fulton:

When it comes to painting, I see that you mainly work with oil paints. Do you ever work in acrylics or other mediums, and how long does it take for you to finish a painting?

Ali Pourahmad:

You are right Amy! Most of my paintings are done with oil color but from 1978 to 1990 I painted

only by black pen. It has been since 1990 that I started to paint with oil color. I've also worked with watercolor, ink drawn and metals colors for volume works in the expressionism. But there is a different spirit in the paint by using oil color! An originality, from the Renaissance to modern

art today! It’s persistent and gives a sense of the actual painting.

I've worked a few times already with a mixture of oil and acrylic color that was really nice and it feels really good. I do not believe in limitations in drawing tools.

I've always encouraged my students to use anything to create more beautiful work! I have been

making my palette knifes for my paintings! I devote a lot of time to study and researching how I could change the shape of palette knife! You will never find anything like my painting tools in the market and this has been the secret and characterization of my paintings!

© Ali Pourahmad, "Dark Planet of the Apes"

Amy Fulton:

Tell us more about your visual effects…How long does it take you to create the VFX shots in your movies?

Ali Pourahmad:

This is my favorite question Amy! Visual effects (VFX) is where most of my interest in art is, because it includes all the arts in this field! You must be a good painter, a good musicologist and a good actor

then the result will be very different when combining this to mentioned art with digital art so that it's not possible to create these things in the reality or may be too difficult, costly and time consuming so one must have some ability.

This industry is a combination of computer skill and fine art abilities and talent. I've tried to establish

a good bridge between both. Visual effects is hard work and you should love this work to proceed.

So we needs time for pre-production review and post-production. Production time for each project is different, some projects are more and some less. Modeling, rendering and composites are important parts of the work but everything depends on the structure of the director’s imagination and storyboard

of a sequence.

Sometimes we need to check the decoupage of a scene many times before filming and see what the needs are to decide what effects or objects should be used in the scene. Visual effects should not be too exaggerated and must be proportionate to the needs in a storyboard. It should be realistic and this is the most important part in VFX. Closeness and oneness with reality! I've completed some sequences in one day and others in two weeks or more! That's why VFX cost is so expensive for making a film. It's price is calculated per second.

© Ali Pourahmad, "Repiton"

Amy Fulton:

Where do you get the inspiration for your work?

Ali Pourahmad:

Interesting question! Since childhood I've had an extraordinary imagination. I've read a lot of science fiction books and

I see a lot of beautiful dreams when I'm sleeping. I'm walking a lot and I am sensitive to all the

details around myself and I'm inspired by the simplest things!

For example, a few days ago I saw a crane which was parked in street. I stood up and looked to the fine details and it became an idea for me to create a 3D spaceship model! We need to add some things and maybe some other times we need to remove things, then we'll be the creator of a new character!

Amy Fulton:

What kinds of subjects do you like to research?

Ali Pourahmad:

Science Fiction, space, unknown energy in the universe, and the strange supernatural power of love in the human brain!

© Ali Pourahmad, "Repiton"

Amy Fulton:

Do you have a “Dream Project” or a special goal set for the future?

Ali Pourahmad:

I'm a film director and as all filmmakers I wish one day I will make one of the best science fiction films so that the whole world can see it. Oscar is not only a goal for me to get the award as the best VFX or movie, but it's an extra motivation to be seen and it's firmer and friendly relations with the world. I know that I still need to do more and I have a tough path.

Photo courtesy © Ali Pourahmad

Amy Fulton:

Are there other artists in your family?

Ali Pourahmad:

No, only I have artistic talent in my family.

Amy Fulton:

How did you get started creating Sci-Fi?

Ali Pourahmad:

I wrote my first science fiction book at age of 16 in 1987. At that time I also was a writer and I had written many stories for magazines and newspapers. The name of the novel was "Sunrise at Night",

and it was about the exciting adventures of an alien in Persian language.

My family did not agree with my novelist and writing activities, as they wanted me to continue my education in engineering but I was an art lover and fascinated by science fiction topics. I made my

first sci-fi film in 2008, and at that time I was so happy that I could transfer my imaginative ideas to

film. But I needed more knowledge in visual effects to make better scenes so I began to study more along with ongoing work and finally, I was able to make many sci-fi films over the years.

Photo courtesy © Ali Pourahmad

Amy Fulton:

Do you have any other interests or talents you would like to share with us?

Ali Pourahmad:

I've been field running champion and coach from 1987 to 1996 and I have won awards and

medals in 400-meter freestyle which at the time, my best record was 53 seconds in the non-Tartan track. We have poor training facilities and we practice on the dusty track but I had a lot of interest in sports even I still exercise.

Amy Fulton:

What jobs have you done other than being an artist?

Ali Pourahmad:

Since 1993 I'm working in the national airline as one of the leaders of Staff at half-time for 8 hours in

the morning and 8 hours I'm working in my own film company in the evening to night. You may think

that I'm working too much, but I believe we need to work hard, as it’s difficult to obtain success,

especially if you live somewhere that there are fewer features!

Amy Fulton:

Tell us about Hundred Studio Productions…What services does your business offer?

Ali Pourahmad:

We create special effects for film and TV in my company. Our work focuses mainly on visual effects

but we're making future films and commercials for local customers as well as giving advice for other projects.

Amy Fulton:

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Ali Pourahmad:

Be always like a lover, hopeful and optimistic about the future. Perseverance is the key to success! We always need to remember that even the simple-minded people will learn and achieved the important things for a good life only with perseverance. Thank you! Amy Fulton:

Thank you for taking the time to share your beautiful imagination with us Ali! Such a pleasure!

Ali Pourahmad would love to participate in an International Art Cultural Exchange.

If you have information and would like to contact Ali about connecting through a cooperation, he would be interested to share his amazing talents with other countries around the world.