Tehran Wanderings

I am getting the scope of things here a little better...

My hosts, Mellissa and Bahram have a very cool place that the govt. is supporting for them, rather like an "artist in residence" type setup. One flat is where they live, and the other is setup like a small workspace studio/guest house, where I and their other guest, Scott, are staying. Scott is another American, he is writing the screenplay for a film they are shooting in Iran the first of next year and he will be directing it as well.

Yesterday I met with Mr. Montazmi from the film Ministry. He and his office are the sponsors for my trip here. The place itself was interesting, it was built under the Shah's regime, with a beautiful garden in the center...but it was like stepping back in time. The city reminds me a lot of Paris or New York in the outer environs, that type of low rise "city environs" that is mostly built of bricks. LOTS of traffic and you have to dodge traffic crossing the roads, as there are really no designated crossings. Thankfully Bahram did this for me and I just followed him! We walked all over the place, as well as took a bus and a taxi, a great way to see the city. There was a district, which under the Shah, was the nightclub district...now it is lined with lighting shops. 

We went to a Persian restaurant that is built into the side of a mountain for dinner, it had actually rained a little bit before we got there. There is a trail going up the mountain, with a natural creek. All the restaurants and shops are built into the mountain and with the trees and the sound of the creek, it was magical...and the food was really good! Bahram volunteered to go up the trail with me, he is a filmmaker and poet, and he is Sufi. He is the first Sufi I have met and he was kind enough to explain in detail what Sufism is and how his life is governed by Sufism philosophy.

I will be meeting with some women filmmakers this week and will discuss with them the idea of having a Women in Film and Television Chapter in Iran. I think bring lectures and opportunities here would be a plus and a great cultural/information exchange. Our WIFT, UAE Chapter has been successful in its first year and we will soon be coming back online after our Summer break.