Brooklyn-born Ashton Ghaffaar, an activist, artist, author, actor and director, says he moved to Los Angeles to showcase the total vary of his abilities via compelling cinematic storytelling.
Impressed and influenced by the likes of Spike Lee, Quintin Tarantino and Ryan Coogler, Ghaffaar, the son of retired choose Sylvia G. Ash, the Trinidadian-born daughter of Grenadian and Vincentian parentage, advised Caribbean Life that he strives “to convey creative and inventive movies to the world that emotionally resonate with audiences.”
“As a child rising up in Brooklyn, I’ve all the time beloved films,” mentioned the filmmaker. “I used to be all the time fascinated by the artwork of storytelling and the chance to show my imaginative and prescient and desires right into a tangible factor.
“I needed to create one thing that may be seen, heard, felt, and provoke some sort of emotion out of you,” he added. “Once I determined I needed to be a filmmaker, it was to share my desires with the world on the large display, after which take you on an exhilarating pleasure trip inside my thoughts and creativeness.”
Ghaffaar mentioned he has written, directed and began a number of movies and documentaries, together with “Angel & Paris” (2023), a infamous theft workforce.
“When a harmful heist in opposition to a strong Kingpin goes improper, the couple are compelled to hunt assist from Paris’ estranged household of expert thieves, as they go to battle in opposition to the crime group,” he mentioned in regards to the movie that examines the life round Paris, “a mastermind of traps.”
Ghaffaar mentioned he was “happy that Angel & Paris has been well-received and critically acclaimed.
“We simply began our pageant circuit and already acquired accepted into a number of movie festivals world wide and received a number of awards, resembling Finest Drama on the Hollywood Unbiased Movie Awards and Finest Director on the Hollywood Blvd Movie Pageant,” he mentioned.
“I’m happy for the inclusion and acknowledgment of getting my movie screened amongst different superb artists and filmmakers from everywhere in the world,” he added. “So, successful any awards was a sense that I’m extraordinarily grateful for.
“I’m grateful that this has opened doorways to extra writing, directing and appearing alternatives, together with producing a characteristic movie,” Ghaffaar continued. “Individuals obtained the movie as a modern-day reinterpretation of ‘The City’ meets ‘Bonnie & Clyde,’ with features of ‘Oceans’ Eleven.’
“You undoubtedly end up empathizing and rooting for the villain as a result of extraordinary performances of the actors,” he mentioned. “You will have this household drama about redemption, a compelling love story, and a sinister twist tied with the primary parts you hope to see from a financial institution heist motion movie multi function. I’m very pleased with the venture as a complete.”
Ghaffaar mentioned he didn’t solely write, direct, produced and designed the wardroom for this action-pact thriller, however he additionally performed a number of characters.
“Taking part in triplets, all with completely different personalities and nuances, was one thing I’ve by no means seen earlier than,” he mentioned. “So, I have to admit I used to be a little bit nervous as to what individuals could consider it.
“I bear in mind inviting a number of different actors and administrators within the business to return to see the movie throughout its L.A premiere and feeling so thrilled that everybody not solely beloved it however was upset that it wasn’t longer,” Ghaffaar added. “I all the time knew that the movie was nice, however after the premiere and the acknowledgment from my friends, together with the numerous awards that we’ve received to date, that was the validation as a brand new author, director and actor that confirmed that that is one thing that I can do and do properly.”
Ghaffaar mentioned he created the documentary Breakfast With Socrates (2020) in response to the homicide of George Floyd and through the rise of the Black Lives Matter motion “to attempt to discover a treatment to unravel society’s sick with a roundtable dialogue of thought leaders.
“The varied panel shares their data and views on a collection of thought-provoking and controversial questions geared in direction of addressing and discovering options to reform racial, political and financial societal points,” he mentioned.
Ghaffaar mentioned this collection discusses questions resembling: “What’s extra impactful, social reform or revolution? Ought to there be a check to forestall sure segments of society from voting?”
He mentioned “morality requires we steadiness our personal pursuits in opposition to the curiosity of others.
“How will we get individuals to care about points that don’t immediately have an effect on them — reparations ions for African Individuals?” he requested. “Discussing which system of beliefs and values can create a sustainable utopian society and extra.”
Ghaffaar mentioned ‘Breakfast with Socrates’ is “an enlightening eclectic discuss present that includes the views of revolutionary modern-day philosophers and significant thinkers.”
He mentioned he needs “to proceed to see what I can do with all this expertise.
“I’m a author, director, actor, designer, musician and activist,” Ghaffaar mentioned. “My predominant purpose with all the things is to freely specific myself.
“I’m blessed to make use of my presents to do good deeds that can make God happy with me, and my mother and father proud,” he added.
