*This interview, conducted by Eylül Aşkın, was first published in Turkish on 13.11.2022 on the online art platform sosyeteart.com. https://sosyeteart.com/index.php/2022/11/13/emrah-agus-mesleki-basari-anlaminda-bana-hicbir-sey-utopik-gelmiyor/
Today, we are with director Emrah Aguş, whom we know from his work as the second director on series like Halka, Poyraz Karayel, and the series "Doğu" that he directed, which is aired on BluTv.
Was cinema a passion for you? How did you decide to become a director?
My passion for cinema began when I first encountered it as an audience member. For years, I viewed cinema as a magical world. However, the decision to shape my career in this direction came much later. The expectations from my surroundings were inclined towards obtaining a diploma in a profession that offered job security, and I faced pressure both from my family and close circle. Although I couldn't convince others about cinema, when I chose the department of "Radio, Cinema, and Television," initially no one understood. Seeing three different media names, I received a half-hearted approval from my surroundings, thinking, 'If one doesn't work out, the other might, and I probably won't be unemployed.' What led me to choose this department was my admiration and love for cinema. The instinct to tell stories and completely dominate the universe of those stories was a drive I unconsciously possessed even when playing games at a young age. When I realized that I could better express myself and bring this out more effectively through cinema, I decided to become a director.
You graduated from the Radio, Cinema, and Television Department of Gazi University. What was the most valuable advice you received from your teachers about your profession? Or, do you have an unforgettable moment from your educational life?
In my time, the teaching staff consisted mostly of journalists, so I didn't have the chance to receive significant advice about cinema. However, regarding directing in the industry, a quote from Serdar Akar still comes to my mind sometimes: "In directing, two things are crucial: expression and willpower."
Which local and foreign directors influence and inspire you?
From local directors, I've learned a lot in terms of technique, scriptwriting, and directing actors. Directors I appreciate and have also worked as an assistant for include Kerem Çakıroğlu, Cemal Şan, and Osman Sınav. As for foreign directors, I'm a fan of Guy Ritchie and Tarantino. Additionally, I avidly follow Inarritu, Gaspar Noe, and David Fincher for their distinctive works.
Your career is currently evolving around television projects. Transitioning from an intern to the director's chair is a challenging process for many. How do you evaluate your rapid progress in your profession? Do you have a long-term goal, such as directing a feature film in the future?
There have been people progressing much faster in my field 😊 Sometimes, I feel like I'm a bit behind. I've been in the industry for about 14 years. When people talk about a challenging industry, they usually think about working hours and conditions, but there are also times when you're unemployed for months or even years. In that sense, I don't consider my progress to be very fast. However, I believe in ideal timing for industry experience, and the process has been working for me. I worked as an assistant director for at least two years in all my assistantship roles. After gaining experience as an assistant director and second director in directing, I've been directing for the past one or two years. If we think about it from my high school years, I've just reached the point of saying, 'Now we're really starting,' and I'm just getting started.
What projects are you currently involved in, and what keeps you busy?
Currently, I'm preparing a project for the TRT Digital platform, which a friend and I wrote about two years ago. After a lengthy preparation process, we've been on set for the past two weeks. It's an intense but very enjoyable story – a dark comedy series where we depict behind-the-scenes of sets through the eyes of an extra, and we make plenty of critiques about the system and the industry. The series consists of ten episodes for one season, and we have planned for three seasons. We are working at a hectic pace to present it to the audience as soon as possible with the new year.
Are there other art forms that you are interested in or draw inspiration from?
Music is another passion of mine, almost as much as cinema, but it has remained my biggest hobby because I couldn't dedicate as much time to it as cinema. I enjoy learning new instruments, and each period I develop an interest in a specific musical instrument, learning to play it. I record, create small arrangements, keeping them to myself or sharing them with close friends. In the long term, I plan to try composing the music for my own film projects and aim to elevate my relationship with music to a professional level.
What is the most utopian dream you find in your professional realm?
In terms of professional success, nothing feels utopian to me. Any award can be achieved, and a film you make can be watched by millions, even the entire world. That's always possible. What seems utopian to me is that there are many societal issues in our country that we can't find common ground on or openly discuss. Transforming these issues into thought-provoking, perhaps humorous situation comedies or dark comedies, and creating a shared understanding at least at a level where we can talk about, compromise, or understand each other.
What qualities, according to you, are essential to be a good director?
According to my directorial philosophy, a director's fundamental task is essentially to "maintain a stance." This encompasses camera language, acting, mise-en-scène, locations, colors, and everything else. At this point, as mentioned by Serdar Akar, the most crucial qualities are willpower and expressive ability.
If I were to ask about your happiest and most painful moments?
My happiest moment is undoubtedly the first time I saw my daughter. My most painful moment is when I laid someone I deeply cared about to rest. Nothing feels as serious as the beginning and end of a life, to be honest.
Where can our readers follow you on social media?
While I might be a bit old-school in this regard, despite being an avid YouTube viewer, I'm not very active on social media. I use Twitter for news updates and Instagram to some extent. Nevertheless, they can reach me by searching for "Emrah Aguş" on both platforms.
Instagram: @emrahagus
Twitter: @emrahagus
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