Zal Batmanglij

Zal Batmanglij is a writer and director, known for The OA (2016), The East (2013) and Sound of My Voice (2011).

I storyboard these movies as we're writing the final draft but I never bring that notebook to set. I storyboard these movies as we're writing the final draft but I never bring that notebook to set.

It's awesome to be part of a gay family. Right now, my brother and I can focus on our work, our crea Show more It's awesome to be part of a gay family. Right now, my brother and I can focus on our work, our creative work, and our parents are part of that. These are our weddings...You have to let go of the fantasy or the projection of your life and accept the life that you are living communally. Hide

We're custodians of these worlds, these stories, these characters. We're conduits. They're not ours. We're custodians of these worlds, these stories, these characters. We're conduits. They're not ours.

I'm a fan of thrillers that have the social anxieties of the times embedded in them; I love those wo Show more I'm a fan of thrillers that have the social anxieties of the times embedded in them; I love those wonderful movies of the Alan J. Pakula did, like The Parallax View (1974), or my favorite film, All the President's Men (1976). Hide

I think we're all hungry for an authentic experience. I think we're all hungry for an authentic experience.

If you really want to have an anarchist experience, make a movie with a studio. If you really want to have an anarchist experience, make a movie with a studio.

Our parents emphasized collaboration in their own lives. That and DIY. So both those things sort of Show more Our parents emphasized collaboration in their own lives. That and DIY. So both those things sort of seeped into us organically. Hide

My parents let us get into these things without expectation. They didn't expect results out of the i Show more My parents let us get into these things without expectation. They didn't expect results out of the investment... It never felt oppressive. Hide

Zal Batmanglij's FILMOGRAPHY

as Director (1) as Creator (2)

The OA - Season 1

The East (2013)