Austin-based filmmaker and video producer telling cinematic stories — directing, shooting, and editing each project from script to final cut.
Saeed Houshyar
My path into film didn’t start behind a camera — it started with a pen. I trained as a civil engineer at the University of Tehran, then found my voice writing a satirical column for national newspapers. Within six months that writing pulled me into television, where I spent nearly a decade as a showrunner, head writer, and series editor for the country’s top prime-time comedy — including the two-season series Blue Nissan.
Today I’m based in Austin, Texas, working as an independent filmmaker and video producer. I deliver projects end-to-end — directing, editing, color grading, and sound — and I’m equally at home in traditional post-production and modern AI-driven post-production. My short film Stockholm Syndrome won Best Screenplay at Santa Monica and took top honors at Austin Under the Stars and Austin Spotlight — alongside earlier recognition as a Manhattan Short finalist.
Darkroom is a short film whose screenplay was an Official Selection at the Manhattan Short Film Festival, set to shoot this August 2026 in Texas.
ROLE: Male
AGE: 30–40
LOOK: 6'0" (183 cm) or taller / under 220 lbs (100 kg).
DATE: August 21, 22, 23, 2026.
LOCATION: Austin, TX area.
DEADLINE: JULY 15 2026
COMPENSATION: This is a low-budget independent production. A modest stipend is provided, along with meals, gas/travel reimbursement, a copy of the finished film, and screen credit.
TO APPLY: press the button below and fill out the form
Shot in Tehran, Iran in December 2023, Stockholm Syndrome follows Reza, a man trying to keep every part of his life together, from his relationship with his wife to his bond with his mother. But when something fractures that fragile balance, everything begins to unravel. The film explores the emotional patterns suggested by Stockholm syndrome and went on to win awards at festivals around the world.
Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Media Encoder, and Photoshop — full post-production ownership.
Showrunning, scriptwriting, comedy writing, story-arc development, and audience-retention strategy.
Cinematic color grading in DaVinci Resolve, sound design, SFX, dialogue sync, and music integration.
Directing, storyboarding, shot lists, Sony cinematography, lighting, DJI audio, drone, and stabilizer work.
Available for narrative film, documentary, post-production, and branded content. Based in Austin, TX.