Crossroads of Creativity: Giasin-Iason Naas and the Sofia Residency Experience

From October 28th to November 10th, 2024, Sofia, Bulgaria, became a vibrant hub of creativity and collaboration during a residency organized by OECON Group Bulgaria. Five talented artists came together under the mentorship of acclaimed Bulgarian actress and director Boryana Puncheva and her assistant, Nikola Yordanov, an emerging actor and final-year student at the National Academy of Film and Theatre Arts. Supported by the dedicated team at OECON Group Bulgaria, this residency fostered inspiration, innovation, and cultural exchange.

Among the participants was Giasin-Iason Naas, a filmmaker with a relentless drive to push boundaries, tell meaningful stories, and carve out a unique space in the world of art and cinema. As the co-founder of DOT ENSEMBLE, a cutting-edge artistic company blending theatre and cinema, Jason has dedicated nearly a decade to the audiovisual industry, bringing a bold, electrifying vision to life. With a background in film studies and experience that spans freelance filmmaking to high-stakes Hollywood productions, Jason has worn countless hats – directing indie gems, managing multimillion-dollar sets, and crafting unforgettable narratives. His journey is one of creativity, innovation, and a passion for storytelling that redefines the way we experience art on stage and screen.

Can you tell us a little more about who you are?

I’ll keep it simple…

My name is Iasonas, but since it’s often challenging for people abroad to pronounce, I usually go by Jason. I’m deeply passionate about storytelling and have dedicated countless hours to studying and mastering the craft. I’ve been watching films and series for as long as I can remember (yes, I know, it sounds cliché—no time for the juicy details to make it unique).

One promise I’ve made to myself is to create at least one film as impactful as the ones that inspired me—or die trying. (Okay, maybe a bit dramatic, but hey, classics deserve a dramatic touch!)

Currently, I’m involved in several film projects—consulting on screenplays, producing my own films, and venturing into the world of theater by co-producing stage plays alongside a director-producer partner. (It may sound grand, but trust me, it’s far more human and chaotic than it seems—sometimes even anticlimactic!)

You are part of DOT ENSEMBLE, an upcoming small company dedicated to producing innovative theatre and cinema. What’s one story or project that DOT ENSEMBLE has created that you feel captures the spirit of the company best? What was special about the process or audience response?

While DOT ENSEMBLE has already achieved remarkable milestones, I believe our defining project is still on the horizon. Harrys and I, as the founders, have always envisioned a larger-scale, transformative vision for the company—one that not only pushes boundaries in theatre and cinema but also resonates deeply with audiences in new and unexpected ways (We have ambitious aspirations, oh yeah).

Right now, every project we undertake feels like an essential stepping stone, laying the groundwork for what DOT ENSEMBLE is destined to become. Each production teaches us, challenges us, and brings us closer to realizing our ambitious dreams (But lets be honest this is how the world spins).

The spirit of DOT ENSEMBLE is innovation and bold storytelling, and while our current work reflects that, we’re striving for something truly groundbreaking. I believe our best project will emerge when all the elements align—our growing team, resources, and vision coming together to create something that redefines how audiences experience art.

For now, our journey itself captures the essence of DOT ENSEMBLE: a relentless pursuit of excellence, creativity, and the promise of something extraordinary just ahead.

Now that you’ve seen both the Hollywood approach and the freelance filmmaking experience, is there a balance or hybrid approach that you aspire to bring into your future projects? What’s something you’d take from the TIN SOLDIER experience and something you’d leave behind?

Filmmaking is a freelancing endeavor worldwide. Films function much like startups, with the scale influencing the budget, expectations, and collaborators. Even at the highest levels of production, mistakes happen—it’s only human. The intense environment of a film set can deeply impact you, often revealing facets of yourself you never knew existed.

Reflecting on my experience with Tin Soldier, I’ve let go of any lingering frustration I felt back then due to the intense workload. Yes, mistakes were made, and not everyone behaved their best, but looking back, I realize how humane and understandable it all was given the pressure.

Here’s a story of an important lesson I learned from working on Tin Soldier:

I was working between the production office and the hotel where the two producers stayed throughout their time in Greece. My role was to assist them exclusively, handling their tasks and needs. One day, while helping out at the production office, I was handed 30 contracts that urgently needed Keith’s signature. I headed to the hotel late in the evening, where Keith was busy with paperwork and visibly stressed—likely from a meeting that hadn’t gone well.

When I handed him the contracts, explaining their urgency, he was clearly annoyed. He asked who had sent them at such a late hour. I told him, and he picked up the phone. I braced myself, certain he was about to start yelling. But when the call connected, he spoke calmly, saying, “Hey… please next time send the contracts earlier,” and then kindly explained why it was better to avoid such delays.

When he hung up, I couldn’t help but say, “I was sure you were going to yell. How can you stay so calm? I’d be furious!” His response was something I’ll never forget:

“I want to believe that everyone in this film is trying their best. I can’t get mad or scream at someone for making a mistake—I’ve made plenty myself.”

That moment taught me a profound lesson about leadership and empathy, and it’s what I’ll always carry with me from Tin Soldier.

How do you see the residency’s impact extending beyond your current stageplay? In what ways do you hope this experience will shape DOT ENSEMBLE’s future projects and its identity as a company?

I imagine a stress-free environment and a brief escape from my daily routine granting me the peace of mind needed to dive into a different story. Exchanging ideas with group members from diverse backgrounds, combined with engaging with a new culture and its serenity, will undoubtedly inspire me. I believe this experience will not only fuel my storytelling but also spark a few intriguing new storylines (Maybe a few adventures we share will become part of the story.)

I may not yet know exactly how this experience will shape DOT ENSEMBLE’s future projects and identity, but I’m excited to embrace the unknown and let these experiences guide us toward new possibilities. The journey itself is part of the creative discovery, and I’m eager to see how it will challenge and transform our work as a company.

What do you hope to learn or accomplish by collaborating with artists from different cultures during this residency?

I see this residency as a unique opportunity to immerse myself in diverse perspectives and approaches to storytelling. Collaborating with artists from different cultures offers the chance to expand my understanding of the world, challenge my creative assumptions, and discover fresh ways to communicate universal truths. These encounters are not just about cultural exchange but about transformation – how the unfamiliar can shape my work and push me to explore beyond my comfort zone.

This experience will undoubtedly impact my personal growth, but it also has the potential to enrich my collaboration with Harrys at DOT ENSEMBLE. Together, we’re always searching for ways to innovate and elevate our creative process, and I believe the insights gained here can

inspire future projects, offering new lenses through which we can tell stories that resonate on a deeper, more global level.

For the final – share with us a favorite quote of yours from your favorite movie or maybe a movie you’ve watched recently.

One quote I really like – and even have as a sticker on my computer – is something I heard during a webinar for screenwriters. I’m not sure where it originally came from, but it stuck with me:

“I am not talented enough to be unprepared!”

But if I had to choose a film quote I love, it would be the iconic monologue from the film Heat, which goes like this:

A man told me once: you want to make moves? Don’t keep anything in

your life you’re not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if

you feel the heat around the corner.

This monologue carries a deeper message often overlooked. To me, it’s not about the negative connotation of detachment but rather about adaptation. It’s a reminder to embrace change and make bold choices when life demands it.

Article by Niya Andonova