Interview with Israeli Actor, Writer & Producer Assaf Ben Shetrit

A Portrait of Actor, Writer, & Director Assaf Ben Shetrit

I honestly think I can trace my first attempt at writing a script to age 6. I had read about lightyears (changed to one word) and that if you saw the world from a distant planet you could see into history or the future. I began to write a screenplay about a murder that changes the course of history and someone being shipped into space to try to stop it with a telescopic gun. It got confusing at some point, so I gave up and picked writing back up again a few years down the road when I studied film and theatre in New York.

indieactivity: Did you study acting?
Assaf: My acting teacher and mentor was Hope Arthur, who recently passed away. Through Hope and other wonderful teachers I discovered my unmatched love of theatre and the creative process. To this day, I constantly study film; the classics — Jean Renoir, Fritz Lang, Orson Welles, Hitchcock, Billy Wilder.

indieactivity: Has your writing and directing been influenced by you acting?
Assaf: Some of the directors I admire most have also been actors, from Charlie Chaplin to Orson Welles, Woody Allen, Peter Bogdanovich, Clint Eastwood. To be an effective writer and director, you must first appreciate that films are more or less defined by the performances and characters that lie within them.

My wish as both a writer and director is it to constantly bring to life all these interesting personalities. It is still an incredibly eerie and amazing sensation when I’m writing and I can almost hear my characters telling me “I’d never say that” or “I’d never do that”, and their imaginary commentary helps guide me through the story. It’s then that I realize they are so much more than just words on a page.

indieactivity: How much creative energy and focus goes into your work?
Assaf: Every ounce. I continuously see new characters on the street and in cafes and at restaurants. I see unlimited potential in the world around me — in the articles I read and the stories I’m told. I’m constantly taking notes on new ideas and I have a real passion for inventing new worlds. I never really stop working, because I’ve never actually considered it to be ‘work’.

I heard a story once about how Neil Simon would disguise himself so he could observe New York diners and eventually write about them. I do exactly the same thing (without the disguise)

indieactivity: You have worked on the most popular TV shows and films: War Dogs, No Expectations, Road to Sundance, Commander in Chief, Hollywoo, Baram and Hamza, Don’t Mess with the Zohan, Parti Avec le Vent, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., Dig, Review, and Entourage. How has each show impacted your work as an actor and your career?
Assaf: I try to learn from everyone — what to do, what not to do. Rob Schneider starts every scene twenty seconds before it actually begins and ends twenty seconds after a director calls ‘cut’. Adam Sandler is consistently present — if a scene doesn’t work, he doesn’t have an ego, he works to fix it. He was my first real life example of how important it is to be able to ‘do it all’ — write, direct, act, produce. It’s all about being involved in every aspect of the process.

indieactivity: How does the work you do alter from projet to project?
Assaf: The greatest lesson I ever learned was from watching old masters and the classics: you must, must, must facilitate. It’s never about you. It is about what the script, film, show needs. It is and becomes its own entity. So I begin by breaking down each scene by mood: intense, intimate, dramatic, light, etc.

Then I work out every possible way to facilitate that. It will dictate everything, from lighting and camera angles to the way the actors approach. By creating that mood and tone you then permit the actor to bring his work, thoughts and actions.

A scene from Elements of Matter (Dir. Assaf Ben Shetrit)

indieactivity: How do approach actors and a cast as a director?
Assaf: I love to get to know actors on a personal level and see where I can bring them in as a character. Kazan was a master of that — casting the right people for the right role is key. I love seeing what they bring to the table first, I like to hear about their interpretation of a scene and their character and build on that. There is no better place for that then rehearsals, which I don’t think happen nearly enough these days.

Good actors will always bring so much to every role, which in turn makes me look amazing as a director. In Elements of Matter”, Holley Fain won an Award of Excellence for her leading role. My greatest contribution to that was casting her. She was absolutely wonderful and an excellent fit, and we saw some really wonderful actresses for the role.

indieactivity: How did you create the character “Fritz” in Elements of Matter?
Assaf: I went through a rough breakup at one point and remember the feeling of complete emptiness. I wanted to create a character who was going through just that and place him in a purgatory of sorts to see if he could find his meaning. So, I thought what better place to set the stage than Palm Springs, where the entire desert city looks like it’s stuck in mid-century — the architecture, the people, the cars?! Fritz is going through a rough divorce, so he’s vulnerable.

I started there, I removed him from his element. I knew his feelings of displacement would dictate everything he did, right down to his interactions with other people. His cynical view of the world would lead to this longing to connect with anyone he could — even this strange, incredibly narcissistic and dysfunctional family — and would eventually be strong enough to drive him to agree to pretend to be this famous actresses boyfriend.

A scene from Elements of Matter (Dir. Assaf Ben Shetrit)

indieactivity: How does a big production vary from a small film you directed?
Assaf: In film, it always boils down to money. If you’re restricted in that regard, you must learn to pick your battles and teach yourself how to be creative. In order to ensure we had the time and resources for some of the more cinematic moments of the film, we had to shoot some of the smaller scenes in one take and move on.

This puts an incredible strain on crew and cast, but inevitably, something magical came out of it in the form of hyper-awareness and focus from everyone involved. Everyone, but really, every single one was present and ready to roll, and I absolutely love that energy. We shot Elements of Matter in twelve days. That’s a feature in twelve days. And guess what? My cinematographer and I didn’t have a single shot we didn’t get

indieactivity: How would you advice actors; haven being both behind and infroom of the camera?
Assaf: Maybe this goes without saying: be professional. Be on time, be ready, know your lines. My favorite actors to work with actually care about the process.

For better or worse, film and TV actors must trust their directors. Directors have a very specific vision and actors are entrusted to help bring that vision to life. If they are present and prepped, they give themselves the freedom, and most importantly, the credibility to collaborate and help come up with wonderful ideas.

indieactivity: Describe a memorable character you played?
Assaf: As Fritz in Elements of Matter, I got a chance to direct myself, which I found to be surprisingly effortless. I knew what I wanted from the character (I had written the script myself) and could tell right away if I was on or off, or if I was being present (often without needing playback).

I received an Award of Excellence from Accolade Film Competition for leading actor as Fritz, in addition to Awards of Excellence for Script and Feature Film. To be recognized in more than one facet, and to be reassured that all those components came together seamlessly was incredibly satisfying.

A scene from Elements of Matter (Dir. Assaf Ben Shetrit)

indieactivity: What do you want most from a director?
Assaf: To be candid and vocal — I want to know if I’m doing something that isn’t in line with his vision so I can correct it.

indieactivity: What do you want most from actors as a director?
Assaf: I love rehearsals… this completely closed-off environment, a safe space that belongs only to us. Strong actors like to bring me their ideas, which can open the door to collaboration where we can mold something (hopefully) great. That being said, I also need them to trust that I have a very clear idea of how I want things done and to trust my vision.

indieactivity: What actors do you long to work with?
Assaf: Peter Bogdanovich, Kristen Stewart, Jeffery Wright, Viggo Mortensen, Jeff Bridges, Viola Davis.

indieactivity: Why?
Assaf: I have grown up watching him grow. He gives so much to each role. Obviously I respect so many actors and actresses but I have always had a tendency to be drawn to leo’s roles. I think he would just be a very progressive and positive person and professional to be around.

indieactivity: What advice would you give to actors?
Assaf: Shoot your own projects. Write something, collaborate with peers, film it, edit it. Scrape up some money and invest in yourself. It is an incredibly humbling, yet empowering experience.

Elements of Matter Poster (Dir. Assaf Ben Shetrit)

indieactivity: Briefly write about your career?
Assaf: Originally from Israel Assaf Ben Shetrit moved to New York to study acting, theatre and film. Assaf has starred in original stage productions both on Off Broadway and Broadway and made his way to film and TV (including You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, War Dogs, Entourage, DIG, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Touch).

For the past six years Assaf has been writing, directing and producing films, music videos and short form web content. His shorts have been in Cannes Short Film Corner, Palm Springs Film Festival, Evolution Film Fest and LVFF to name a few.

“Elements of Matter” is his first feature under the umbrella of Fooya Films, winning Awards of Excellence for Leading Actor, Actress, Feature, Comedy, and Script from Accolades Film Competition and Depth of Field Film Fest. Assaf is slated to direct A Storm to Come, the final modern day journey of Ulysses from Homer’s The Odyssey.

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