Music video director Siros Kerdouni, whose worked with artists such as Googoosh, Dariush, Mansour, Sepideh, Kamran & Hooman, and many others, is announcing that he's taking a break from working on music videos.

Radio Javan sat down with Siros to talk to him about this decision. You can watch Siros Kerdouni's music videos on Radio Javan's website.

1) First before we begin, how long have you been in the Persian music industry making videos and what made you interested in music videos?

I think it has been over 5 years now. I was more interested in editing. After shooting and editing a teaser for Sepideh's debut album, my graphic clients who were mostly singers became interested to shoot videos with me. It took me a while before I personally took the profession more seriously.

2) When & why are you taking break?

It has been fun doing music videos, but after 5 years I feel like I have to move on. I have around 4 or 5 projects that I have to finish first, and I think by the end of August or latest mid-September I should be done with all of them. I still like to do some music video projects time to time as a hobby with a few selective clients. The reasons for the break are many, I've been trying to make the change for over a year now, but it has never happened. My main reasons would be that I have to concentrate on my first feature film project and at the same time I feel that the music and music video industry is still very limited, although it has progressed a lot during the last few years.

3) Tell us more about your film project.

Well, the whole idea started about 2 years ago, I had this idea for a 10 minutes short movie. It was a more experimental artistic concept that would fall in the taste of art lovers only. It was written by me and the final script ended up being about 20 minutes long. After consulting with one of the all time best Iranian screenplay writer and director, whose name I like to keep anonymous for the moment, I rewrote the script. Altogether I wrote the same story in different ways 4 times, but I was never happy with any of the versions. Finally I asked my director friend, my master, to rewrite my concept. I liked his writing so much that we ended up devolving the story to a full feature. We are in the preproduction part now and aiming to start the production in about 3-4 months.

4) What other projects are you involved with?

I'm still busy doing photography, commercials and graphic design, which I will continue in the future as well. I really want to do a photography book, I'm still developing the idea, but its going to be another year before I start on that project. I have a few ideas for short movies as well, but everything is on hold until the feature project is done. At the same time I'm thinking of a more profitable and stable business is the production field.

5) What do you think can be improved in the music and music video industry?

I think the music video industry is doing pretty well, considering that more than 99% of Persian music videos are lower than the average low budget (in comparison to the international market). Both in Iran and outside, we have good and creative directors and editors. Since I'm not a music critique nor a musician, I can only have a opinion as a common listener. I personally think at this time Persian music lacks originality. There are a few good producers and a handful good singers and performers, but the majority of artist seem to be followers rather than the creators. There are no filters nor any standards and anyone can make a song and air it. Our media has expanded with no structure and the independent TV stations are desperate to fill out their 24 hours spots. But it is a wave that will die soon. Good music will always survive and the artists who performed it will be legendary, contrast to most of today's music that will fade in a year or two. Mehrpouya, Pouran, Farhad, Marzieh, Fereidoun Foroughi, and 100 others are Persian legends who did not need music videos nor auto tune to become a ever shining star. Most artists today have to get attention by creating exciting videos, not understanding that sometimes the models in their videos get more attention than themselves.

You can stay in touch with Siros on his Facebook Page.