Dana Boulos
Interview by Jennie Edgar
Photo by Dimanche Creative
September 1st, 2022
Books are a means to help us create.
Dana Boulos lives in Los Angeles where she work as a Film Director, Photographer, and DJ. She is also the founder and creative behind Brainfreeze Productions. We spoke with her about books as inspiration for professional and creative work, her favorite juicy memoirs, and her favorite books of photography.
“Our opinions mean nothing if you believe in yourself,
fight to get where you want.”
Everything About Me is Fake and I’m Perfect by Janice Dickinson
What was the first book you remember falling in love with?
Girl Bomb: A Halfway Homeless Memoir by Janice Erlbaum. It was 2006, I was about 16 years old, curious but not yet adventurous. I traveled to New York City through the words of Janice Erlbaum’s memoir, as she described being a runaway teen in the 80s bouncing from shelters to group homes and tenements squats to legendary nightclubs. This book taught me a lot about life and made me fall in love with memoirs. There’s something so special to be able to read about what someone is thinking and going through.
Growing up I was heavily dyslexic, it took me till age 7 to learn how to read properly. I never enjoyed books until I was a teenager, this book was the first to change that.
To be honest the cover drew me in, but once I read “Just two hours ago, I had been heating up some lentil soup at my mom’s in Brooklyn, thinking I’d eat it and maybe read some Edith Wharton before bed. Now here I was at a runaway shelter, staring at a nun’s mustache and wondering where I was going to spend the rest of my adolescence” I was hooked to read more.
What were the cultural influences of your childhood?
In the early 2000s’ I moved from London to Los Angeles. It was definitely a culture shock for me. I was made fun of for having a british accent and dealt with a lot of racism being a mixed child. I used literature, art, fashion, and music to run away. I felt like I resonated more with the indie sleaze movement rather than the classic pop world. I mainly used books to escape and help me create.
What books have been especially meaningful to you?
I have an obsession with books that capture and highlight a special time in youth culture. There’s something so beautiful seeing raw and unstaged moments that photographers and writers bring to life. For instance, Teenage by Joseph Sabzo was the first photobook that introduced me to the importance of documenting my life. Joseph Sabzo was a photography teacher who started photographing his students as well as the youth culture around him. There has been so many directors who have used his images as inspiration to their scenes. Teenage is my all time favorite photobook.
I was in Saudi Arabia when I first discovered Girls Of Riyad by Rajaa Al-Sanea. It was the first book that actually showed readers the truth on being a women and living in Saudi in the 2000s. It’s been compared to Sex and The City but the middle eastern version. This book shortly got banned and I’m lucky to still have the first edition.
Tracey Emin has always been one of my favorite artists, and Strangeland helps you understand and see where she came from. How tough her life has been and how it translates perfectly to her artistic vision. A must read if you’re a fan.
Each short story from True Stories by Sophie Calle feels like a movie I would want to watch. I love how she depicts human vulnerability.
All That Shines Under the Hollywood Sign by Iris Berry is a poetry book that describes my love hate with Hollywood and Los Angeles.
I discovered Middle East Archive by Fouad Elkoury during the lockdown. It was first an Instagram account that got turned into a much-needed book. Middle East Archives shows viewers the candid archives of youth culture in the Middle East.
Disko by Andrew Miksys really captures such a beautiful time and moment in Lithuania, where all the teenagers wanted to do was dance and fall in love. Such a special visual story.
The images in An Italian Summer by Claude Nori made me want to go to Italy, the images are so powerful and timeless. During lockdown, I looked at this almost everyday, it helped me escape to feel the sun and hear the italian youth culture laugh.
“Buy bannd books! Books are everything to me and just the thought that some books are banned in different countries breaks my heart. Buy them, read them, and learn from them.”
What does your creative practice look like?
My creative practice involves a lots of books. I always research from actual books and never the internet—I love flipping through a page and discovering something that wasn't “algorithm-ed” my way.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on a few film projects that I’m not allowed to talk about…haha! I’m also working on a photo book coming out next year.
What books have been important to your creative practice?
When I get asked for advice in the industry, I always recommend The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. It helps breakdown the way our minds work and why we put limits on ourselves. This book really helped me remove any negative thinking while creating.
My good friend Ella, recommended The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron to me years ago. When I felt lost and stuck in my creative process. This book helps you write out what you would like to achieve as well as help you realize how to make it happen.
I Paint What I Want To See by Philip Guston is for any type of creative discussing the wealth of information on the creative process, metaphysics, and philosophy. Philip Guston teaches you to see the creative process in a new light.
Andrew Durham photographed most of Sofia Coppola’s sets. He captured some intimate moments on set. At times when I’m feeling down about something work related I tend to look through Set Pictures and instantly I’m reminded why I love what I do.
Finally, Edgewise tells the story of Cookie Mueller’s life through more than 80 interviews with close friends who knew her best. It’s a great read if your wanting to go back in time.
Has a book ever taught you anything?
All the books I own have taught me something, whether it has to do with life, theory, tragedy, or fantasy, and sometimes even about nothing—because every so often there is no point, but thats actually the point!
I’d love to explore the idea of “reading” as it applies to your work as a director and a DJ. Does the metaphor apply?
I feel it’s all about creating a story. As Dr. Seuss once said, “Stories are a staple of the human experience,” and that applies to music, as well. I’m creating a storyline and mood with every directing project and DJ set. At the end of the day, I want someone to feel something when dancing or watching something I directed. Feeling is everything to me.
As a director and creative, reading is super important. The more you read, the better of a writer you become—it's that simple. Reading helps you be able to communicate visual ideas and shots properly to other people. Communication is key, obviously but you need to be able to help others who aren't visual understand your ideas.
Did anyone ever give you a book that felt particularly special?
I received Bluets by Maggie Nelson as a gift. I’d never read anything like that’s so visually stimulating and accurate to the different shades of blue and “the blues” that Maggie Nelson describes.
What are you looking for when you’re in search of a “good book?”
I’m always looking for a good, juicy memoir—something unfiltered and raw. I recently bought Shock Value by John Waters and I can’t wait to read it.
What’s your favorite book of all time?
An Education by Lynn Barber tells the story of Lynn’s decision to get into a car of a stranger, a decision that almost wrecked her entire life. I was 18 when I first read this book and it changed my life forever. It not only taught me the art of storytelling your own memoir but also showed me how in life you need to think twice and cut once.
Why is reading so worthwhile to you?
You can escape, travel, learn, and dream through other people’s worlds. I find that to be the most worthwhile and timeless experience when reading a good book.
What book would you like to reread?
Severance by Ling Ma. I first read this book during the first week of lockdown. It was extremely haunting how an author could depict a current situation I was experiencing but in a fictional format. I think I would be ready to re-read this in a few years but not currently since it's a little traumatizing at the moment.
Is there a particular author or topic you find exciting right now?
At the beginning of summer I discovered Coco Mellor’s work and fell in love with her first novel Cleopatra and Frankenstein. I love her fresh take on writing, she’s definitely an author I’ve added to my watch list.
One last book you’d love to recommend to our community?
Good Morning, Midnight by Jean Rhys is a book I’d definitely recommend; without giving too much away, it makes you realize how good it feels like to be alive.
Your closing statement about your love of books?
Buy bannd books! Books are everything to me and just the thought that some books are banned in different countries breaks my heart. Buy them, read them, and learn from them.
Books we've added to our LIBRARY
Girl Bomb: A Halfway Homeless Memoir by Janice Erlbaum
Strangeland by Tracey Emin
Teenage by Joseph Sabzo
True Stories by Sophie Calle
Middle East Archive by Fouad Elkoury
I Paint What I Want To See by Philip Guston
Edgewise by Cookie Mueller
Bluets by Maggie Nelson
Shock Value by John Waters
An Education by Lynn Barber
Good Morning, Midnight by Jean Rhys