We recently had the privilege of speaking with Alik Sakharov, the director of several episodes of Invasion Season 2. A seasoned director with a background in cinematography, Sakharov brought a unique perspective to the series. He shared insights into his initial attraction to Invasion, his approach to visual storytelling, and the importance of creating a unified vision for the opening sequence.
Drawn to Invasion
Alik Sakharov was initially drawn to the series because of its contemplative nature and character-based drama set against the backdrop of an alien invasion. He became an instant fan after watching the first season and felt a connection to the series’ language and themes.
“I watched season one and I became an instant fan of it. I just loved the contemplative nature of it, kind of spoke my language… Although it’s sci-fi, and I didn’t really do much of that in my previous career or past life, I figured since it’s a character-based drama story in the background of an Alien Invasion, it kind of felt natural, and so it drew me to the project, and I wanted to do it, and it worked out. I’m glad it did.”
-Alik Sakharov, ‘Invasion’ Season 2 Director-
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Visual Storytelling Approach
Sakharov’s approach to visual storytelling involves visualizing the script as he reads it and interpreting the action in a way that aligns with his personal aesthetic. He explained that the script’s distinct way of describing action helps form imagery as he reads, ultimately influencing the composition, lighting, camera movement, and blocking.
“You sort of visualize it as you go along, reading the script because the script has a very distinct way of describing the action… So whatever you imagine as you’re reading the script is sort of like imagining it unfolding in a very particular way… So being that I have an extensive background in cinematography, I saw it in terms of not only the story elements but also in elements of the composition, of lighting, of camera movement, of blocking, of arranging the events within the frame such that there is an element of what Simon Kinberg wanted to have, propulsion, the element of movement, the element of energy, the element of going.”
-Alik Sakharov, ‘Invasion’ Season 2 Director-
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Creating a Unified Vision
Creating a unified vision for the opening sequence was crucial for Sakharov and involved scripting, storyboarding, and collaborating with the team to develop a blueprint of the vision. He emphasized the importance of creating a propulsive and energetic start to the season.
“We created a unified vision of what that opening was, and so that everyone had a blueprint of the vision. Basically, I scripted and then we extrapolated on that, and I’m glad that it worked out because it does have that propulsive energy and energetic energy to start the season.”
-Alik Sakharov, ‘Invasion’ Season 2 Director-
Alik Sakharov’s approach to directing Season 2 is deeply influenced by his background in cinematography and his dedication to visual storytelling. From being drawn to the series due to its character-based drama to crafting a unified vision for the opening sequence, Sakharov’s thoughtful approach has contributed to the success of the second season of Invasion. His ability to visualize the script, interpret the action, and create a propulsive and energetic opening sequence showcases his talent and expertise as a director.
INVASION Season 2 now streaming globally on Apple TV+, with new episodes every Wednesday.
About INVASION
Release Date: Season 2 Premieres August 23, 2023
Executive Producers: Simon Kinberg, David Well, Audrey Chon, David Witz, Alik Sakharov, Andrew Baldwin, Katie O’Connell Marsh
Production: Boat Rocker Studios
Distribution: Apple TV+
Cast: Golshiteh Frahani, Shioli Kutsuna, Shamier Anderson, India Brown, Billy Barratt, Azhy Robertson, Paddy Holland, Tara Moayedi, Enver Gjokaj, Nedra Marie Taylor, Naian González Norvind
Synopsis
From Academy Award-nominated and two-time Emmy Award-nominated producer Simon Kinberg and David Weil, “Invasion” is a sweeping, character-driven science fiction drama series that follows an alien invasion through different perspectives arouhat do you think of Alik Sakharov’s approach to visual storytelling in Invasion Season 2? Do you agree with the importance of creating a unified vision for the opening sequence? How do you feel about the character-based drama set against the backdrop of an alien invasion? Share your thoughts and reactions to Sakharov’s insights and the second season of Invasion on social mediand the world. Set across multiple continents, “Invasion” stars Shamier Anderson, Golshifteh Farahani, Sam Neill, Firas Nassar and Shioli Kutsuna.
What do you think of Alik Sakharov’s approach to visual storytelling in Invasion Season 2? Do you agree with the importance of creating a unified vision for the opening sequence? How do you feel about the character-based drama set against the backdrop of an alien invasion? Share your thoughts and reactions to Sakharov’s insights and the new season on social media!
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