Exclusive Interview: Shahin Sean Solimon Talks Sinbad: The Fifth Voyage

Set sail for a popcorn matinee throwback when Shahin Sean Solimon takes the high seas for Sinbad : The Fifth Voyage, on VOD this December! Read on to check out our new interview to celebrate the upcoming release.


BGG After Dark: Hi Shahin, what a lovely name – can you tell me what it means?

Shahin Sean Solimon: Why thank you! Yes, it’s an ancient Farsi word, it means “Falcon”. My mother had a dream when she was pregnant with me at nine months. In this dream, a giant Falcon dropped a book in front of her feet. She opens the book, in the middle there was a message saying to name her unborn son “Shahin”. She still loves telling people this story, even to this day. It’s always fun to hear for me, being a fan of fantasy movies.

BGG After Dark: Where did you grow up? How did wind up in Hollywood?

Shahin Sean Solimon: I grew up in Tampa, FL. For a few years I lived with an adopted American family (George, and Patsy Daugherty and their Daughter Marry). They took care of me, and raised me as their own son while my mother was back in my country. This was a great experience for me, allowing me to acclimate to American culture and understand it. Eventually I was re-united with my mother, and we moved to California so she could pursue her singing career as a Persian pop-star (which she became very successful at, her name is ‘Fataneh’). I eventually started to realize my own calling in the entertainment field and my need to be creative became too powerful to ignore. I have always been around cameras and acting since I was a child. So here we are, and I am very grateful to be in this position, and I am doing my best to inspire others through my work.

BGG After Dark: Has it always been a dream to make movies?

Shahin Sean Solimon: 100% yes. I believe everyone should follow their dreams (as cliché as it sounds) it’s the fundamentals of being happy. My dream just happens to be about making movies, and I am blessed and extremely grateful to have gotten to this far, and have no plans to slow down anytime soon. So I hope everyone has his or her popcorn ready. [Smiles]

BGG After Dark: Djinn was your previous film. Was it a good experience? Did you learn a lot as a result of doing it?

Shahin Sean Solimon: Yes Djinn was an experiment, definitely learned a lot. Every filmmaker who endeavors to be great has experimental films. We made that movie from piggy bank money, and pure fun. It’s a spiritual movie, not an action movie. The messages in that movie have a ton of meaning to me. I hope others could see that and maybe pick up on it. I love hidden messages in movies, that’s what makes a movie stand out. There are some in Sinbad as well.



BGG After Dark: Sinbad seems like a much different film. You obviously like to play in different genres?

Shahin Sean Solimon: Yes, I love different Genres, I feel it’s important to stretch creativity. It’s also a film that is made from much more experience, and that’s the way to make them. It’s all about learning and moving forward. My next one is Sci-Fi before I dive back into Fantasy!

BGG After Dark: How much did films like Clash of the Titans influence the film?

Shahin Sean Solimon: Very much. I was always fascinated with the early fantasy or monster genre films growing up in Florida. In fact I read the ‘Clash of the Titans’ book in seventh grade before I saw the film. There was also a Saturday TV show called “Creature Feature”. They played two features of the old 50’s and 60’s monster movies every week. That was really my education in film history and great memories. To me it was a surreal experience to see these movies, they were a great escape from reality, and I have a very creative imagination because of them.

BGG After Dark: Were you a fan of Harryhausen?

Shahin Sean Solimon: A big YES! The original Sinbad Movies from the 60’s and 70’s, the mythical creatures, the whole Sinbad back-story was just fascinating to me. Being of Persian-American heritage especially, its good wholesome fun. Ray Harryhausen knew of Sinbad: The Fifth Voyage, and actually his reps said he was delighted that we were doing this, they asked if we wanted to use any of his concept art. It was an honor, it was amazing, they are very nice people. He was able to see our very first trailer. I am glad that perhaps that first trailer gave him some joy. He will be missed.

BGG After Dark: I can’t help but think there’s a Tarzan movie in you somewhere. Maybe one to put on your list-of-things-to-do?

Shahin Sean Solimon: Oh wow, that would be fun to do. I will definitely kick that one around with the team. Maybe we will surprise you. [Smiles] I can tell you that we have some great stuff lined up. It all really depends on how well Sinbad does, and if we can keep this momentum going. I really am manifesting this reality to go full circle, and maybe inspire other dreamers like myself. Fingers crossed.