DAM: Tigran Tovmasian is an Armenian-Australian Actor & Writer who now adds Director & Producer to that title, with the completion of his new film ‘The Circus Lion’ – a drama following Samvel, a young wrestler in Western Sydney with Dreams of something greater for his life. What stood out on our first watch, was that this story felt like an authentically honest take on what it’s really like to grow up in Western Sydney and as a child of immigrants. And rightfully so, as the story was inspired by the life of its creator, Tigran. No stereotypes were forced – as can sometimes be the case when tackling a ‘Western Sydney’ story, rather – the characters, visual direction and performances were raw and nuanced, allowing viewers to take in and empathise with Samvel’s journey, struggles and his seemingly out of reach Dreams. We speak to Tigran on how this film came together, what parts of his own, personal journey inspired the film and the struggle between holding love for your hometown and where you’re from, but also needing to break free from it in the pursuit of your own identity.
‘The Circus Lion is a 20-minute black-and-white drama that explores grief, masculinity, and purpose through the eyes of a young wrestler chasing something bigger than what his environment expects of him.‘
DAM: Tigran, upon watching this film, I immediately noticed the visual Black and White style and the 4:3 aspect ratio – almost emulating this feeling of being trapped behind bars. What was your decision behind this stylistic choice and how does it connect with the film’s title?
TT: The decision to shoot in black and white with a 4:3 aspect ratio was deliberate from the start. I wanted the audience to feel the emotional compression that the character feels — the sense of being boxed in by your environment, your past, and your pain. The 4:3 frame traps Samvel inside his world, while the absence of colour removes any filter of romanticism. It’s raw, stripped-back — just like the journey he’s going through.
The Circus Lion is intentionally shot in stark black and white — a visual metaphor for the town’s dark, gritty, and colourless reality. That decision wasn’t just aesthetic; it was emotional. The title hints at that too: a wild animal performing under the illusion of control, but carrying deep scars. This film is about what it feels like to be caged — by your circumstances, your past, your environment, or your own grief — and how hard it is to break free.
DAM: Wrestling is an important aspect of the main character, Samvel’s life, in which he sees it as a tool to help him leave Western Sydney. Having real life experience in Judo and wrestling (including holding international and national titles) – is this a desire you share with Samvel in real life?
TT: Absolutely. Wrestling, and more specifically judo, was a huge part of my life growing up. I competed nationally and internationally, and for a long time, it was my identity. It gave me a sense of control, purpose, and focus. But more than that, it gave me a way out — or at least, the belief that I could one day carve out something bigger for myself. When you’re the son of immigrants, and your family stands lower on the socioeconomic ladder, you often feel like you’re behind — like you have to catch up to other kids in so many ways just to feel normal. Wrestling and judo at a young age made me feel seen. It gave me a voice. It made me feel, in some ways, that I was catching up — that I had worth.
“When you’re the son of immigrants, and your family stands lower on the socioeconomic ladder, you often feel like you’re behind — like you have to catch up to other kids in so many ways just to feel normal.”
tigran ToVMASIAN
The mission of this film was deeply personal — it became a way to help me embrace the ghosts of these streets, to confront the place I once wanted to escape. I didn’t just want to capture the parts that make you want to run for more — I wanted to show the beauty, too. The beauty of a town I no longer run from, but now carry like a badge.
DAM: Would you say there’s an expectation pushed upon people who grow up in certain communities or cultures? How do you think one can navigate holding love for your hometown yet also allowing yourself to eventually leave it and grow?
TT: There are moments in the film that reflect those expectations — the kinds of jobs you’re supposed to want, the things you’re expected to enjoy. There’s this unspoken rule in places like mine: be grateful, keep your head down, don’t dream too big. I was laughed at plenty of times for wanting to be an actor in a town where most had already accepted their future as tradesmen. But I was lucky — I had the unwavering belief and support of my family. My parents, who immigrated to Australia and started with nothing, always reminded me that they struggled and worked themselves to the bone so that we wouldn’t have to. So that we could dream bigger. My dad used to say, “You can choose to be whatever you want — as long as you give it everything you’ve got and strive to be the best in that field.” That’s why I think it’s important to embrace where we come from, not run from it. Blacktown gave me grit. It gave me resilience. And I’ll carry that into every room I walk into, every story I tell. But I’ll also keep pushing toward something greater — not just for myself, but so others from my hometown can see that they don’t have to surrender to what’s expected of them. I want to grow beyond where I’m from without guilt — to make something that makes me proud of my roots, not ashamed of leaving.
“There’s this unspoken rule in places like mine: be grateful, keep your head down, don’t dream too big. But I was lucky — I had the unwavering belief and support of my family… I want to grow beyond where I’m from without guilt — to make something that makes me proud of my roots, not ashamed of leaving.”
tigran ToVMASIAN
DAM: How did you go about bringing this story to life?
TT: I made this film with no external funding — just a vision, a lot of faith, and a relentless work ethic. I had to fight tooth and nail to get council permits, bring a team of people together, and make sure I was fulfilling all my duties across every role I took on — as writer, director, producer, and actor. There were moments when it all felt impossible. I remember one night early on, when the pressure had built up — I was deep in debt, running on less than four hours of sleep a night, and juggling everything from scheduling to location issues. I looked up at the sky and said to God, “What have I gotten myself into? I’m in way over my head. This whole thing might fall apart.” But then I thought of everyone I had brought onto the project — people who believed in me, who had already said yes — and I said, “God, I can’t let them down.” And somehow, together, we made it happen. I didn’t just make a film — I made a team. And that made all the difference.
“I was deep in debt, running on less than four hours of sleep a night, and juggling everything from scheduling to location issues. I looked up at the sky and said to God, “What have I gotten myself into? I’m in way over my head.” But then I thought of everyone I had brought onto the project — people who believed in me — and I said, “God, I can’t let them down.” Somehow, together, we made it happen.”
tigran ToVMASIAN
My producer Daniel Havas, who was no rookie to this process, kept me grounded. Together we made a list of every actor we wanted, every location we needed, every shot we dreamed of — and then we began chipping away at getting each of them. In the meantime, I worked closely with my production assistants Bethany Dewhurst and Chloe Atteya to build contracts, draft schedules, and keep the machine running. I delegated responsibilities to people I trusted — people who believed in the film as much as I did. Once we locked the shooting script, assembled the team, and got everyone on the same page, we began filming. It was chaotic, exhausting, and at times overwhelming — but it was also the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever done.
DAM: The film was also made as a tribute to your late wrestling coach John Withers. What did it mean to you to create and act alongside a character based upon him?
TT: Coach John was a huge figure in my life. He was old school — tough, firm, brutal in his coaching — but he believed in me at times when I didn’t believe in myself. Creating a character based on him was emotional, but it felt like something I owed him. His spirit is embedded in every frame of this film — in the discipline, the values, the quiet strength that defines it. He used to say, “Pain is your friend.” It took me a decade to truly understand what that meant. But making this film — pushing through rejection, exhaustion, and fear — taught me first hand that every great suffering shapes you into the person you’re meant to become. This film is also a tribute to my other coach, Yogi — a gentle giant, and someone who always had faith in my creative pursuits. I wish both of them were still around to see this. I think it would have made them proud.
“His spirit is embedded in every frame of this film… He used to say, “Pain is your friend.” It took me a decade to truly understand what that meant. But making this film — pushing through rejection, exhaustion, and fear — taught me that every great suffering shapes you into the person you’re meant to become.”
tigran ToVMASIAN
DAM: What’s one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned through making this, especially being your Directorial debut?
TT: That your doubt and your dream can live in the same room — and that’s okay. I was told by so many people that this idea was too ambitious, that I didn’t have the resources or the experience. But I kept going, not because I had it all figured out, but because I knew the story mattered. I learned that if your gut tells you something is worth doing, you listen. That’s not just instinct — that’s God speaking. Trust that voice. Every great leap I took on this project came from that place. And again, I can’t stress this enough: the key to making a film is team. Without the group of passionate, generous people around me who gave it everything they had, there wouldn’t be a film at all. I learned that even the most personal dream needs a community to bring it to life. Collaboration and shared belief are what turn vision into reality.
“Your doubt and your dream can live in the same room — and that’s okay. I was told that this idea was too ambitious… I learned that if your gut tells you something is worth doing, you listen. That’s not just instinct — that’s God speaking.”
tigran ToVMASIAN
DAM: What would you say is the most rewarding thing about deciding to take action and creating your own work in this way?
TT: We made this film on faith, on grit, and on truth. And now, it’s traveling beyond our town. That’s the reward — not the views or the buzz, but the proof that you can do something from nothing if your heart’s in the right place.
Another huge reward has been the chance to employ so many of my talented friends — giving them a space to showcase their work and feel proud of what we built together. Since then, many of them have started making their own short films, and I’ve been helping them produce and bring their visions to life. That ripple effect — showing people close to me that it’s possible — is something I’ll carry with me forever.
DAM: What do you hope audiences will take away from ‘The Circus Lion’?
TT: I hope they walk away feeling seen. Whether you’ve struggled with grief, identity, or just the feeling of not fitting in — I hope this story reminds you that you’re not alone. And more than that, I hope it inspires people to tell their own stories, however small or personal they may seem. Because the world needs them. And because stories, especially the ones born in silence, have the power to roar.
“I hope it inspires people to tell their own stories, however small or personal they may seem… Stories, especially the ones born in silence, have the power to roar.”
tigran ToVMASIAN
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Find more on the film & Tigran here:
Tigran’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tigrantovmasiann/
Film Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/circuslionfilm/
Tigran’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/tigrantovmasian
‘The Circus Lion’ trailer: https://vimeo.com/1098947652/80387b94dd?p=1t
Diversity Australia Magazine 