Los Angeles, January 29th … ‘Gorgeously textured,’ ‘groundbreaking piece of television,’ and [good] ‘timing’: these are descriptors that the venerable UK publication THE GUARDIAN applies to the (returning) Netflix comedy MO (starring stand-up sensation Mo Amer). Those descriptors are also apropos of the accomplished cinematographer who is central to the second season of this Peabody and Gotham award-winning half-hour series. The visionary director of photography in question is Gevorg Gev Juguryan, and like MO’s leading man, Juguryan is as versatile as he is prolific. Furthermore, Juguryan is a conjurer of framing and re-framing human experiences – from mundane to profound – into can’t-miss-on-screen experiences in MO and more.
Most recently, Juguryan was the cinematographer for Netflix’s RIVER WILD (2023), directed by Ben Ketai and starring Adam Brody and Leighton Meester. He was also the cinematographer on STARTUP (2016-2018), also directed by Ketai and starring Brody. The series and the film, respectively, are evidence of creative trust, efficiency, and rapport among Juguryan, writer/director Ketai, and star Brody. Both works of narrative art cleverly explore survival of the fittest against starkly differing backdrops (STARTUP’s shady cryptocurrency culture vs. RIVER WILD’s raging water). Juguryan’s work effectively and subtly complements both.
Juguryan was the cinematographer on the upcoming film MALECON, which was shot in Cuba. Cuban actor Jorge Perugorría, best known for his career-launching performance in the Oscar-nominated STRAWBERRY & CHOCOLATE, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE line producer Tabrez Noorani, and THE ICEMAN helmer Ariel Vromen have boarded the film as executive producers.
Its producer, Flavio Florencio, is the director-writer of the multi-winning documentary MADE IN BANGKOK. The film is the debut feature of Madrid-born Carlos Larrazabal.
Similar to MO (both the fictionalized protagonist and real-life auteur), the Juguryan origin story is from abroad, or more accurately in Juguryan’s case, Eastern Europe. Juguryan, born and raised in Armenia, enjoys an education and professional storytelling career rooted in the old country. After graduating from college in Armenia, he earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Cinematography from the American Film Institute (AFI) in Los Angeles. His resume reflects 20 years of experience on dozens of theatrical features, TV series, music videos, and commercials with crews of various sizes from locations near and far, including stars such as Jennifer Lopez and Stevie Mackie.
In the music video IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR (2020), Juguryan seamlessly unites nostalgia and nouveau riche in The Grove-set music video that stars Jennifer Lopez and Stevie Mackey singing a Great American Songbook standard. It’s an authentic, picture-perfect, white-toothed Christmas, complete with faux snow, a sparkling Cadillac Escalade, and a gaggle of glam back-up dancers. Via cast close-ups, Juguryan excels in capturing the effervescence of a SoCal holiday season.
His commercial DORITOS: BLOW GRANNY BLOW paid extra attention to facial contortions. Juguryan hilariously depicts anti-hero Granny’s birthday blowout in this dialogue-light, yet optically over-the-top, 30-second spot. He also shot a commercial for Pepsi Max that was among the most-watched during the Superbowl.
This is a preliminary vote of confidence that, with MO Season 2, Juguryan solidifies his growing reputation as an unselfconsciously character-driven image curator. Much like Mo’s trusty vintage ride, Juguryan’s fluid camera movements are the perfect vehicle to steer this dramedy in the right direction and across the 8-episode arc! The cinematic language that captured the story uses subjective camera movements and natural lighting to keep the storytelling as organic and natural as possible. (MO was filmed in 3 different countries, collaborating with various talented crews).
Starting January 30, stream MO on Netflix.
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