Carla Garapedian
a documentarian at home
Although she travels the world regularly, this former BBC News presenter and documentarian/activist still finds her Encino study to be the place she calls home.
The term fearless journalism can't even cover what Carla manages to achieve in her work. As the first American to anchor BBC World News, Garapedian presented news and analysis for the main news programs and bulletins between 1996 and 1998. Some of her more memorable interviews of that time include Benazir Bhutto (3 years before her assasination) and King Hussain of Jordan.
Since then, she has been focused on the documentary world, tackling stories that deserve to be told as well as being an activist against human atrocities. As we meet her, she has just come into LA from London and on her way to Guatemala.
She admits that her study is quite clean as she always keeps it tidy before leaving for work, just in case she doesn't come back.
"It's the way I keep myself grounded...," Carla says about sitting at her desk which used to be her father's.
Her office tells the tales of all the lives she has touched as well as the people who have inspired her in journalism and beyond.
Carla filming on Chechen border 2000
Carla and Serj from System of A Down in London
Carla with tank in Afghanistan 2002
1988 presidential campaign with Dukakis
Carla's documentaries include Dying for the President (Chechnya), Children of the Secret State (North Korea), Lifting the Veil (Afghanistan), Iran Undercover (Iran) and My Friend the Mercenary (South Africa/Equatorial Guinea).
Screamers, her first full length feature film, features rock band System of a Down and depicts the genocides of the past century with a focus on the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923.
Her father, Leo, a professor of journalism at LA Valley College, hangs proudly on the wall watching over her, as well as a framed meeting with Stephen Spielberg and her mentors.
Leo Garapedian
Stephen Spielberg and Carla at USC Shoah Foundation's Ambassador for Humanity Gala 2010
A BBC microphone, a photo of her father, a business card of Hrant Dink (a Turkish-Armenian editor, journalist and columnist who was murdered), and a picture of her mentor.
In addition to Carla's filmmaking, philanthropy and activism, her new projects include screenwriting and working on preserving lost films from the silent area regarding The Armenian Genocide.
Black Dog of Fate, written by Peter Balakian - Carla's current screenplay project.
The lost film, "Ravished Armenia," Carla is searching to film and restore.
Now she finds herself on the way to Guatemala to connect with a nonprofit who are prepared to dig up mass graves from the dirty wars and matching the DNA to relatives who are searching for answers.
