Early Beginnings in Theater

Karim Zaid Alkhouli began his journey in the arts at the Academy for the Performing Arts (APA), a prestigious performing arts magnet program within the Huntington Beach Union High School District. APA offers college and career preparation across nine performing arts and media disciplines.

As a member of the Technical Theater department, Karim contributed to numerous Broadway-style productions, including Hello Dolly(2012), The Diary of Anne Frank (2013), Avenue Q (2014), Spamalot (2014), and Miss Saigon (2015). His roles varied from set construction and lighting design to sound operation and fly system management. He also took on responsibilities as part of the run crew and served as Assistant Manager for several productions. These formative experiences provided Karim with a strong foundation in the collaborative and technical aspects of storytelling.

Transition to Filmmaking

After graduating high school in 2015, Karim pursued his passion for storytelling at Orange Coast College (OCC), a renowned institution for Film and Television studies. At OCC, Karim immersed himself in the world of filmmaking, exploring the creative and technical aspects of the industry.

During his time at OCC, Karim developed his skills in cinematography, editing, and storytelling, while collaborating on student projects and assignments. He also began applying what he learned to real-world scenarios, creating and editing videos for events such as parties, weddings, and community gatherings. These projects allowed him to refine his craft and establish a reputation for quality and creativity. He worked as an Assistant Director and as a Production Assistant for McCoy | Meyer and as an Interning Assistant Editor at Painless Productions. He then joined College Humor and worked as a Production Assistant, where he assisted crews on set construction, script supervision, and other general office duties. He has worked on over five short films, including Sneaking Into Your Own R-Rated Movie, The Pre-Hook-Up Clean-Up, Fair Warning, Fart Couch, and The Boyfriend. To Alkhouli, film making goes far beyond a job. It is where inspiration and motivation intersect and create the possibility of bringing to life a story worth telling.