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IN CLOSE COMPANY

The Loquat Tree is made by a small circle of trusted professionals who share a close creative understanding with the film's director. From the outset, it was essential that everyone involved connect deeply with his background, perspective, and storytelling approach. Inspired by his idol Kiarostami, Armen also favors an intimate, agile crew—allowing the production to move quickly, communicate clearly, and stay focused on the emotional truth of the story.

Armen Sarvarian

Armen, as his name suggests, is an Armenian filmmaker from Iran whose life and work span multiple cultures, geographies, and creative disciplines. Having lived in both Iran and Armenia until his mid-twenties, he developed a deep understanding of the sociopolitical realities of both countries—an awareness further shaped by his avid interest in history, politics, and international cinema.

Based in Los Angeles, Armen’s diverse background has allowed him to build meaningful connections across American, Iranian, and Armenian communities. With strong ties to the Persian community of LA, deep understanding of the cultural sensitivities of the mainland Armenia, and long-standing collaborations within Western Armenian circles, his network reflects the layered cultural fabric of the society itself. Combined with his UCLA film education, award-winning career and transnational cinema experience, Armen occupies a rare position as a storyteller who brings people and perspectives together. Avoiding rigid political alignment, his work seeks dialogue over division—using cinema as an important medium of public discourse.

Writer and Director

Trey Betts

Trey is a director of photography and visual storyteller known for his relentless dedication to craft, collaboration, and story integrity. Born in Alabama and shaped by years of living and traveling across the world, his work reflects a wide range of perspectives and lived experiences. A UCLA graduate in Film and Television Production with a concentration in cinematography, Trey has spent the past decade working in Los Angeles across feature films, documentaries, commercials, and broadcast and streaming television.

Guided by a deep sensitivity to narrative and emotion, Trey consistently pushes visual boundaries while remaining grounded in the needs of the story. His creative relationship with the team behind The Loquat Tree began at UCLA, where early collaborations—including a stop-motion short titled Blizzard—laid the foundation for a shared visual language built on trust, experimentation, and precision.

Director of Cinematography

Betsy Tsai

Betsy Tsai is a producer, writer, and director whose work spans fiction and nonfiction, with a strong focus on transnational stories of belonging, memory, and recovery. A graduate of UCLA’s School of Theater, Film, & Television, Betsy brings a globally informed producing practice shaped by both her academic background and years of hands-on experience working with filmmakers around the world.

After UCLA, she spent five years at the Sundance Institute managing a global documentary fund, collaborating closely with filmmakers across China, India, the United Kingdom, and beyond. Her producing credits include The Dating Game (Sundance 2025), Hidden Letters (Academy Awards Shortlist 2023), the Oscar-nominated short Island in Between, and Emmy-nominated Our Time Machine. Betsy and director Armen Sarvarian first connected during their UCLA years and have maintained a close creative relationship ever since. Her deep interest in Armenian culture and politics, combined with her attentive, hands-on approach and strong bond with the film’s young lead actress, plays a vital role in shaping the thoughtful and supportive production environment of The Loquat Tree.

Executive Producer

Arno Stephanian

Arno Stephanian is an Emmy Award–winning sound designer and composer who has been a constant creative presence throughout Sarvarian's body of work. Across short films, commercials, live performances, and narrative projects, Arno approaches sound with exceptional care, sensitivity, and an instinctive understanding of story—treating audio not as a technical layer, but as an emotional language.

Arno’s Armenian and Iranian heritage plays a vital role in The Loquat Tree. His deep familiarity with language, dialogue, rhythm, and regional accents allows him to shape sound with extraordinary precision—ensuring authenticity in tone, nuance, and cultural detail. A passionate pianist and jazz musician, he brings a rich musical sensibility to the project, often guiding scenes through thoughtfully chosen compositions and subtle sonic textures. His professional work spans high-profile productions including Shōgun and Ted Lasso, yet his collaboration on The Loquat Tree is grounded in trust, long-standing partnership, and a shared belief in sound as a quiet but powerful storytelling force.

Sound Designer

Tak Baroyan

Tak Baroyan is a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans production design, art direction, graphic design, animation, editing, writing, and producing. With over two decades of experience in film and television, Tak is best known for helping shape the unmistakable visual language of Abso Lutely Productions, contributing to iconic series such as Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule, Comedy Bang! Bang!, Nathan for You, The Eric Andre Show, as well as Decker and Tim and Eric’s Bedtime Stories.

Born in Yerevan, Armenia, Tak moved to the United States at the age of eleven and has been based in Los Angeles ever since. His long-standing connection with director Armen Sarvarian grew out of a shared creative sensibility and mutual respect for story. From the moment Tak first heard the pitch for The Loquat Tree, he was drawn to its emotional honesty and cultural depth. Bringing his talent to the film with generosity and care, Tak plays a key role in shaping its visual world—grounding the story in authenticity while helping bring it to life with precision, texture, and heart.

Art Director

Lisa Aragona

Lisa Aragona is a set decorator with a sharp eye for continuity, spatial balance, and storytelling detail. Drawing on her extensive background in production design, Lisa brings clarity and adaptability to fast-moving, run-and-gun productions like The Loquat Tree, where the ability to quickly reposition and refine elements within a frame is essential.

Her collaborative approach makes her a natural creative partner to production designer Tak Baroyan, helping maintain visual cohesion while responding intuitively to the evolving needs of each scene. Known for her calm, steady presence on set, Lisa plays an important role in grounding the production—bringing focus and ease during the more demanding moments of the shoot.

Set Decorator

Siamak Ziba

Siamak is an Iranian filmmaker and assistant director whose work bridges experimental cinema, music videos, and narrative film. Having directed over seventeen short films, Siamak is a well-known figure within Los Angeles’s Iranian creative community, recognized for his distinctive visual approach and original voice.

His experimental short "Watching This Film Is Not Forbidden" received international recognition, including a first-prize award at the Krakow Film Festival. On The Loquat Tree, Siamak’s sharp visual instincts and collaborative nature make him an essential presence on set—particularly while the director is also performing in front of the camera. Calm, precise, and deeply supportive, he helps hold the aesthetic and logistical pieces together, ensuring clarity and cohesion throughout the shoot.

First Assistant Director

Artin Amirian

Artin is a line producer whose background in fine arts and painting informs a thoughtful, big-picture approach to production. A natural collaborator with a strong instinct for creative projects, Artin previously worked with director Armen Sarvarian on the stage production "Yes Adam Noorian", and later co-produced Armen's documentary "A Road Trip Through the Storm", building a foundation of trust and shared vision.

Beyond film, Artin serves on the board of Focus on Children Now, where he helps coordinate large-scale charity events across Armenian communities in Los Angeles. His experience mobilizing volunteers and managing complex, people-driven projects is especially valuable to The Loquat Tree, which includes scenes involving large groups and relies heavily on community participation. Calm, balanced, and deeply attuned to the director’s vision, Artin acts as a connective force on set—working tirelessly to make each scene possible with clarity and care.

Line Producer

Mher Gregor

Mher Gregor is a post-production supervisor and colorist whose work bridges on-set precision and post-production finesse. With a strong visual sensibility and a deep appreciation for story, Mher connects to The Loquat Tree on both a technical and creative level.

While his core expertise lies in color grading, Mher’s role extends well beyond post. During production, he supports the director of photography by managing, securing, and backing up dailies, while laying the groundwork for an organized and efficient post-production workflow. His ability to oversee multiple stages of the process ensures visual continuity and seamless quality across footage from different cameras—making him a key guardian of the film’s visual integrity from set to final image.

Post Production Supervisor

“After reading the screenplay, it’s clear that now is exactly the right moment for this film. The themes of migration, family separation, and everyday survival feel intensely relevant to what so many people are living through today. The Loquat Tree doesn’t shout or preach—it simply reflects the world as it is, with honesty and compassion. In this climate, a film like this isn’t just timely; it’s necessary.”

H. Abkenar - Writer

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