Alexander N

Alexander Anatolyevich Shiryaev is a Russian film producer, director, screenwriter, author of books, actor, entrepreneur, and public figure, widely known under the pseudonym Alexander N. The founder and general producer of the film company N Films (since 2008) and the international agency and film school YouHollywood (since 2017) agency’s achievements on the official site IMDb, founder and general producer of the international cultural project World Theaters in Moscow.


THE EARLY YEARS
Alexander Shiryaev was born in a family of a professor, teacher Shiryaev Anatoly Grigorievich and an engineer Shiryaeva Natalia Sergeevna in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Russia. He also has an older sister, Maria Shiryaeva.

He graduated from lyceum No.229 with a profound study of physics, mathematics, and computer science, St. Petersburg.

In school, Alexander takes a creative pseudonym "Alexander N" under which he begun publishing manuscripts, articles, and books. Alexander’s first article about the basics of electronic music was published in the magazine "Young in St. Petersburg" (the regional subdivision of "Argumenty i Fakty").

Alexander received his bachelor’s degree in computer systems and networks from St. Petersburg Emperor Alexander I St. Petersburg State Transport University and later continued his studies at the State University of Aerospace Instrumentation.

After graduation, Alexander opened a creative agency CrystalMachineArtAgaincy, providing professional photography, graphic, and web design services. The agency’s clients include Turkish Airlines, Yakitoria federal restaurant chain, and other significant businesses.


CAREER AS A FILM PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR
In 2005 Alexander completed work on his first feature film, Wind of White Walls (2005, N Films), which he writes himself. On October 15, 2005, the film premiered at the Druzhba cinema theater in St. Petersburg.

In 2009, he directed the movie The Game Has Begun, thanks to which he received the full grant for studying at the New York Film Academy from Brett Ratner — the producer-director of the films: The Revenant (2015, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy), Rush Hour (1998, starring Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker), X-Men: The Last Stand (2006, starring Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry), etc.


MOVING TO THE UNITED STATES, STUDYING AND WORKING IN LOS ANGELES
From 2010 to 2013, Alexander studied, practiced, and worked in Los Angeles, USA: at the New York Film Academy and classes at the University of California.

As a part of the directing and screenwriting program, Alexander directed Bright Dark Black (2011, Los Angeles, USA). The film premiered on February 18, 2011, at Universal Studios theater. The film was sent to the Cannes Film Festival on behalf of the New York Film Academy. On March 30, 2011, the film was accepted into the Court Métrage 2011 program at the Cannes Film Festival.

Later that year, Alexander directed a short comedy Maple Syrup (2011, Los Angeles, USA). On September 17, 2011, the film premiered at Universal Studios cinema theater in Los Angeles.

Alexander was involved in several other projects as a producer, director, screenwriter, cameraman, and actor, including The Memory Remains (2013, Los Angeles), starring Oleg Taktarov. See You Soon (2019, Los Angeles) and others.


MOSCOW
After his return from Los Angeles, Alexander moved to Moscow, where he continued his work as a producer. Among other projects, he worked on a video for the new Rolls-Royce car: Rolls-Royce: Younger (2021, Moscow).

Currently, an international Russian-German-American feature film is being prepared for production under the working title The SPY, to be directed by Thomas Jahn, the director and screenwriter of the motion picture Knockin' on Heaven’s Door (1997, Germany) and several other projects.


BUSINESS
Alexander is an active businessman. The first company specializing in protecting computer networks and systems from hacking, Alexander and his friend and partner started back in school. The documents for the company were registered in the partner’s parent’s name.

Later, he has launched about a dozen companies: from retail and wholesale online and offline trading to the consulting business, etc.

On October 4, 2007, Alexander opened a dancing studio ShkoLa-Magnit in St. Petersburg. After 1,5 years of work, the studio has become one of the biggest dance schools in the country, with three branches, with a total space of about 10 763 square feet. Zagorodniy branch occupied two floors in a three-storey building in the center of St. Petersburg. A unique feature of this branch was a hotel for the visiting students, located right on the school grounds.

Alexander is the founder and CEO of the screenwriting bureau S(C)REENPLAYERS. Since 2018, the bureau has been developing and producing scripts for feature and documentary projects with a running time from 1 minute to full-length films and TV series. The company’s portfolio includes the development of scenarios for Eldzhey and Morgenstern — Lollipop music video; a branded series for Mazda; the script for the Déjà vu by Zvonky music video, the script for a full-length film Three and others.

In November 2021, Alexander launches American Theater in Moscow, followed by theaters from other countries as part of the World Theatres in Moscow project. Its purpose is to offer residents and guests of the capital a rich experience of visiting world theaters: performances are staged in original languages on the basis of popular pieces of literature or film. One of the theater's first directors is Kay Rommel, born in Cleveland, who holds a bachelor's degree in acting from Otterbein University, and a master's degree in acting from GITIS. The first show premiered on June 23, 2022, on the stage of the Central House of the Actor (Moscow, 35 Arbat Street).

In 2022 The American Theater in Moscow (an N Films company) becomes a sponsor of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia Business Awards Ceremony. Mastercard, Cadillac, Coca-Cola, Chevrolet, and other companies sponsored the Chamber. The Ceremony took place at The Carlton, Moscow.


INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES
Alexander acts as a public investor, invests capital in the stock market, creative and technological projects, including film and TV series projects.

On April 3, 2021, Alexander received the official status of Qualified Investor by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation.


TEACHING ACTIVITIES
Alexander teaches theater and film-related disciplines since 2011: in the U.S., in Russia, for groups, and individually. He also speaks publicly at forums and events with educational and motivational programs.

Since 2014, Alexander has continuously supported the Russian Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Veles and other shelters and organizations involved in helping wild animals affected by human activities.

The YouHollywood film school, founded by Alexander, offers free acting and self-development classes for children and teenagers with disabilities.

Alexander is a vegetarian and avoids buying leather and fur products.