Filmmaker and arts mentor Alex Ghassan among Oakland fire victims

Alex Ghassan was an independent filmmaker praised for his gift of sharing the stories of others — often the weak or oppressed struggling to find their way. [...] most importantly, said friends and relatives of the 35-year-old Oakland resident, he was a fatherly figure who offered hope and guidance, not only to his twin daughters but to many artists and young black men looking for direction. A video posted on Ghassan’s Instagram account shows the party getting started, just before the tragic inferno that killed 36 people. Originally from New Jersey, Ghassan moved to the Bay Area to pursue his career in film, friends said, and to provide for his 4-year-old daughters, who live with their mother in the New York City area. Before coming to Oakland, he worked with such noted film producers and artists as Spike Lee, Talib Kweli and Skyzoo, Ghassan’s website notes. “Alex was an incredibly talented filmmaker, a passionate supporter of the arts, and, working with our team, had an unrelenting interest in other people’s stories,” said a KQED Arts post on Facebook this week.