INTERVIEW with Sanjay Prasad

 

Can you explain to the audience your career?

SP: I hail from Chandrapura, a tiny town in India's Jharkhand state, where watching a movie was a significant challenge. Movies were screened in open grounds with poor projection and sound quality, amidst huge crowds vying for limited seating space. Often, as a young boy, I found myself engulfed in standing crowds, unable to see the screen but captivated by the faint dialogues.

Somewhere in this childhood struggle coupled with my passion for drawing-painting and reading novels hiding between school books, a filmmaker was born inside me.
Fast forward after graduating from engineering and transitioning to a career in media, I have now immerse myself in various aspects of filmmaking—writing, directing, editing, VFX .. without it ever feeling like work.

 

How many years have you been making movies?

SP: While my association with movie making spans over three decades, “The Stranger” marks as my first independent movie. I started working on it few years back but completed it just this year, in mid Jan2024.

 

Why did you start making movies?

SP: The reason pretty much lies in the answer of your first question. My love for storytelling coupled with the allure of the cinematic medium ignited my passion for filmmaking. It's the perfect canvas where art, technology, and human emotion converge to create magic. For me, filmmaking is more than just a profession; it's a lifelong calling to share stories that resonate with audiences.

 

Tell us a little about your project. What will the audience be able to see in your film?

SP: "The Stranger" is more than just a film; it's a journey into the complexities of human emotion and morality. It's a unique love story, delving deep into the struggles of ambition, greed, and love. What sets it apart is its raw authenticity and thought-provoking narrative, aimed at sparking conversations and introspection among viewers.

 

Why did you do this project?

SP: While I had other powerful stories in mind, "The Stranger" became my debut due to budget constraintsand also the final draft of the story spoke to me on a profound level. Despite the challenges of limited resources, I was determined to bring this story to life, knowing its potential to resonate with audiences and provoke meaningful dialogue.

 

One of the problems some directors encounter is directing actors and dealing with some actors, especially in the amateur world. How do you see this topic? What kind of work do you do with them?

SP: Fortunately, I've been blessed with talented actors who share my passion for storytelling. On set, I just focused on guiding them into their characters' mindset and emotions, allowing them to embody their roles authentically. Trust, patience, and hard work are key to achieving success, even in the amateur filmmaking realm.

 

A good movie takes care of all departments. But normally we can not allocate all the resources to have a good photography or spend a lot of money on sound post production or budget to hire actors. In your project what % have you allocated to. I don't just mean money but time as well. Of 100% of the time/money, what % did you dedicate to each department?

SP: Given the constraints, resource allocation was a strategic endeavor. Roughly:

• Writing & Direction: 15%

• Cinematography: 15%

• Sound: 20%

• Postproduction: 30%

• Working with actors: 15%

• Art direction/locations: 5%

 

If you could go back, what would you change about this project? (1 thing only)

SP: Without a doubt, I would refine few shot takings and the sound design to enhance the overall viewing experience.

 

What are you happiest about this project?

SP: For me, it's the culmination of storyline, stellar performances, and a good cinematography that has given me a sense of fulfillment. 

 

Make a wish to the movie gods. What do you ask?

SP: My wish would be for ample resources to bring meaningful and entertaining stories to life in their truest form. Stories that can resonate with audience and leave a lasting impact.

 

What movie would you have liked to direct?

SP: "MEMENTO" is a cinematic masterpiece that I deeply admire and would have loved to helm.

 

What kind of cinema do you like? Genre, directors, actors?

SP: I'm drawn to a diverse range of genres, provided the storytelling is compelling and immersive. Thrillers, Mysteries, Action, and Comedies all have a special place in my heart. As for directors, the likes of Martin Scorsese, Christopher Nolan, and Shyam Benegal, S Rajamouli, Vishal Bhardwaj etc inspire me with their visionary storytelling.

​About Actors, my all-time favorites in west are Charlie Chaplin, Marlon Brando, Anthony Hopkins, Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprio and in India, its Amitabh Bachchan, Mohanlal, Irrfan Khan, Kamal Haasan, Ranbir Kapoor, Aamir Khan etc

 

Imagine that all the movies are going to be lost. If you could save 3 movies, what would they be?

SP: "The Godfather," "3 Idiots and "Matrix” are timeless classics that deserve preservation for future generations to cherish.

 

If you have more projects underway, can you give us a bit of information?

SP: Currently, I'm immersed in crafting a heartwarming family drama centered around the transformative journey of a runaway poor teenager and his unlikely mentor. Stay tuned for more updates!