Today we’d like to introduce you to Priyanka Paranjape
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started interning during my undergrad years, and it really opened up the world for me. It is one thing to learn theories in a classroom (which I loved) but completely different thing to get a hands-on experience in the real world. I was working at a news channel, and I got to see closely how to package a story in real time. I assisted the journalists with their research and learned the intricacies of reporting a story for television versus writing a news article for online readership. Mind you, this was the time when physical newspapers was a thing, and the online news market was still emerging. So, I got to work on all mediums – print, digital and broadcast. I was curious to know more about how television works and that’s how I ended interning for the Indian version of the iconic quiz show ‘Who wants to be a Millionaire’. After that, there was no looking back – the production company liked my work, and I became part of their core team. I thoroughly enjoyed all the years I spent working on multiple seasons of that franchise. I was also in the pre-production team of the popular American franchise ‘Family Feud’. Simultaneously, I was working as a content writer for a digital and marketing agency. I believe writing is my first love and having the opportunity to create content for different genres of brand kept my writing muscles active. Big life changes prompted me to move to the USA which meant starting from scratch. I enrolled for a master’s program in electronic and broadcast communication at San Francisco State University during the pandemic. While the industry was on standstill, I was watching a lot of US-centric content and upgrading my skills. I was fortunate to be on set immediately after the market opened and dived deep into production.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not a smooth road, but it has been an interesting journey so far. I would say the struggles don’t stop, but you learn to adapt. The first struggle was to convince my family to be OK with my decision to explore the field of media. Their concerns were valid as no one from my family comes from a media background. Also, we are talking about 10/15 years back when media was still not considered a conventional career choice in India. But thankfully, the proximity to the mainstream filming community (I was born and raised in Mumbai, which is the heartbeat of the Hindi film and television industry) as well as my bachelor’s and master’s degree in media helped me find the right resources. My biggest challenge, I would say, was to find my ground in the US. As mentioned, I had no contacts, did not know how the market works here and no idea where to start. The saving grace was I got into SFSU, but the pandemic brought its own challenges. There were no internships offered. So, I had to be patient till the industry opened. Once things started to look up, I was able to be on a set and intern as an AD for a short film – and that’s my first project I did in this new country.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I primarily produce which can mean many things. I specialize in line production and production management. As a line producer, I understand the budget and make a blueprint of resource allocation to maximize the creative vision. The right kind of financing can elevate the script – as a producer, I am aware of what is the highlight of the script and what can be ‘cheated’ in post-production. This gives the filmmakers the confidence to go into production. My main job is to keep a strict tab on expenses as well as predict what might come up during the production and be ready with contingencies. It’s a high-pressure profile but I enjoy the challenge. I am also involved in the cast and crew hiring process. After reading the script/screenplay, I break it down into different production chunks: Who will be a suitable cinematographer for the project? What challenges should I predict for this story? What kind of locations can be utilized etc. I believe what sets me apart is my holistic approach towards all projects combined with experience of working for a variety of media productions. I have done commercial work, short films, television as well as feature film. But ultimately, I invest in people, and I strive to maintain a high level of mutual respect and a safe environment in my team and that’s what I am proud of. This is a wonderful industry with talented artists, and everyone brings something to the project. A quote from my favorite series, ‘The Office’, sums it up: “People, Ryan. And people will never go out of business”.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
I would highly recommend gaining first-hand experience if you have the opportunity. It will give you an idea of your likes and dislikes and where your creativity is maximized. I would also strongly recommend staying true to who you are. The industry works on contacts and connections – but don’t force it. Just know that not everyone is your cup of tea and vice versa. Find your tribe and the right stories and projects will come to you. I would also urge being abreast of what’s new in the filming world and to explore international cinema. There are some wonderful filmmakers and stories out there which might inspire you. I wish I had access to resources and filming communities when I started out. They bring a lot of potential, and you will meet fellow community members. Go to local film festivals, film screenings and filmmaking meetups!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://summertimeconnections.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/priyanka_summertimeconnections/
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14790500/
Image Credits
Grey Skies team photo credit: Chris Ceguerra