We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Aamuro Kanda. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Aamuro below.
Aamuro , appreciate you joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?
I feel that everyone needs some sort of creative outlet to express themselves. Fortunately enough, my creative outlet is also my career. Being an artist brings me so much joy in my day to day life, however it also brings some challenges. As artists we don’t have the ability to simply plug numbers into an equation, we have to make that equation starting from nothing. The closest structures we can have are pre-existing materials we can take as inspiration. We must still create a majority of our content and work out of thin air. No matter the challenges of constantly having to develop fresh ideas, I would much rather live an artist’s life than be stuck behind a desk. If a steady 9-5 makes you happy, by all means please follow your dreams. I just personally can’t be tied down to the routine of a corporate environment. Yes, paychecks and stability weigh on me and maybe my mindset will change as I age. Happily, my career lets me meet with people from all facets of life. Just recently, I went from writing a 1970s Vietnam Era feature film, to shooting and being backstage with some of my idols like Robert Plant and Jack Black, to directing a stoner comedy and finally creating a documentary that takes me across the country in an effort to set a wild new world record. In other words, the artist’s life never gets dull and that’s exactly why I choose it. Plus, you meet some of the most wonderful collaborators along the way.
Aamuro , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am the founder of Kanda Films which specializes in providing clients with directing, cinematography and editing solutions for both short and long form content. I also have experience with live event production as I have been fortunate enough to shoot and photograph music festivals with concerts featuring Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Tenacious D and Phil Lesh to name a few. With each project, I like to take an objective look and see what styles of media will help further the clients’ needs. For example we might be using a macro probe lens to shoot delicious sushi rolls, projection mapping one day and creating a miniature spaceship interior model for a sci-fi social media series the next week. I would say I’m very proud of the range of work Kanda Films can accomplish within tight budgets. Growing up, I made films from elementary school through college with little to no budget. These experiences taught me that so much money is lost trying to do expensive things that really could be solved by thinking out of the box- and at Kanda Films, we think out of the box.
In terms of my directing, I’ve always been drawn to stories taking place in the 1970s. In fact, I just finished a feature script following a draft dodger who returns home after he’s pardoned to find his small town and family greatly changed since the Vietnam war. Fortunately, the short spec I made from the story got me into USC film school and won awards around the country including some air time on television. Many drafts and 124 pages later, I am proud to have finally finished a working version of the script.
In the end, Kanda Films serves as a haven for me to collaborate with artists of all disciplines and create fresh, engaging content that pushes the edges of storytelling and creative problem solving. Whether it’s directing or acting as a cinematographer, I want to help my clients harness their most creative potentials and create the best products possible. In doing so, I tend to learn something along the way that I can one day utilize for my own personal stories and projects. So, let’s make something cool, test our creativity and grow together along the way!
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Coming out of film school I think the biggest lesson I had to unlearn was letting go of having to make my next project even better than the last one. Yes, it’s important to do better and push yourself to do the best work possible. What I mean is, I had to remind myself that failure is okay. After speaking with my peers, I came to the conclusion that we all had the tools and minds to create beautiful work, however a lot of us were more concerned with how our risk-taking would affect how others perceive us. I came to “unlearn”, or learn, that making films from the heart, even if they might have some minor technical issues, still produces the best stories and learning experiences. As a result, a fellow USC film school grad and I decided to create a goofy comedy about aliens. We just said, “hey the industry is moving slow right now, let’s just go shoot something big.” We did just that and are moving into post-production soon with a movie that harkens back to the days when we would get together with our friends and just shoot something with whatever camera we had- only this time, we have the training.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I would say lean into local media spaces and do not be afraid to learn from people who may not be at the same career point as you. For instance, I feel like so many people get tunnel vision and look to those who are already way into their careers for guidance. While this is certainly helpful, at the end of the day most people who are established in their respective fields already have their teams built out. Find those who can bring something to the table, even if they are less experienced in other aspects, and grow your careers together. If you are a big fish in a small pond, learn from the smaller fish and inspire them to grow alongside you. Afterall, they might be willing to offer more of their effort and resources toward a project. On top of that, for others who are getting started in filmmaking, being able to attend film festivals and film groups allows for the cross-pollination of ideas that could bloom into your next project.
Just stay busy but make sure you take time for yourself. Yes it may sound like a catch-22 but it is possible. That is the mindset of an entrepreneurial filmmaker.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kanda-films.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kanda_films/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aamurokanda/