We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Hrisheek Panchmatia. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Hrisheek below.

Hrisheek, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I did a Producing Program which gave me a lot of technical knowledge about what goes into the job of being a Producer and making it in the Entertainment Industry. I think practical experience definitely speeds up the learning process as often times being on set is vastly different than how filmmaking is taught and so by having more real-life experience one can make better use of their classes and really get into the mindset of how they would use this theory on a day to day basis.

Unfortunately, the majority of my program was during COVID so access to set experiences were limited however I was able to have a lead production role on the feature film ‘Get Lost’ in Budapest. This project taught me so much as I got to take the theory that I learnt and apply it directly to real life producing. For anyone aspiring to be in film world, I would highly recommend getting practical experience as soon as possible as it really is the quickest way to learn and also because set life can be so different than what you study, that it is really the best way to know if this the right career for you.

The most essential skill, in my opinion would be networking and by that I don’t just mean giving your business card to someone but instead having a meaningful interaction and developing a relationship with them. A lot of jobs in production are filled on a referral basis and the primary reason for that is when working on set you could be having 12-14 hours work days, six times a week so wherever possible the production team will try to hire people that they know they have a good rapport with and that can get along well with others. Networking is something that looking back I wish I started earlier because ultimately filmmaking is a collaborative endeavor so the more creative and likeminded people you meet and have good relationships with, the better your odds of succeeding in the industry.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a Film/TV Producer currently based in Los Angeles but originally from Hong Kong. I had a very unconventional journey and actually studied Economics and Finance at University. Growing up, I was always an avid film lover but being from Hong Kong the idea of doing something in the entertainment space especially in English felt so far fetched and unachievable that I never really thought of pursuing it. But as I got closer to graduation, I kept having this recurring feeling that if I didn’t give myself the chance to at least explore the industry then I would regret it.

So upon graduation, I came out to LA and enrolled in an acting school just to get a glimpse of what the world of entertainment would look like. Through that journey I learnt that acting was not for me but I did truly in fact love film. I then learnt more about what a Producer does and was fascinated by it and so I decided to enroll in a Producing program.

Ultimately, this has led to me to producing a number of films such as the award winning thriller “The Runner” (Best Feature Film at London Independent Film Festival), “M.A.D.” (Dublin International Film Festival) , the upcoming “Evergreens” as well as several others. One of my favorite experiences came this past summer on the set of “Evergreens”; a coming of age love story of two unlikely companions who embark on a road trip across Washington State. What was incredible about this project was that we actually did the road trip that the characters do in the story and shot along the way. This is something that almost never happens nowadays, especially with how much easier and cheaper it is to film using green screens. But it truly added so much to the film and in many ways we felt as though we were on the journey with the characters. We joked that Washington was our third biggest character after the two leads. Also, it was my first time in Washington so to be able to experience it in this way with our amazingly talented cast and crew was truly special.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me as a Producer it is getting to see my creative partners have their vision brought to life. Directors/Writers can spend years on a project trying to realize it to no avail so when we can finally make it happen, it is truly the best feeling.

On the film, ‘Get Lost’ I had a couple of these moments where before we would start shooting the director would pull me aside and express how unbelievably happy she was that after years of picturing this moment, it was finally here and exactly how she envisioned it. That to me is the best part of being a Producer as making a film is such a huge endeavor with so much prep work that it is sometimes easy to forget what it is all about but having these moments puts it all into perspective. On “Evergreens” it was a similar experience as a lot of our locations were places from the Director’s childhood and instead of using a green screen, we actually filmed on them for real. This was extraordinary because not only does a film look better when it’s shot on live locations but you could really feel how special each place was to him and that energy was infectious which ultimately helped make a truly beautiful film.

All of this puts into perspective that this is not like any other job. We are taking something that someone imagined in their head, put to paper and then trusted us to bring to life. So it is a big responsibility and to be able to do this at a high level without comprising the creative’s vision, that to me is the most rewarding part about being a Producer.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

That’s a really great question! I think one thing that definitely helps is having the right attitude and willingness to put in the work and learn. Set life can be 12-14 hours a day, six times week and so oftentimes when Producers/Coordinators are hiring their main priority isn’t necessarily the qualifications. Don’t get me wrong, that is still an important factor, but they are also heavily looking at can I work with this person 12-14 hours a day almost daily for the next month or two Compatibility is a huge factor. Producers want personable people that have a good attitude and will remain positive even when the going gets tough. This is one of the biggest lessons I learnt when entering the industry so it is something that I always try to keep in mind.

Another thing that I would recommend is to always be upfront not just regarding how you feel in a situation but also about your ability. One of the worst things you can do is overpromise and underdeliver, it is one of the quickest ways to ruin trust. There are times where people feel that they can embellish and get away with it but ultimately it always comes back around. I would say that honesty is always the best policy and what I have found is that people are very appreciative of it and in the long run it does lead to more career opportunities.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10540077/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hrisheek.panchmatia/