We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rajat Patel a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Rajat, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
I always knew I wanted to follow a creative path. Even in high school, I loved expressing myself through dance, music, and public speaking. Thanks to my parents’ support, I was able to explore and learn different art forms freely.
As I grew older, I realized I didn’t want to stick to just one form of art. I wanted to work in a field where I could collaborate and bring multiple creative ideas together. That’s what led me to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Arts with Journalism and Film Studies in Pune, India. I also continued teaching an Indian folk dance form “Garba”. After graduation, I worked as an editor at an advertising agency, learning a lot about the professional structure of media and marketing. However I still felt I had so much more to explore creatively, so I decided to become a freelance director, cinematographer, and editor for multiple brands in India.
In 2021, I started my own production house “Flawed Film Factory” in India to tell stories in a fresh way and approach projects differently. Since I’ve always been drawn to music, I worked with bands and music producers experimenting with new sounds. I collaborated with multiple agencies to bring their ideas to life. I also produce a documentary film for my brand. One of my big achievements during this time was producing a Gujarati short film with my friends from LA, That project gave me a lot of confidence as a producer and entrepreneur.
Even with those successes, I knew I needed to improve my management skills and deepen my understanding of film production globally. So I moved to Los Angeles to study Film Producing at the New York Film Academy.
While studying, I produced award-winning music videos and short films and later worked as a First Assistant Director on multiple YouTube and short film productions.
Looking back, I don’t think I would change how I learned my craft. The journey helped me understand the market, people, artists, and finances in a way that made me a stronger producer. Balancing creativity and financial responsibilities taught me valuable lessons, shaping me into the filmmaker I am today.
Rajat, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I got into this field by first learning the craft through a degree in Film and Journalism and then gaining hands-on experience with guidance from multiple companies and mentors. These mentors believed in my hunger to keep learning and improving, never settling for less. I pushed myself constantly, even before I fully understood what I wanted to offer the world through my work.
Today, I provide end-to-end solutions for video and film production and I produce my projects. This includes everything from developing ideas, understanding audiences, and budgeting to assessing the impact of a story, collaborating with a team who can bring specific projects to life in the best possible way, and always keeping in mind the market and audience the project is meant for.
In an era where anyone can record and share content, my expertise lies in giving each project the storytelling and execution it truly needs. My specialties include Documentaries, films, music videos, and ad films that resonate with international audiences. I focus on bridging cultures and helping people understand the diverse stories and communities that connect us all.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Life itself is a journey of self-discovery and understanding the world around us. Through my work, I aim to create authentic stories from different parts of the world for global audiences to see, feel, and experience. Like different music, stories, art forms, and cultures. My goal is to create a deeper understanding of humanity and encourage empathy while continuing my journey of learning.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
Non-creatives often see life through a lens of stability, which provides a sense of security. That’s not a bad thing, it works for many people. Even in the creative field, I’ve had chances to settle into a more predictable life. But I didn’t.
what many don’t realize is how unpredictable and challenging a creative journey can be. It’s full of ups and downs, moments of questioning your purpose, and the constant search for meaning in your work. There are times of financial instability, moving between Countries, and cities, changing jobs, meeting new people, and constantly adapting to new projects. The idea of “home” often becomes more abstract because you don’t stay rooted in one place for long.
For me, I’ve come to realize that my work is my home. But that also makes it hard to separate myself from it. Even when I’m just watching something casually, my professional mind is always analyzing, thinking, and learning. There’s no clear break from work, and that takes a toll on mental health, something not everyone fully understands.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/rajatfilms
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/directorseye
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/directorseye
