We recently connected with Sameer Shajahan and have shared our conversation below.

Sameer, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

I don’t believe so. I feel like everything leading up to this point in my life has helped me become more capable person. I feel that I am better equipped to handle pressure situations, improvisations, handling artists now better compared to say if I were in my early twenties. I feel that I am at the right time & age to take my creative journey to the next stage.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

For folks that may not know about me (which, I think there could be quite a few) I am an amateur film maker. I have written and directed four short films so far in my spare time with the hopes of establishing myself as a next gen director, screenplay writer to break through. I often write down ideas for scenes, one liners, dialogues that i find interesting that randomly pop up in my head throughout the day.

One example I would like to talk about is while doing the ground work for my third short film, titled ‘Pon’. I had envisioned a sequence that takes place in the middle of the Indian ocean. I did not have a team with me so I had to literally start everything from scratch. From auditioning the actors, seeking permission for locations, arranging food, logistics, travel. You name it. I was also the cinematographer so it was challenging on all fronts.

I remember, I had to seek permission from a local bazaar association to shoot in their location and I had to wait 5 hours near our local suburban station to speak to the concerned authorities. They ended up rejecting my request but I was not going to take no for an answer. My lead actor and I got creative, practiced our shot and went to the location with myself running the camera incognito, took our shots and we got out. One can say it’s breaking the rules, but there was no harm done. I was determined to get the shot one way or the other, and somehow all the efforts were worth it.

Pon was not received well but till date it remains one of my favorite works thus far. Because at the end of the day only you know the amount of hard work you had to put and how lonely it got sometimes. External validation is nice but I do this to satisfy myself and that’s why I am able to sustain the fire thus far.

Along this line, I guess the main thing that I would like my followers to know is that I am a doer. Sounds simple, but once I set forth on something whatever it is I will make sure that it gets done. Right now, my goal is to establish myself as a mainstream director. Time will tell, but right now I am following the process, doing the work. Results will follow.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I can only speak for myself, but I often find myself lost in thoughts, contemplating my next steps or brainstorming ways to make a scene more compelling. Sometimes, I draw inspiration from the people around me, which might seem like I’m not fully present or attentive. I try to stay engaged, but creativity doesn’t adhere to a schedule—it can strike while doing mundane tasks like cleaning or washing dishes. During these moments, I might zone out, jot down ideas, and then return to the present.

As a result, I might come across as more serious or emotional than usual. Although I try not to let it show, the process of immersing myself in my characters’ emotions can impact my own mood and daily life. Balancing these creative and personal aspects can be challenging, and it might be confusing for those close to me who aren’t familiar with how this affects me.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I am doing it currently as we speak! I think I am at the point in my life where I am switching gears. I do have a stable day job that if I could put in the necessary effort would lead towards promotions and what not. I am actively choosing not to. Because I do not see myself in that space anymore (the 9 to 5) and I am actively pursuing my film making which is my 5 to 9. It is scary because you look around and you see your fellow friends doing well, becoming managers, starting businesses, making progress while you are at a stand-still from a career point of view. You could say that I am currently at the pivotal point in my life where it could go downhill in the sense that I could have a stagnated day job if my plan-b doesn’t come to fruition. At least it keeps life interesting!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sameer.shajahan/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sameer.shajahan