We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sharwari Kale . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sharwari below.
Sharwari, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
Well I grew up in an artistic or creative environment. I am a trained Kathak (an Indian classical dance form) dancer, Hindustani classical singer and a painter in mediums like acrylic, oil, pencil and charcoal. I was a very active part of the theatre. But I never knew making films was on my cards. I loved watching TV, even as a kid, especially with my father. It was our way of spending some quality time together. But I had no idea how it worked or how that world was nor was I curious about it. But growing up, for almost 8 years, I wanted to be a marine biologist . I was, and still am, very fascinated by the world under water. But as I got closer to the goal, I realized it is not what I want. What I imagined it to be and what it is in reality are two completely different things. So me being here, in this field, a big contribution goes to my father. He was the one who suggested I get into media when I felt I was lost. So I did my bachelors in Media and Communication, specializing in Journalism. I worked as a writer for a bunch of media companies. I also had my own page on Medium where I would write travel stories. And while writing, I also realized, I love research and it is one of my biggest assets. I also understood that I love listening to people and their stories. Interviewing Subjects as a part of research for articles was something I was always excited about and looked forward to. And one day, a thought struck me, Won’t it be better if they tell their own stories rather than me as a writer rephrasing them? In today’s day and age, with the advancement in technology and reduced attention spans, It is always better to show what you want the audience to see, to feel, to understand rather than leaving it to their imagination, with the long hours of reading. It is easier to get them interested, hooked to the stories you want to tell through the visual medium. That is one of the biggest things I grasped. And this is exactly what made me certain that this is where I belong and this is something I am going to love doing for the rest of my life. Hence, I chose to change my medium, moved from the pen to the camera and started out as a Documentary Filmmaker. And then a friend of mine asked me to Line Produce his short film, and that began my journey as a Line Producer and a Unit Production manager for Narrative films.
Sharwari, 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?
Well currently, I work as a Line Producer and Unit Production manager with a goal of being a Show Runner. I came to the States in 2021 to pursue my masters degree. It began a couple of years back when I started out as a Production Sound Mixer and Boom Operator. A friend of mine approached me to produce his short film. I was not sure of my capabilities but I wanted to test my knowledge, skills and potential to find out what I am capable of. I believe you won’t find out unless you face it. And I love being on set, manage people and logistics. I had experience back home of Event Organization so I chose to put my experience to use here. And it worked out great for me. I learnt about myself that I enjoy managing people, getting things done, being the problem solver, staying on top of things and making sure stuff gets done. I am assertive and sometimes hard on in my professional sphere. And it gives me immense satisfaction to see that my efforts has made someone’s dream turn to reality. It feels great to see the production run smoothly or my skills helping in making things easier for others. As a Line Producer, I majorly take care of the paperwork, budget, recruitment and rentals. Permits, insurances, equipment rentals, crew and cast documents, agreements, negotiations, scouts, budgeting are some of the major things I take care of. As a Unit Production Manager, I work in tandem with the 1st Assistant Director to overlook the running of the set where I take care of the technical issues and other crew and cast problems. I feel my communication, eye for detail, working calmly under stressful situations and getting work done from others are some of my strengths. What sets me apart from others is my confidence, adaptability and I always have plan B,C, D ready with Plan A. I think about all the possible solutions and keep them in the order of convenience if a situation arises. I am also a people’s person hence I feel it is easier for me to talk to strangers and get help at any point. Hence I love to do what I am doing as it puts my social and personal skills to full use.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My goal is to tell people’s stories. We are 7.8 billion people on this planet. And each one has their own unique perspective deriving from their individual experience. Every person walking this earth has something so interesting and new to offer which sometimes is eye-opening apart from being just interesting or gripping. There is so much to explore and so much to grasp and understand. Irrespective of fields and spectrums of life. When I interact with people, it makes me overwhelmed, excited, shocked, happy, nostalgic; it opens a plethora of emotions. We as human beings connect on one thing the most or we form the strongest bonds on one basis : emotions. It is what connects us to a person sitting in some remote part of the world because we find something relatable with the emotion that the person has felt. It might not be the same incidence, but the feeling, the intensity is commonly shared. And hence I want to make movies; whether documentaries or narrative, which tell these stories. Which evoke similar emotions in my audience as I felt when I first heard it or wrote it or what the characters are feeling. I want to travel the world and get to know the people, their cultures, their history, their beliefs, their traditions, food, philosophies, perspectives and thoughts to showcase them to the world. Knowledge is the greatest weapon. And more perspectives you know, the more variation you know, it makes you more accepting as an individual. What the person in front of me is saying is different, but does not mean they are wrong. We become more connected and accepting because we open our minds to the infinite possibilities around us. We become more curious and tolerant as a society because we come to understand that each person comes with their own set of experiences, lifestyle, circumstances, upbringing and culture. So it is my own way of bringing about a change. To break down any social barriers and connect this society on a humane level. To show the beauty of this world which is made so magnificent by the distinctive touch of the people residing there.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect for me, is the visible change that the stories bring about. It is our way of contributing to the society. We are not scientists, teachers, philosophers whose work can bring about a direct change in the world. But we can tell their stories, especially the unheard ones, which can inspire the world. We might not be able to put out new philosophies, but we can tell you stories of people who believed and implemented certain philosophies in their life and give you a real life, day-to-day example which can motivate you to go down that path. People sometimes do not understand the power we artists hold. The influence one person’s story can have for a big section of the society. Whether it is to introduce new aspects or break the old traditions. And with the technology boom, it is so much easier to reach people even in the remotest parts of the world. We can take you back in time with movies like Dunkirk or take you in the future with Interstellar. Brokeback Mountain was a milestone for the LGBTQ+ community or a kid’s movie Bambi brought awareness about anti-hunting and changed laws. So the box office success is very important us because it shows how much the audience loved our product, but seeing that the message you wanted to put out is now creating waves of transformation in people is the biggest reward. It is like leaving an immortal legacy behind.
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