We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Varun Chounal. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Varun below.
Hi Varun, thanks for joining us today. 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.
From a very young age, I was a chronic daydreamer. Whether I was trekking through the hills, wrestling with complicated math problems, or basking in the lazy warmth of a Sunday afternoon, my mind was always busy cooking up wild scenarios and stories. One of my earliest (and most hilarious) memories is of roping my friends into making an entire movie during a crucial exam week. We even sold copies to our classmates. Spoiler alert: the movie was a disaster! But it ignited a spark of joy that nothing else has ever been able to replace.
In undergrad, I was the notorious class-skipper. While others were hitting the books, I was out hitting the streets, shooting films. Recognizing a pattern (or a problematic obsession), I swapped the traditional classroom for a film school in the city of dreams: Los Angeles. There, my learning went into overdrive. I did everything from gripping, gaffing, and assisting directors and producers, to actually writing and helming my own projects. I even squeezed into fellowships like the Telluride Student Symposium and Armed With a Camera by LAAPFF to sharpen my voice and meet amazing people. Imagine Entertainment became my crash course in the business of filmmaking.
Honestly, with people’s tastes constantly evolving, the ever-changing landscape of film and media, and the rise of AI, the learning never stops. I wake up every day with a mission to learn something new, no matter how tiny. I devour knowledge like it’s the last slice of pizza at a party and hunt for art that can spark fresh ideas.
Speeding up learning? Nah, I don’t believe in that, especially when you’re just starting out. For me, learning anything new about filmmaking is as thrilling as unwrapping a surprise gift. The learning phase is crucial if you want to execute things perfectly and break new ground. It’s essential to surround yourself with friends and collaborators who inspire you, support you, and boost your confidence. It’s a long journey, and you can’t afford to stop learning.
The biggest obstacle? Hands down, it’s those times when I’m utterly drained and burnt out. It’s tough to do anything in those phases, let alone learn something new. My key takeaway after 10 years in the industry is to pace myself, recognize my strengths, and play to them. Plus, having a sense of humor about the whole thing helps. After all, if you can’t laugh at your own bloopers, what’s the point?
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m Varun Chounal, a badass director and producer who has gained renown throughout the world for telling tales that linger in your memory long after the credits have rolled. I started my filmmaking career with a Bachelor of Business from the University of Delhi, but the real magic happened when I was accepted to Loyola Marymount University in the United States on a Dean’s Scholarship. There, I immersed myself in Film & TV Production, and let me tell you, it was a game-changer.
My time in Los Angeles was like a crash school in all things film. I trained under industry veterans, worked on real film sets, pitched to top executives, and even tested my editing talents on episodes of the NETFLIX series *The Hollywood Masters*. I earned a dream job with Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment’s Television division shortly after graduating from college. There, I backed top executives like Samie Falvey (Modern Family) and Natalie Berkus, contributing to hits such as *Wu-Tang: An American Saga* (Hulu), *Why Women Kill* (CBS All Access), and *Genius: Aretha* (National Geographic).
When I came to India, my first formal work was with Prime Focus Technologies, a passion project department that promotes innovation and new ideas. As a director, I conceptualised and directed short-form content for Amsterdam-based OTT behemoth Insight TV, greatly increasing online interaction, and creating material that crossed cultural borders, appealing to broad worldwide audiences.
Then emerged JPOST Studios, a dream that arose from late-night brainstorming sessions with my flatmate, a visionary filmmaker and wizard editor. At JPOST Studios, we intended to share our creative passion projects with the world. As creative director, I oversaw a symphony of projects, working with renowned artists like as Kamasi Washington and Pique Action Media to create long-form scripted and documentary films, advertisements, and music videos. In 2023, we produced a narrative short film on a real-life occurrence of violence, politics, and death in Kolhapur, India.
My adventure with Sulte Group began during the pandemic and has since grown into the powerful wellness platform that we now proudly call WELLZEST. What began as a casual gig has grown into a wellness revolution. At Sulte Group, I led creative sessions to create and develop new intellectual assets centred on beauty and wellbeing. I set deadlines and worked with external talent to bring new initiatives to reality, overseeing all areas of WELLZEST’s media production, resulting in increased followership and client base.
Aside from these amazing companies, I’ve embarked on my own adventures. My directorial endeavours have received recognition from a variety of festivals (Nashville Film Festival, India Film Festival of LA, Tasveer Film Festival, and Los Angeles Asia Pacific Film Festival, to mention a few) and magazines. I’m known for my distinctive images and the investigation of east-west sensibilities that are firmly ingrained in my identity. I enjoy sharing stories that connect with audiences on a personal level and leave them with a lasting impression.
What sets me apart? It’s my ability to create graphics that have worldwide appeal while being faithful to my ethnic heritage. I’m most proud of projects that not only win prizes but also speak to people’s hearts and minds.
So, if you’re looking for someone who can bring a unique perspective to the table, spin compelling tales, and create visuals that leave a lasting impression, I’m your guy. Join me on this rollercoaster ride, and let’s make some unforgettable magic together!
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
Growing up in a country of over a billion people can be quite stressful. Imagine attempting to stand out while everyone else is trying to be the next big thing! To make matters worse, the said country is still developing, which means that opportunities are as scarce as a Bollywood film without a dance sequence. This reality kept me in a perpetual state of survival mode. I was constantly competing, comparing myself to students, coworkers, family, and even acquaintances. Believe me, it was exhausting! And, let’s be honest, not very fun.
In my early days of filmmaking, this mindset turned me into a bit of a creative gremlin. I was constantly looking over my shoulder, attempting to outdo everyone rather than focussing on creating something truly unique. I missed out on some excellent opportunities and, worse, some terrific friendships because I was too focused on becoming “the best” rather than simply being my best.
Then came my chance to study filmmaking in Los Angeles. Picture this: first semester, we all had to make short films. The catch? Only the top three films out of our class of ten would be screened at the end-of-year showcase. My competitive instincts took over right away. I spent more time thinking about what others were doing than really working.
As you might have guessed- my film didn’t turn out so great. I was left with a damaged ego and a lot of unrealised potential when it wasn’t chosen. However, this is when things changed. Once I had licked my wounds, I realised something– despite having a solid script and a distinct vision, I allowed the competitive pressure to overpower my enjoyment of the creative process. I understood I had to break free from this destructive thinking.
So, I decided to foster an environment of collaboration instead of competition. I stopped worrying about what everyone else was doing and started focusing on what I loved about filmmaking. And guess what? My work got better. I started enjoying the process again, and my films began to shine in their own right.
In the end, the biggest lesson I had to unlearn was that success isn’t about being better than everyone else. It’s about being true to your vision and finding joy in the creative process. Plus, it’s a lot more fun to celebrate each other’s successes than to constantly compete. So now, I embrace collaboration, cheer on my peers, and focus on creating work that I’m passionate about.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
In my view, society’s support for artists and creatives is essential for nurturing a thriving creative ecosystem. But let’s face it, the commodification of art has been its worst enemy. We’re seeing fewer people willing to create or consume something new and unique compared to an existing IP. Don’t get me wrong– I love my franchises and the nostalgic joy they bring, but everything is starting to blur into one homogenous, vanilla blob.
We’re addicted to content and media. The constant demand for new things is great for artists because it means there’s always a market. But it also brings in the suits– those folks more concerned with profits than with creating something meaningful and unique. It’s like trying to make a gourmet meal while being pressured to churn out fast food. The result? Lots of safe, cookie-cutter content that doesn’t push boundaries or inspire.
To truly support artists and a vibrant creative ecosystem, we need to embrace trial and error. There will be failures, and that’s okay. In fact, it’s necessary. For something glorious to emerge, there must be room for experimentation. Artists need to be nurtured, their work celebrated, and their failures seen as stepping stones rather than setbacks.
Think about it– every great piece of art, every groundbreaking film or innovative design, often comes after a series of missteps and iterations. If we keep analyzing and maligning every failure to the point where it breaks an artist’s spirit, we’ll end up with a culture of fear rather than one of creativity.
We need to create spaces– both physical and metaphorical, where artists can take risks without the looming threat of harsh criticism or financial ruin. Grants, residencies, and funding for experimental projects can go a long way. But beyond money, it’s about cultivating a mindset that values originality and courage over commercial success.
Above all, let’s support indie artists, encourage variety in storytelling, and, most importantly, view art with an open mind. By doing this, we can ensure that our creative landscape remains rich, varied, and inspiring for generations to come. And who knows? We might just witness the birth of the next great artistic revolution.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/varunchounal/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/varun-chounal-7333409a
