The Writer & Filmmaker Vishnu Agarwal has been in the content creation team for TV & Digital in production houses like Prakash Jha Productions, Anand Pandit Motion Pictures, Folklore Entertainment, to name a few. Recently, he made a short film 'The Cancelled Date'.
The passionate film lover and content creator aim to collaborate with like-minded cinema-driven people for his upcoming feature film. He wants to bring compelling stories with realistic characters and that too with unconventional form.
Vishnu, tell us about your professional background and the journey till here?
A management graduate from Mumbai University, I started off my career with corporate companies in the marketing field. Worked for around eight years from digital to trade shows firms. Then, I quit my corporate career to pursue my long-awaited dream of storytelling.
I joined Prakash Jha Productions as one of the writers in their digital business team. Till now, I have been into content and story writing of TV and web series work.
Around that time, I developed a passion for becoming a director. Along with that, I started working in the direction department.
Why did you choose your profession as a Writer & Filmmaker?
I am a hardcore movie lover since my childhood. The movies and shows were mostly the things that were discussed wholeheartedly in my inner circle of friends, my siblings, neighbors, and social gatherings.
Much later I realised, I could be a storyteller too. Whenever I would watch a movie, I used to keep thinking about the story & characters from various perspectives.
A couple of years back, I got a call from the CEO of Prakash Jha Productions. It was for one of the stories I had written. I instantly left my ongoing job without having any thought in my mind. After that, I full time took into writing and filmmaking.
Any Professional milestone you have achieved that has made a difference in your career growth?
This year I wrote and made a short film ‘The Cancelled Date’. The challenge was, it had no producer and investor onboard that means minimal resources and almost no funding.
When I started showing my final copy to my industry mentors & seniors, they not only just praised my short film based on social issues, but they encouraged me to move ahead in my filmmaking journey.
I was moved. It didn't make a difference in a monetary way but encouraged me to come up with more unconventional stories and characters. This is where I have my strong belief and focus.
Those interested can find the movie 'The Cancelled Date' here.
What is the difference between filmmaking & writing of yesteryears to now in the present times?
See films are made as per the era you live in. Talent-wise, the industry always had amazing writers, directors, actors, and technicians. We always had the best people in yesteryears and present time as well. The only thing that has changed is the way of storytelling.
We are living in a much real world today. Now stories and characters in our movies are going beyond the boundaries as we human beings go in our life to take risks and break the barriers.
Tell us about your next upcoming project? Why do you think it will appeal masses?
My upcoming project is my feature film ‘The Belief’. It’s based on a young married woman who is living a hostage life in her own home. As far as appeal is concerned, I believe everybody who is related or not related to the characters in the film, they are somehow going to get connected with my story in their own life.
We are living in a tough world. Millions are out there who have absolutely no resources. Still, they have one thing, that is 'the belief'. The Belief might be of anything to live or to survive or to grow depending on their circumstances. The same belief can be a turning point or game-changer in your life on which my story is based upon.
What are the ways you are trying to raise funds for this project? Anything special about this method of fundraising?
I am trying to raise some portions of funds through a small group of investors. The rest of the major portion of the funds are being raised through a crowdfunding platform. I have partnered with the crowdfunding platform ‘Crowdera’ to help me raise the required funds.
In this way of fundraising, whoever supports you monetarily, would support you ideally. The story and characters I am trying to bring on multiple screens have already got the beliefs and support of many people.
In my fundraising campaign, transparency is of utmost value. Whoever contributes will be a lifetime stakeholder in my film’s revenue and profits.
So I don’t want to make this campaign contributing stuff but commercial stuff from donors and my end.
Those who wish to contribute or invest in my feature film project, kindly go through the campaign details in the link : Crowdera
Any suggestions you want to give to the new entrants in your field of the profession?
Yes, I do have advice for new entrants. Always devote time for your skilling and excellence. With these two weapons, you will be able to stand by your own in this industry. In addition to watching the content, spend your good time reading as well. It is while reading, you start visualising the story and characters in your mind which becomes the tool for any writer and filmmaker.
Where do you want to see yourself in the next 5 years from now?
Hopefully, I am making films, more films, and only films bringing out courageous stories with the greatest support of people in and around me. See you in the films.
- Interviewed and posted by CB Admin
