We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Aman Adlakha. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Aman below.
Aman, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I find this to be a very relevant question as it pertains to my creative journey so far –
Until a few years ago, I was regularly writing and creating new short films without much thought as to what people would think. And it was freeing. It allowed me to pursue my curiosities and create without much fear. But that all changed in 2020. I left Los Angeles shortly after graduating into the onstart of the COVID-19 pandemic in May of 2020. My destination – New York. I received a job at The Dodo as a Producer & Associate Video Editor where I was responsible for creating short form videos for animal lovers across social platforms. Now, I really enjoyed the work I produced while there but slowly, maybe even unconsciously, my definition of myself began to change. I went from being a filmmaker to a Producer & Editor. That was my role after all so why not use that as my title on my resume, my website or even when talking to people. How could I possibly call myself a ‘filmmaker’. Isn’t that term reserved for the likes of Chris Nolan’s or Denis Vileneuve’s of the world? No, I was a Producer & Editor and I was good at it. And so over the next year, my ambitions began to warp. I went from spending time on developing new screenplays to working on my retention based editing skills. studying video metrics to improve my video’s performance on social media platforms. And before I knew it, it was 2023 and it had been over 3 years since I made a short film. I was now firmly working in the short-form space for clients on branded content / promotional material. My time at The Dodo taught me well but it also sent me in a completely new direction. I realized that I began to define myself a lot more closely with the specific attributes I tried to monetize – editing, producing & videography. But what I left behind was perhaps the most important – the ability to tell a compelling story and to direct a cast and crew to help bring that to life. When I look back at the short films I made, those were my greatest accomplishments. And that’s when I truly understood imposter syndrome. It’s you shying away from being the person you truly are.
Since I’ve come to that realization, I’ve made a choice – I will not voluntarily give up on my dreams. For me, writing and directing films no matter how long they are or what format is the greatest joy of my life. And to knowingly avoid that calling is a disservice to myself and my future. With that in mind, I am back to writing and working on new narrative content for the screen and a new Youtube channel where I can express myself through my storytelling abilities. I find myself once again excited for the future and more passionate about my filmmaking skills than ever before. All it took was a few years of making the wrong choices.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m a Writer / Director from New Delhi now based in New York. Since 2020, My short films have received accolades from film festivals globally and I’ve been recognized for my writing and directing skills in particular. Since 2020, I have worked as s a creative video producer, editor & videographer, I’ve collaborated with brands across industries to produce commercial and narrative work, which has been widely circulated on web & social. I bring to the table an in-depth understanding and expertise in the end-to-end workflow required to produce and deliver high quality video content that stands out from the competition. B.A in Film & TV Production from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts with additional training in Project Management
from Harrisburg University of Science & Technology.
I’m currently working on producing and writing several new screenplays that will mark my return to making short / feature films after a 4 year hiatus.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Self Doubt 2. Embracing Failure
3. Stop Comparing Yourself to others
It’s simple. The more you doubt yourself and compare yourself to others, the more you will sabotage your own success. Creativity is a gift that should be used to express yourself in any way you deem fit. The more you try to replicate what others are doing, the more you will fail to stand out. It’s great to be inspired by others’ work but you need to bring your own experiences, background and unique viewpoint to the table – that is what makes you who you are. Self doubt will always be there. Instead of trying to tune it out, learn to do what you have to do despite of it.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I’m looking to collaborate with writers, actors, DP’s and Producers. They can always reach out to my via Instagram or through my website if interested.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.amanadlakha.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanadlakha_
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanadlakha/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@amansfilms
