We were lucky to catch up with Runjeev Ignatius recently and have shared our conversation below.
Runjeev, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
Like many other Angelenos – I’ve had the sobering experience of having to redefine my creative goals during the recent actor/writer strikes. Seeing first hand the rallying cries and vigor at the picket lines – followed my months of near silence from the production offices. How does an artist face themselves when the supportive crew members, paychecks and all hope seems to disappear.
My reaction was to address a deeper need I noticed in Los Angeles after living here for 13 years – a lack of strong community. Along with a fellow New York University classmate, we decided to throw mixers for singles around Hancock Park and Silverlake. With the goal of genuinely connecting like-minded people – we threw bi-monthly parties that grew to eventually having close to 100 people in attendance. During one mixer, I was stunned to see a Youtube comedian whom I admired in attendance. He ended up being even funnier and interesting off-camera and we became friends. During a Cinco de Mayo event, I also befriended two producers who are now developing an interactive series that I wrote for my new comedian friend. Separately, I also joined a community of actors and writers that allowed me to have my very first stage reading of my feature film. When one woman in the audience was moved to tears, I knew all those countless mornings writing in isolation had a purpose. I finally felt more like an Angeleno and part of a creative community even during this financially stressful, unpredictable time.
Lastly, I had to double-down and face my deepest creative insecurities. I asked myself – have you told all the stories that you have to tell? The answer was an absolute no. Recently, I fell in love with an auto-biography written by Dhan Gopal Mukerji – the first South Asian writer to find national acclaim in the United States. As a Canadian who has Indian immigrant parents, I was touched by Mukerji’s honest portrayal of the expat experience in the U.S. I got the rights to his book, written in 1926, and recently finished a feature screenplay adaptation of the story. It’s a fascinating tale of fusing Eastern mysticism with Western individualism.
I now see it’s usually during our darkest days and when hope seems to vanish when we find our stories that need to be told.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
Reading the Walt Disney biography “The Triumph of the American Imagination” had a big impact on illustrating how much hard work it takes to create something that moves the world. Walt Disney the man often gets eclipsed by the massive media company with his name – but reading his struggles and antics as a boy and man gave me great respect for him.
Also his rebellious side, like Walt lying about his age so he could be enlisted to join World War one. Or during the 1930’s, in the midst of the Great Depression, Walt took all his earnings from short films and bet on himself. Spending 1.5 million, a massive sum back then, to fund the first animated feature film with a wide release.
Another key insight was the power of collaboration; Disney built a team that shared his passion and complemented his skills. Lastly, his relentless pursuit of innovation and willingness to take risks, like introducing synchronized sound and creating Disneyland, transformed entertainment. These lessons have deeply influenced my approach to creativity, reminding me to stay focused, value teamwork, and always push boundaries.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.runjeev.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/runnwich
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/runjeev/
- Twitter: https://x.com/runjeev
Image Credits
Jenny Rainwater, D. Marcos Saavedra, Matt Schneider
