We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kaustuv Mukherjee. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kaustuv below.
Hi Kaustuv, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I am a completely self made filmmaker. I have always loved films, but never ever thought that I will have the ability to make films. Around 2012, I was approached by a gentleman who used to direct small plays. He asked me if I could help him create props and sets for his plays. I have always been pursuing fine art painting as a hobby, so I got interested in this. As I got in, I got fascinated by the craft of theatre and started getting involved in other aspects of it. Then after a couple of years, as we were preparing for a new project, I read the screenplay and found many areas of improvement in the storytelling. I asked the director if he would be willing to consider if I modify it. With his encouragement, I started modifying the story structure and the screenplay. I found it very interesting and quite thrilling. That year the play was staged using my modifications. From the next year onwards, I started writing original screenplays. At that time, I also realized that my calling lies in capturing the story through the lens and the freedom of editing to tell the story. So I started learning about filmmaking. Soon, with limited knowledge and high confidence, I made my own short film using a cheap rented camera and hardware store lights, wrapped with shower curtains. I found the process extremely interesting and realized that filmmaking is the chosen art form for me. From that day, I have been learning and creating films, improving and getting recognized bit by bit.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am filmmaker and have made about 10 short films. I learnt the art and technology of filmmaking completely on my own and have devoted a huge part of life and money to pursue the art I love. My production company is onepaperboatfilms. My current project is a short film – UNSUITABLE. It is a satirical narrative of a young second generation Indian American’s surreal fight against societal conformism.
I consider filmmaking as one of the most complex forms of art. The reason is it combines many forms of art like story writing, human performances, music, fine arts into one form of art. Added to it, is the technology that makes it all possible. So if you are a filmmaker, on one side you need to be an expert in bringing all these art forms together and on the other side know technology like camera, lights, editing etc. to make sure that your vision is getting a life – a life which is bigger than all these individual things combined and tells a compelling story to your audience. This is the reason I love filmmaking.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Ability to learn: This is one of the most important life skill for all of us. The biggest challenge in my journey of filmmaking was that I didn’t know anything about the craft. I had to learn everything from the very beginning. Without this learning, I couldn’t really have achieved whatever small that I have today and I would have remained in my state of wish for creating of films.
Keep Dreaming: Without dreams we just cease to be who we truly are. Keeping my dreams alive gives me the fuel to achieve them.
Don’t let failures stop you: If you are creating something new, you are bound to fail many many times. It is difficult to deal with failures, especially when they keep happening again and again. At one point, you tend to let it go. But don’t, just try for one last time and if you fail again, try again for one last time and keep your self repeating. I found this is the most difficult thing to do, but a very essential thing to achieve something new
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am looking collaborate with other independent filmmakers, actors, cinematographers, musicians to create films together
Contact Info:
- Website: www.onepaperboatfilms.com
- Instagram: @1paperboatfilms
- Youtube: One Paper Boat Films
Image Credits
All the images are stills, posters, BTS from my existing films
