Check out Ananth Agastya

Ananth, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I always found the writing process to be cathartic, but I never seriously explored it as a profession. After several years in technology-related jobs, I wanted to try something new. So, I explored writing programs via MFA.However, there was a whisper that urged me to do more: what comes after writing a story? Showing it to an audience, of course. Not telling but showing. What is the best way to showcase a story to the mass audience? Movies.

In those few seconds, I decided to put in my effort, time and resources to cultivate the craft required to become a filmmaker. Writing would be just the beginning; films would be the product to showcase in front of an audience. I found a local filmmaker in Dallas who let me shadow him. He gave me the opportunity to lead a few projects. I worked as an assistant director and a director for a web series over the last two years. It was a great experience.

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I’m a filmmaker. Most recently, I completed my own short war film. I researched with a veteran and wrote a story. After accurately understanding all the story elements from a military-standpoint, I cast the actors and found the locations. I gave the actors training in weapons. I then worked with a small team of local collaborators to bring my writing to life. I also edited the film.

The inspiration to write and become a filmmaker mainly comes from my curiosity about human nature. In my short film, I show soldiers, weapons, blood, bullets and so on. But these are simply genre elements to propel the core of the narrative. The same story could have been told through the eyes of civilians, but it wouldn’t have the same emotional impact.

I intend to make many more films in the same vein: entertainers, with specific genre elements. But underneath, we see ourselves and find uncomfortable truths about our collective human nature.

Choosing a creative or artistic path comes with many financial challenges. Any advice for those struggling to focus on their artwork due to financial concerns?
There are a couple of ways to go about finding the balance between financial challenges and focus on artwork.

One option is to stick with your day job: work as many hours as possible, maximize the earning potential and save every nickel. Then take time off for a few weeks or months to focus primarily on your art. You’ll ache until you begin working on your art, but when you do get to do it, you’ll thrive, only because you let yourself starve for many months prior.

Another option is to work part-time and continue focusing on the art in bits and pieces. For example, you could work on your art on the weekends.

The option you choose depends on your mindset and your ability to save up yourself and your finances for your art.

I chose the second option, and it has worked out well for me. I learned to balance things between finances and my art in baby steps. I found mentors and collaborators who understood my balancing act and supported me. I progressively got better at it.

Most importantly, strive for excellence and continuous learning in your art and business!

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I have submitted my short film to a few local film festivals with the hope of finding an audience. The film festivals do not allow public viewing of the material until after the festival season. I’d be very lucky to make it to any of the film festivals in Dallas and Austin.

In keeping with the requirements of the film festivals, the short film will be available for public viewing via Vimeo and youtube after the current film festival season.

It would be a great motivation for all filmmakers to have more people attend their local film festivals and cheer on the craft and the effort that goes in to filmmaking.