I signed on to a new project this week as a producer and executive producer for a short film called Amnesia (see my producing page for more updates). Unlike in my acting career, I am not yet at a point where I can get paid for my producing work, but this is a project with a really interesting script and story, and I’m really excited to be working with another great team in the Bay Area.
This project found me through a very roundabout way, so I figured I’d share how every connection you have matters. Back in August I was on a shoot (as an actor) in Santa Cruz for a short film called Decision Time in a Deli, and I met fellow actors Shélah Larson and Tony Themoleas along with a great crew. I was acting in this shoot, but I was also doing some AD work and generally just trying to help out where I could. Regardless of my role in any shoot, I always try to help out the whole team wherever needed, from picking up coffees to just making sure everyone is ok. (Sidebar: my new catchphrase I say now is “A producer’s job on set is to be a PA,” which I think is true especially on low-budget indie sets).
The shoot went great, everyone was super nice, and we ended the day there getting what we needed and on time. We all went about our lives, but fast forward a few months in December, and Tony reached out to me asking me to help produce his film My Body to Love, which you can see on my producing page. He remembered our time together on that Santa Cruz set, and I got to be a part of that great project.
On set for My Body to Love was also Shélah, who wanted to learn more about the behind-the-scenes work rather than just acting. We got to talking and I asked her if she knew any South-Asian directors in the Bay Area for my other short film project When the Crow Calls. She connected me with her friend Varun, and while he wasn’t able to join this project because of his busy schedule, he asked me to produce and executive produce his film Amnesia because he was so swamped.
Now, I’m working on 3 short films as a producer in the various stages of production:
- My Body to Love, in post-production, producer credit
- Amnesia, in heavy pre-production (estimated shoot June 2021), producer and executive producer credit
- When the Crow Calls, in very early pre-production (estimated shoot July 2021), producer and actor credit
The tiny Deli production back in August, which I didn’t think would lead anywhere, ended up getting me TWO projects that I really love, and I’ll have 3 producer credits under my belt by the fall. I probably wouldn’t expect that actors who had other small parts like me would turn into these great connections, but it goes to show that you never know who’s going to come through and find you your next project! That’s why it’s so important to be open and kind to everyone (well that – and that’s just how you be a decent person).
What’s the craziest way you’ve ever gotten a job? What kind of weird connections have led to unexpected great things for you?
