We had the good fortune of connecting with Suhani Sheladia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Suhani, what do you attribute your success to?
For me the most important factor for the little success I have as a Cinematography student are the people I am surrounded with. I have always been really lucky with meeting people who push me and remind me about my potential. On my very first set where I could not even locate an apple box, if my team had scrutinized me, I don’t think I would have continued in this field as I was already skeptical about it and was doing that project for a trial and error to see how the industry functions and was supposed to make my final decision later.
So, I would say, don’t take it personally if you are the dumbest person in the room. It’s important that you find a community that doesn’t make you feel that way and you can ALWAYS go home and study.

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Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My career started during Covid. I got really bored trying to find different pursuits to keep me entertained during lockdown and one day I found my Brother’s camera. I also watched a bollywood film called “Dear Zindagi” and was incredibly fascinated by a Cinematographer’s character. My teenage mind thought, “That looks so cool, I want to try and use a camera!!!”. So when I found my Brother’s camera, I started learning it and realized the pictures I took got better as I practiced more. Art has an uncanny way to make you feel alive! So decided on continuing photography as a hobby and here I am in a Film school.

I was given a huge opportunity to be a camera intern on a Bollywood set very early in my carreer. I got it while I was in my undergrad and was applying for internships. I was so unaware of the lingos and equipment on set that when one of the AC’s asked me for an apple box, I asked him twice as I thought he was playing. I thought to myself that I could have learnt far more on that big production if I had some more experience but now I realised, I did learn things at that tender age that had shaped my work ethic.

I am the most proud of the fact that I reached out to a lot of people regardless of how afraid I was because that is what has fetched me most of my jobs even in film school.

My family wasn’t supportive in the beginning as nobody from our family is in the entertainment industry. So, as it felt alien to them, they really opposed the idea for a while. Even I was scared in the beginning but later as I worked on sets, and the doubt dissolved.

Currently, I am a graduate Cinematography student in Loyola Marymount University serving as a Graduate Assistant in the Camera service department with my Co Graduate Assistant, Aicheng Yao and Supervisor Mary Funsten.

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Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
First has to be a long drive to Dana point.
“CAVA” for lunch.
“Awakening” for coffee in Inglewood.
“The ramen joint” on Truxton for dinner.

Will definitely take my friends to Disneyland.

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Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Maye Izel Bejar Gutierrez a Director friend.
Sofia Riccio a Cinematographer friend.
Yu che Shen an editor friend
And
Edgar Vega, a Director friend.
Peter Soto and Charles Swanson.
Drishtu, Rutu and Utkarsh Bhai.
And my Lovely dog Cheeku.
My team and all the Directors that trusted me with their vision!

Website: https://sheladiasuhani.wixsite.com/slider

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suhani_sheladia?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@suhanisheladia658?si=-fFevtNUlcl1GPUK

Person sitting on a concrete bollard holding a camera, wearing a black cap, black shirt, and gray shorts, in an urban setting.

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Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.