Meet Aanchal Ramchandani | Director, Editor, Writer

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

Hi Aanchal, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I’ve always known I wanted to pursue an artistic career and realized quickly it had to be film. I tried a lot of other mediums to find what it was I enjoyed the most, I tried drawing, painting, papier-mache – but understood very quickly I’m not gifted in those areas. The one thing I enjoyed most was making films. Ever since I was a child, I’ve been captivated by making movies. I would take my parents’ camera and create short skits or reenact scenes from my favorite movies, casting my siblings as my unwilling co-stars.

As I grew up, I tried focusing on a more traditional path initially, majoring in psychology and minoring in business during my undergraduate degree but the urge to pursue film was still there. I ended up taking so many film classes I added Screen Studies to my degree as a second minor. While psychology still interests me a lot, I eventually decided I wanted to work in film professionally, so I applied and was accepted to USC’s Film and Television Production MFA program at the School of Cinematic Arts. I’m going into my final semester now and I can’t wait to continue working professionally as a filmmaker!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I was born in India and raised in Hong Kong. They’re two places that are so different but still share unexpected similarities. Growing up between these cultures shaped how I see the world, and that unique perspective is something I aim to bring to everything I create. Whether it’s through characters, themes, or settings, I want to tell stories that reflect the mix of cultures I grew up with. Before film, I worked in a bunch of different environments including offices, classrooms, clinics, every role taught me something new and helped me become flexible, resourceful, and open to collaboration. That variety in experience has shaped how I work on set and how I approach storytelling.

One of the most challenging parts of this journey was moving to a place where I didn’t have any friends or family. It was scary at first but learning how to rely on myself and build a new support system pushed me to grow in ways I didn’t expect. What excites me most is the opportunity to keep learning and evolving as a filmmaker, and to create work that’s personal, grounded, and speaks to where I come from and who I am.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d definitely want to take them to check out some of my favorite Los Angeles landmarks like The Motion Picture Academy, The Griffith Observatory, The Getty and of course, The Grove and the Farmers Market for some treats. If they’re in the mood to go out for a drink or nightlife experience, I’d probably take them to some of my favorite spots like Break Room 86 or anywhere in West Hollywood.

As for food, I’d take them to some of my favorite spots in K-Town for some KBBQ or Sundubu, San Gabriel Valley for some incredible dumplings or noodles, and Silverlake for my favorite restaurant, Bacari. And lastly, I’d attempt to plan a trip to Universal Studios or Six-Flags to end the trip on a high note.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The reason I got into film was because of my father. Every weekend, my siblings and I would squeeze into my parents’ bed and watch a movie from my dad’s childhood. There are so many movies I know I would never have seen had it not been for all those weekends. The horror genre specifically was something my father and I bonded over, we would watch old scary TV shows and movies, discuss movie icons, and he even introduced me to some of my favorite filmmakers of all time like Wes Craven and John Carpenter. Because of this, I’ve been and continue to be influenced by the horror genre and the incredible filmmakers in it, hoping to be among them one day.

I’ve just been so blessed to find a wonderful group of friends in this program who have and continue to be my support system. Being in this program has come with its ups and downs and whenever I would have my moments of self-doubt and second-guessing myself, my friends and family would always be there to encourage me and help me see my own potential. The love and support I’ve been getting from my family and friends is so immense I feel so grateful to have these amazing people in my life.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aanchr/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aanchal-ramchandani/

Image Credits
Image Credits:
Julia Byers
Shreya Jha
Dhruv Patel
John-Robb Saunders