Meet Aniket Solanki | Sound Designer

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

Hi Aniket, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
For a very long time when I was growing up, I thought that a career in the arts is not possible. It felt that it never was a viable option. I loved watching movies but I never thought I could be the one making those movies. This all changed when I learned about the existence of film schools. You see, I did my undergrad in Computer Engineering and at that time I did not know that you you could go to schools to learn about films and the art of filmmaking. For the longest time a place of education always filled me with dread. Dread about my grades and how I am not as good as the other students. So when I learned about film schools, I immediately applied to as many as I could once I finished my undergrad thinking that I would get into none.
Well I did get into one. I got into one of the best in the world which is USC School of Cinematic Arts which brought me here and which launched my career in the film industry. And for the first time in my life I was doing something I loved and cared about. Yes, I also have my off days and days where work is frustrating but it is never dull. The notion that I can love what I do while getting paid for it, is incredibly gratifying and that is the reason I continue to do this.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My journey into the film industry in LA has being nothing short of a fairytale. I am originally from India and I came to the US to pursue a Master’s degree in film and TV production. That led to my love for sound design in movies which has now led to a career doing sound in films. When we think about films we always think about cameras and beautiful imagery but we do not realize that all that imagery is incomplete without an aural perception that goes with it. Visual and aural perception are the two most important senses that humans have and film has the unique ability to tingle both those senses. So by that logic, sound in movies is as important as the visuals as it allows the audiences to be fully immersed in what they are watching. And that is where I come in. I feel the most exciting part about doing what I do is to gamble with the unknown as human vocabulary is not quite proficient in describing sounds. SO most of the time I am in the dark trying to decipher what sounds work best to convey the emotional feeling of a scene or a movie. And that process is thoroughly exasperating but also highly rewarding.
I feel it was never easy to reach where I have because I never thought a career in films was remotely possible. So it all still feels like a dream. I am just waiting for somebody to wake me up and go to a ‘real’ job.

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.
One of my favorite spots in the city is definitely the Griffith Observatory. I have been there more than 4 times and I love it each time I visit. So I would definitely start with there and most certainly watch the show ‘Signs of Life’ in their planetarium. It is a hypnotic, gorgeous masterpiece which takes us to the farthest reaches of the universe.
Then we would definitely go to Porto’s in Glendale and stock up on chicken empanadas and pastries. Porto’s is an iconic LA brand that cannot be missed.
We would definitely go to the beach, Dockweiler beach in particular where we can watch planes fly directly above us along with the Pacific Ocean across us.
And then the museums, I love the museums in LA. Particularly the Academy museum.
Also one of my favorite food spots is Mayura in Culver City, they have the best Indian food in LA.
And then last but not the least is watching a movie in gorgeous 35mm at the New Bev cinema theatre owned by Quentin Tarantino. That is a must do activity if one of my friend’s is in LA.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would of course love to shoutout to my parents first and foremost. None of this would be possible if my parents hadn’t supported my dreams and encouraged me to follow it. We do not have anybody in my family who is in the film business and so I recognize how much courage it took for my parents to support me. I am forever indebted to them and I stand on the pedestal which they constructed graciously and with love for me.
I would also love to give a shoutout to my collaborators and my peers. The joy of working in an artistic business is being surrounded by some of the most talented people in the world and I am constantly in awe and admiration.
And lastly, I wanna thank my faculty at SCA, especially Amy Reed and Midge Costin for teaching me so much about the film industry but most importantly how to preserve my integrity in this business.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anikets_0708/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aniket-solanki-502aa2108/