Meet Arkesh Ajay | Filmmaker

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

Hi Arkesh, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
It’s always a difficult question to answer as to why one chooses a creative path; in my case, a filmmaker. It’s a question the answer to which changes with time. But foremost, is the fact that through my formative years, I found myself in love with art and literature. I discovered the world of Dostoevsky, Marquez, Kiarostami, Kieślowski, and the likes, and they spoke to me in a way that nothing else did. I suppose, art is a conversation, both with oneself and with the world around. I was interested in this deconstruction of our actions, beliefs, and behavior.

The other thing I have come to realize is curiosity. I’m very keen on knowing things. I like knowing why things work the way they do, and I like knowing all sorts of useless trivia. But most of all, I like knowing what makes people do what they do. Filmmaking allows me to follow my curiosity, to explore all of this.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a writer-director in films and tv. I’m currently writing on a period-drama tv show that’s expected to be out some time next year. And I’m also busy with pitching a couple other shows and a movie.

I work across genres – comedy, drama, period and so on. I approach my work purely from the point of view of character and story, without getting encumbered by externalities.

I also work an editor, and we have recently finished a narrative fiction project. That’s what I’m up to currently, where my career is at, so to speak.

I come from a film school background, so I guess, I’d call that as my real starting point. And from there on, it’s keeping myself focused on what I want to do as a filmmaker, irrespective of the challenges. One of the bigger questions for me is if I am getting better at my craft. It’s something that I ask myself all the time.

In my work, I’m always searching for ways to be a more honest and direct storyteller.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
That’s a change of track in your questions! No one who visits me in LA goes back without going to Guelaguetza, which is an Oaxacan restaurant, or Shin-Sen-Gumi in Sawtelle, which is a Japanese one.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are innumerable people who have supported me and held me up all through this journey. This obviously starts with my family and friends, and expands out to the many people in my professional network or from UCLA, where I attended the film school. I’d definitely shoutout my UCLA filmmaking community. They’re just the absolute best.

PersonalArkeshAjay__Arkes

Email:  arkesh.film@gmail.com

Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6227211/