Meet Krushan Naik | Filmmaker

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

Hi Krushan, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
When someone takes risks, they open up a whole new area of opportunities.

As per society and cultural norms back home in India, at 29, I should have been married, figured out my life goals, probably have had 2-3 kids, and so on, but that’s precisely when I decided to renounce my old personal and stable professional life to pursue my dreams. I still remember, back home, when I was prepping to start my new life in Los Angeles, someone much older from whom I was seeking help told my friend, “he has more greys on him than me; what does he want to study now?” Then, another one-liner bandied around for someone who failed to abide by the societal timeline: “When he was supposed to study, he dreamt of betrothals. Now, when he should get married, he wants to go back to school.”

When one takes risks, other than the obvious if this is going to work out, the pressure is just in the air—the futile society-generated pressure that makes one go down the rabbit hole of overthinking. “Kuch toh log kahenge, logo ka kaam hai kehna; Chhoro bekaar ki baaton mein kaheen beet na jaaye rainaa” (People will always have something or the other to say; it’s their job to voice their opinions, ignore it; it matters in no way wasting your precious time on it.) No matter what you do, someone will always have something to say. These lines are from a Bollywood song that is my fitting response to such situations. If you can separate the wheat from the chaff, evaluate your pros and cons, and are strong-willed to chase your dreams, you should take the leap of faith. That step might be the best thing you’ve ever done in your life, which has been my case. Had I not risked starting a new life and given into people’s opinions of me, I would have never seen myself make films and experience the thrill of watching my film play on the big screen. I would never experience the profound excitement of being a part of multiple prestigious film festivals—including Oscar® qualifying and never taste victory in things I genuinely enjoy doing. I would never be a part of the film industry!

I won’t shy away from saying that taking risks is indeed anxiety-inducing and clouded with much uncertainty. It can have reverse effects if one doesn’t know how to cope. But it is part and parcel of it, and one should be prepared for the worst and have the will to fend for oneself because that will eventually teach you some lessons, and you’ll learn to deal with it. So then, in return (of course, I have to think about returns. I am in the film business, for LA’s sake!), with enough ups and downs, you will reach a stage where living life by taking risks will become a norm for you, at least for some time of your life. And currently, for me, the rule is to start taking risks for my growth the moment I feel I am getting complacent.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a filmmaker based in Los Angeles with a Master’s in Film & TV Production from Loyola Marymount University and a diploma in 3D Animation and VFX from when I was in India. However, coming from India, I also have extensive experience in advertising as a sole proprietor of an advertising agency working with Bollywood celebrities and the best film and fashion industry artists. I pride myself on having an excellent eye for spotting exciting and meaningful story ideas and producing them in movies when it comes to storytelling. Also, bit by the editing bug, I love the art of putting together hours of footage and building a world that lures and teleports the audience through amazing audio-visuals. My first-ever film was an animated short, The Lost World, nominated for the 2012 Viewer’s Choice Awards at the 24 FPS International Animation Awards, Mumbai. And as of now, my latest film, Resurgence, has premiered at multiple film festivals, including the Oscar®/Academy Award® qualifying St. Louis International Film Festival, and is also a winner at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, the Utah Film Festival, and Documentaries Without Borders Film Festival.

When it comes to films, I am fascinated by stories that lead to a resolution/purpose or a hopeful future and not only emphasize a setback. My belief that cinema should profoundly impact the audience pushes me to achieve that goal. My search for stories commences with an end goal: purposeful resolution! Along with the entertaining aspect, through my films, I want my audience to go through an adventure that is thought-provoking, eye-opening, emotionally moving, spiritually enhancing, mind-bending, and psychologically introspecting. My work would speak profoundly to someone who wishes to fight their biggest enemy: Themselves! Because if we are all being honest, mostly, our greatest battle is with ourselves in what we desire to do/be. And for similar reasons, my inspiration comes from shows and films with—if not entirely but somewhat—similar themes, like Avatar: The Last Airbender (TV show, NOT the film), Inception, Free Solo, Spotlight, and so on. Each harbor a unique fusion: Avatar combines entertainment with spirituality and life lessons; Inception connects intense fictional mind-bending storytelling with dreams; Free Solo fuses real-life achievements and movies in their highest form; Spotlight is a flawless amalgamation of films and factual injustice/abuse, and its incredible influence and consequence on the society. Such fusion of different life aspects creates a never seen outcome through the medium of movies, which fascinates and encourages me to continue developing on similar lines. That also brings me to the next part of what I am currently excited about: my latest film, Resurgence.

Before I hit the nail, here is some spiritual mumbo-jumbo. We, sentient beings, can feel certain universal life elements like love, pain, suffering, passion, Isolation, kindness, empathy, and so on, at varying lengths based on our experiences and circumstances. Their effects are inevitably felt deep within, maybe at varying intensity, but indeed felt by the soul because we all emanate from the same tenets of the universe. They transcend all age, race, caste, nation, and cultural boundaries. They are non-sectarian! And the focus of my work is to explore such aspects of life.

Additionally, in our lives, we periodically cross paths with individuals who have no connection or relation with us. We are only aware of their existence after the point of our first encounter. But it is shocking to see how parallel our life situations are when encountering them. If not entirely, a particular aspect of one’s life matches the other. Different traditions have different names: Parallel souls, kindred spirits, twin flame encounters, and so on. And, Resurgence revolves around similar grounds. It is a survival story of a professional canyoneer after a near-death accident in the canyons of Southern Utah.

That brings me to why I made the film. Hearing the story for the first time made me reflect on all the events that occurred and were simultaneously taking place in my life as an international student back then. After moving to the States in 2019 and navigating life in a foreign land, the massive wave of socio-political turmoil and unrest during the worldwide pandemic pushed me to deal with unimaginable uncertainties. From the science vs. politics vs. religious clashes to the Black Lives Matter movement and the racial tension around it, all of it made everyday life on the edge, especially as an International Student. Then came a shocking regulation (which was thankfully later revoked) for nonimmigrant students to leave the country if the universities decided to remain online for the Fall 2020 semester because of the pandemic, which made me rethink my decisions along with the sudden financial instability that led to my abrupt move from Los Angeles to Utah. Like that wasn’t enough, another series of unexpected circumstances gushed at me like a whirlwind. It felt like every aspect of my life started to fall apart one by one, with an unanticipated heartbreak. Next, the people’s response to the Presidential Elections and the attack on the Capitol added to the uncertainty of the future of “aliens” (Not a fan of that word) like me in the States. All of it had driven me to a space of complete uncertainty that felt like a dark abyss from which I never saw myself resurging. All my plans had backfired, dreams were shattering, the future had never looked so uncertain, and every day was a new challenge in an alien world buried under snow for weeks and weeks. Isolation, depression, anxiety, helplessness, and fear put me through an existential crisis.

But I persisted and resurged! Somewhere around that time, I even came up with a quote, “There is no story without suffering.” A friend of mine even printed that and gifted it to me in a frame to keep myself motivated, not give up, and keep hustling. So, when the time came to make a film, I decided to make Resurgence because it had the perfect arc that shows how to rise back from your ashes, no matter how hard life hits you. I felt like a Phoenix with a hopeful, optimistic, and cheerful ending! I want to continue with a similar approach in all my future projects.

The film was challenging on all levels. My biggest challenge was logistics and finance while making Resurgence after enduring the pandemic. On the physical end, it demanded intense commitment, and hiking the canyons with a heavy backpack and a slipped disc was challenging—sometimes extremely painful. Living in Los Angeles during the Pre-Production and Production stage, I made multiple trips to Zion National Park, Utah, to shoot with a three-camera and lights set up and simultaneously record sound. Because the wall—where the incident occurred—was a long strenuous hike/repel deep in the canyon, carrying non-essential items was out of the question, which meant no heavy film equipment. So, I had to think of alternative ways to get pro-quality footage that would later complement the interviews captured on Alexa Mini and Canon cameras. Luckily, in the Fall of 2021, Apple released the ProRes Codec for iPhones, which allowed capturing substantial quality, so I ended up recording the B-Rolls on my phone. The downside was that it consumed a ridiculous amount of storage space on a small device, so I didn’t have the luxury of keeping the camera rolling all the time; it had to be motivated/intentional.

The weather also added to the logistical challenge. The late Summer and Fall seasons of 2021 were rough for the areas in and around Zion, as occasional unusual storms forced me to reschedule time and again. Because of this, most logistical decisions were also last minute, hindering collaboration with peers willing to volunteer. I also needed more money to hire professionals from the outside world but was short of. It was all very challenging, but I just kept pushing and decided to do it all by myself. There were occasions when I would leave for Zion after overnight planning and assembling every piece of equipment the next day on immediate notice. The drives were exhausting, 12/14 hours long, followed by shoot/work the next day. Sometimes, I would call my sister and mother back home in India to stay awake while driving. On one occasion, I was going back to LA with all the equipment, racing away from a storm, which covered most of the Southern Utah route in the snow, stopping everyday life the following day. On my last trip to Zion, while shooting the B-rolls in the canyon, the plan to get out of the canyons before sunset via a shortcut backfired (somewhat). The hike was strenuous, and I, being an unprofessional climber, had to be supported with a rope during my climb out when we unexpectedly hit a steep mountain. After which, we lost sunlight and our track, too, resulting in a thrilling final few hours. Allegedly, a mountain lion followed us, forcing us to use whistles and simultaneously rushing toward the main trail, which, I must admit, was exciting. With lodging and boarding, because I couldn’t afford a hotel, I slept on a yoga mat at night and ate PBJ sandwiches and frozen food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner to save money.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that I gave everything in me, emotionally, physically, and mentally to make this film and almost died three times during its Production process: twice while dozing and driving, and once while nearly becoming the alleged mountain lion’s dinner. But, all in all, it was an exciting and retrospective experience that made me nothing but even more resilient and got me pumped up for the next one. My hard work and sacrifices paid off exceptionally well when Resurgence started exploding at the film festival circuit. So far, it has premiered at multiple prestigious film festivals, including the Oscar®/Academy Award®-qualifying St. Louis International Film Festival, gathered a couple of nominations, and is also a winner at the 2023 Utah Film Festival, 2022 Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, and Documentaries Without Borders Film Festival. The School of Film & T.V., Loyola Marymount University nominated Resurgence as its official entry for the 2022 Student Academy Awards competition and was also a Semi-Finalist at the Oscar®/BAFTA/Canadian Screen Award-Qualifying 2022 Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival.

My journey has taught me many lessons. Some have been tough, and some extremely rewarding. I am at a point in my life where I am trying to embrace anything & everything in my way, both good and bad. And I am also not ashamed or afraid of talking about my scars; I use them as my strength, which sets me apart. It shows that I have what it takes to be in the film business and am ready to give everything in me for my goals.

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.
I like to spend my time on the beach even though I’ve not been able to do it as much as I want to, so whenever I think of going to one, I drive to Playa Del Rey. It is comparatively less busy and mostly filled with locals.

I have a thing for looking at something from the top down, so I like to go to places with elevation, especially from where I can see both the ocean and the land. So far, I’ve explored the Bluff Cove Trail in Palos Verdes and the viewpoint on El Matador beach. Every time I’m there, I feel my eyes are not big enough to capture its magnificent beauty, especially when the sky is clear. The drive to El Matador via the Pacific Cost (No. 1) is also beautiful. In addition, I enjoy the vast ocean and beach view from Palisades Park in Santa Monica. So yeah, I also have a thing for warm weather and sunsets.

Griffith Observatory and the Venice Canals also have picturesque views. During my time as a student at Loyola Marymount University, I have spent a lot of my time on the Bluff, which gives a complete lookout of the city, and just watching the sunset from there is therapeutic.

I enjoy films (Of Course!), and I try to watch most of the movies at the TCL Chinese theatre in Imax. It is an experience in itself. The first time I went there, it completely transformed my theater experience. It was something I’d never encountered before. Sure, I’ve watched many films in theaters and Imax before, but the TCL Chinese theatre feels like I’m not only watching a movie but living it.

Regarding favorite places to eat, I often go to India’s Grill on San Vicente Blvd; I love their Samosa Chat. People have stereotyped Indian cuisine as being spicy, always (I don’t blame them because, most of the time, it is), but I cannot handle spicy food, so I look for spots that satisfy my taste buds. The food at Indias Grill is flavorful rather than just spicy; hence it’s a spot I visit again and again, along with Samosa House and Himalayan House on Jefferson Blvd.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First, I want to thank everyone who never believed in me or supported me. Then, I want to thank all the nay-sayers and all the people who thought I would never succeed in my endeavors. Thanks to them, I’ve built enough resilience and have learned to keep pushing, dreaming, and believing in myself and my hard work.

I want to extend my profound gratitude to my mentors, friends, family, supporters, and all the strangers who shared their life experiences and wisdom with me. Where I am and whatever I have achieved so far is a culmination of all that. So, a big hearty shoutout to all of them!

There was a point in my life when I would read a few pages from Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts every morning, followed by some of my writing, and later in the day, watch the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra on repeat. Both have been instrumental and have helped me swim through some of my darkest times. The book has some extensive details about India’s people, places, and culture, so that became a point of connection for me when I was missing India and couldn’t visit during the pandemic. The TV shows are very inspiring and comforting to watch, and I learned some life lessons from them because the themes align with my thought process. I am indeed grateful for that as well.

Website: https://www.krushanaik.film

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krushanaik/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/krushanaik7/

Other: Resurgence Official Website: https://www.krushanaik.film/resurgence

Image Credits
Utah Film Festival