QUESTION#1: How do your top 3 favorite films influence your filmmaking?:

Hmm… I must admit this is a difficult question for me to answer because my film is a documentary, and most of my inspiration comes from the fiction world, which is not to say I’m a documentarian, as I’m open to fiction and non-fiction. But to keep it simple, for Resurgence, I found a lot of inspiration in Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi's 'Free Solo.' While editing the film, because I am a huge fan of cross-cutting and intertwining stories, I watched many films with a similar style to understand better how much information to feed to the audience before jumping onto another timeline within the narrative. Not to say that stories told in chronology are boring, but having a layered and non-linear style helps push the audience's brain to a different level of engagement with the story while watching the film.

QUESTION#2: What do you wish someone would ask you about your film and why?:

I'd be thrilled to chat with you about the journey of making my film and why I made the film the way I made it. It was a rollercoaster of emotions, like trying to make a soufflé while riding a unicycle. But hey, I managed to pull it off, and I'm excited to share my experiences with you. As an independent filmmaker, getting your work in front of a larger audience can be challenging. It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack, except the needle is your film, and the haystack is the entire world. That's why film festivals and such opportunities are essential for us indie folks. It's a chance to showcase our hard work to the world. So, I'd be happy to share the ups and downs of my filmmaking journey, how I overcame the obstacles, and what I learned along the way. And who knows, maybe we'll share a few laughs or even shed a tear or two.

QUESTION#3: What scared you the most about making this film?:

The most frightening aspect of the project was actually making the film. They say that discomfort can be a catalyst for growth, and this film brought a lot of it as it was a challenge from the very beginning until the moment the final version was exported, which was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. To be more specific, the logistics of filming in the canyons of Southern Utah were daunting while I was living in Los Angeles, and as a documentary, bringing all the pieces together in post-production in a way that made sense and also reflected my unique style as a filmmaker was challenging and rewarding at the same time.

QUESTION#4: You have to choose one to make your next movie: 1) unlimited budget but only a single take of every shot 2) Academy award winning composer, but they're not allowed to watch the film 3) A-list cast, but they're directed using only charades. Which one do you pick and why?:

From the options provided, I would surely pick an unlimited budget but only a single take of every shot. This is because I would use most of the budget on rehearsals with the entire team and only go for the final take after enough rehearsals have been done. To make my life even easier, I would also have a script that is not too strict, giving the team the liberty to improvise. In case of any mistakes during that "one" take, I could call them improvisations and not errors. It would definitely make the whole process less stressful and, more importantly, funnier. LOL.

QUESTION#5: What's does the future hold for this film and you?:

I love this question! The future holds a lot for me, and I couldn't be more excited about it. My film "Resurgence" has been showcased in many festivals and has won multiple awards and nominations, giving me much exposure. Through the networking opportunities that this has presented, I have connected with numerous industry professionals and built relationships. I have also gained press that I wouldn't have been able to get if not for the film's festival run. The experience has helped me better understand the programming side of festivals, which will benefit me in my upcoming projects. When I am toward the end of the festival cycle for "Resurgence," I am hoping for distribution opportunities, although I'm not sure when or how they will come about. Nonetheless, I am excited to find out!

Social media tags to share with our readers: #krushanaikfilms #krushanaik

URL link(s) to cool BTS images and videos: https://www.instagram.com/krushanaik/

5Q's w/: Krushan Naik "Resurgence" Director