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

Hi Swapnil, what’s the end goal, career-wise?
My end goal is to become a well celebrated filmmaker with a production house that comes with the independence of making the movies I want. I want to create universes that the audience would enjoy putting themselves in. I have this worlds inside my head that want to see the light of day and at the end of my nights I should be able to tell myself that I put out there the worlds I dreamed of in my mind. I want to create things that stick around long after I have gone. I realize and understand that these are big dreams, my grandfather always told me in order to make it big you first have to dream big and do absolutely everything in your power to achieve them.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My academic journey wasn’t exactly a smooth ride, but I always found escape and purpose in sports especially football or soccer for the American public. I wanted to be a professional soccer player, and I even had a shot at playing professionally for Blackburn Rovers, which, believe me, felt like a dream come true. Sadly, things didn’t work out.

At a crossroads, I had to reconsider my path. I was facing a big question: ‘What now? and the only thing that hadn’t failed me was my art. ‘ Art had always been there for me, a constant in the chaos. So, I dove into animation during college, fascinated by the world of VFX. I dedicated myself to mastering the software and honing my craft.

Years passed, and my progress in VFX was both rewarding and inspiring, but while working I got an opportunity to work as a director on a project and as I was directing I found all the control and the power to voice my vision and to see it come together on the screen was profoundly empowering and made me realize this is what I want to do with my life. It was in that moment I discovered my true calling: filmmaking.

A grand dream took root—the ambition to work in Hollywood. I researched extensively and chose SCAD, making the life-changing move to America in 2023. Since then, I’ve immersed myself in creating short films, commercials, and documentaries while collaborating across diverse creative fields. This journey has been nothing short of exhilarating. I’ve been living and breathing filmmaking. It’s been a whirlwind and a constant learning experience.

Like all stories, mine has been filled with challenges. Looking back, the obstacles seem daunting, and the road ahead even more so. Yet, reflecting on how far I’ve come and the resilience I’ve built fuels my determination to keep pushing forward, embracing every twist in the journey.

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.
If my best friend were visiting Atlanta for a week, I would craft an unforgettable itinerary filled with diverse experiences. Day one would begin with breakfast at the cozy Sweet Hut Café, followed by a visit to the High Museum of Art to inspire creativity. Lunch would be at Miller Union, a celebrated farm-to-table restaurant, and the evening would include a scenic riverboat tour along the Chattahoochee River and dinner at the rooftop bar, 9 Mile Station, for stunning city views.

Midweek, we’d explore Sweetwater Creek State Park for hiking and photography, with a picnic lunch surrounded by nature. The evenings would be dedicated to live music at The Tabernacle and unique speakeasy-style cocktails at Red Phone Booth for a taste of the local nightlife.

The weekend would focus on the cultural heartbeat of the city—attending the Atlanta Film Festival, visiting historic landmarks like Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, and exploring Ponce City Market for local artisan goods.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The biggest thanks I want to part is to my parents, my family who have shown tremendous support through all of my life. i would be amiss if i didn’t recognize the generational efforts and sacrifices that my grandparents and great grandparents all the way to my fathers and his siblings made giving up on their dreams to do what was necessary to keep our more than a century old family business running to get to a point where me and my siblings were independent to get to choose whatever we want to be, something that they did not have the liberty of. I’m grateful to all of them and I take it as a responsibility to achieve my dreams for all of us.

There were many people who have helped and inspired me but I want to especially thank two of my best friends Kushal Shah & Atharva Mujumdar, who have always kept by my side and helped me carry myself and grow as a person and a filmmaker. I was very scared to come to Atlanta and start my film school at SCAD, I was fortunate to have been accompanied by Kushal on this exciting journey in America, none of my progress would have been what it is without his support and him pushing me to my limits, helping me make connections and so much more.

My mentors and professors at my undergrad college Fergusson in India and at SCAD in America have been an immense assistance, all the connections, work and exposure I found at SCAD makes me confident of my future here in the industry.

Instagram: @_sw_ap

Image Credits
Kushal Shah

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