Rising Stars: Meet Anuja Ganpule-Sheorey

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anuja Ganpule-Sheorey.

Anuja, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Growing up in a small farming town on California’s Central Coast, I was always made to feel different from my peers. I learned from an early age that I wasn’t acceptable the way that I was and always strived to ‘fit in’ – an impossible task since I cannot change my physical appearance. No matter what I did, I was “othered” – a basic pasta salad was ogled with wide-eyes and viewed as an ‘exotic dish,’ my prom dress bought at a local boutique was suddenly “foreign” and “authentic,” and my English-only upbringing was interrogated by passerby with a condescending “your English is so good!”

As you can imagine, I was eager to move to a more diverse area as soon as the opportunity presented itself. However, these incidents didn’t stop entirely (I had a teacher literally turn to me and tell me about how I needed a work Visa for an entire semester in Film School and had to reminder her EVERY DAY that I was an American citizen; I had a well-respected teacher poo-poo one of my film pitches by saying a “Bollywood Movie” wouldn’t make it in America…when I was pitching nothing of the sort).

Growing up, there really weren’t many people of color on TV or in movies. Like, almost NONE. I realize that I am dating myself, but I think that anyone under 30 probably won’t understand the weird mind-twisting ways that a child begins to see themselves when they aren’t represented in the media. Most of the children of color were sidekick characters and my peers often placed me in that category too because I fit the mold that was presented to us in society. It was frustrating because no one could understand why I rebelled against this notion. That’s when I realized that the most significant way to change the way that society saw me and people LIKE me was to create media that showed people who I actually AM.

I wanted to create dynamic characters from underrepresented backgrounds with interesting stories and uplifting messages. I wanted to inspire others to take a closer look at “non-traditional” protagonists. I loved to write. I would lock myself in my room for hours on end writing screenplays, poems, and novellas while listening to Enya and Eiffel 65. I would let my mind take flights of fancy. I would sketch and paint and storyboard. Eventually, I would pick up my camcorder and make films with my sisters, cousins, and friends. I taught myself how to edit them and would have screenings with our parents.

I loved the stories my Aunt would tell me from the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. In school, I was exposed to stories from different cultures like Ananzi the spider and Rechenka’s Eggs. I watched Disney movies, Lord of the Rings, and Pirates of the Caribbean. I endured some racism but was lucky enough to mature and develop in an overwhelmingly supportive and loving community.

Although I originally studied Microbiology in undergrad, I eventually came around to being brave enough to pursue my Master’s in Film and allow myself the ability to be in the field of work that will allow my light to shine the brightest.

It was during this time that I wrote, directed, and finished my feature film, The Candle and The Curse. It is a story about a princess who saves a prince but it’s also much more than that. It’s a story about overcoming cultural differences and discrimination, realizing that we are more similar than we are different, and finding the courage and strength to be our most authentic selves.

I am who I am because I was fortunate enough to grow up in America – the melting pot of cultures and ideas. My dream in life is to tell stories that celebrate our Human Race, acknowledge that life is terrible a lot of the time, but prove that there are ways to overcome any challenge with hope, love, and a healthy outlook on life.

I believe that my purpose in life is to let my light shine and be the best that I can be. I do the work. I give it my all. I believe that what others call failure is actually a chance to grow and be better.

I believe that the best way to serve humanity is to hold up a mirror to it and let it sparkle for all to see.

Even though I cannot change the world, at least I know I can change myself.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think everyone has struggled in their journey and I am no different.

I am going to be a writing nerd and lay it out like a writer would…

Person vs. Society:

1) I didn’t know any filmmakers growing up. I had a dream to become an amazing filmmaker like Peter Jackson, Stephen Spielberg, or Baz Lurhmann but no idea how to get there.

Race and gender didn’t even factor into my ideation of “impossible dreams” because I think of myself first and foremost as a human and secondarily as a brown-skinned woman (until others remind me of that sobering fact).

Most importantly, my family is comprised of Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers, Scientists, etc., so having a career in “the Arts” was a foreign concept (I learned much later that my grandfather was actually a director of photography for a few years in India in the ’30’s before leaving the industry to start his own engineering firm – the arts runs in my blood!).

It took a Microbiology degree, the Great Recession, severe depression, lots of introspection, and a leap of faith to get into film – and it changed my entire life for the better! Best decision I’ve ever made!

Person vs. Self

2) I struggled for a long time to allow myself the ability to live my truth. I was a competent scientist, almost-teacher, and tutor, but those things didn’t feed my soul. I thought that being in the arts was a frivolous pursuit – could beautiful words and imagery really make the world a better place? No, it couldn’t.

It took me many years to realize that if your heart is in something fully, that’s when magic happens. Passion brings stories to life and stories open people’s hearts and minds and can bring about positive change. I’ve seen it in my own life. It made me a believer.

And most importantly, I became a happier and more fulfilled person in this line of work. It is NOT EASY nor for the faint of heart, but if it’s the thing you MUST do, then it is the most beautiful profession in the world!

Character vs. Fate

3) Of course, filmmaking can be an absolute slog. It’s years and years of writing and refining a script (with no pay or social life). It’s convincing others to believe in you enough to give you money to shoot something. It’s countless hours developing costumes, color schemes, sets, finding music, hiring people, making director’s notes, casting talent, scouting locations, renting equipment. It’s piles and piles of paperwork that everyone has to sign. It’s filing taxes and creating legal entities. It’s hiring a lawyer and a payroll company. It’s getting permits, dealing with angry neighbors, and acts of God. It’s dealing with actors dropping out the day before the shoot, characters’ jewelry that doesn’t arrive, fielding frenzied emails from cast and crew while you’re laying on the floor with swollen ankles and prepping for the next day’s shoot. It’s looking into the weary faces of your family (who have volunteered to be on set with you) on overnight shoots and being so grateful for their tireless effort in the background. It’s having crew with a pep in their step who pat you on the back and encourage you to eat when you’re running on coffee, redbull, and adrenaline.

It’s going into post for three years and completing the film in a pandemic.

It’s applying to film festivals and being rejected because you’re a family-friendly fantasy and they don’t know what to do with you.

It’s having trouble finding distribution because of the same reason.

It’s knowing that you are going to let your light shine no matter what and hold on to your project until the right opportunity presents itself.

I know that Fate has smiled on me thus far and has made the impossible a reality. I have FAITH that everything will work out in the end and confidence in myself and my amazing cast & crew that we can find a good place for this film to live. 🙂

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
– I’m a writer/director. I specialize in uplifting stories about characters that are traditionally marginalized or are underrepresented in media.

– I’m most proud of my current film, The Candle & The Curse.

– I’m a woman who writes fantasy films and am working on an epic ORIGINAL fantasy TV show that will span the globe and feature diverse women and people of color as the main characters (in roles written FOR them, not shoe-horning them into other content written for male non-POC characters). This show will cover many topics previously not seen in the fantasy genre and also portray women as dynamic characters with flaws and virtues who eschew the trope of “madonnas” and “whores.”

– I am writing four seasons of my fantasy TV show before it goes on air so I know the ending before I begin shooting.

– My dream is to be the next Walt Disney and Shonda Rhimes (some amalgamation of the two) – one day, I want to have my own studio to help other filmmakers succeed that will create animated and live-action content, have a theme park (or other entertainment hub), write, produce, and direct my own content, and hopefully do all of it sustainably and with an eye towards equity in the workplace.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson by far is DON’T PANIC.

When we panic, our amygdala shuts down our frontal cortex and our decision-making goes out the window.

I’ve learned (through trial and a lot of error) that when confronted with an overwhelming situation, it’s best to take a deep breath and THINK. There is ALWAYS a solution and it will come to you if you stay calm and breathe.

Contact Info:

• Website: thecandleandthecurse.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/anuja.ganpule.sheorey/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anuja.ganpulesheorey.3

Image Credits
Photo credit: Jorchual Gregory Vargas (JGV Studios) Photo credit: Smita Ganpule