Check Out Piyush Thakur’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Piyush Thakur.

Hi Piyush, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
So I started my career 12 years ago in India, where I initially started as a fashion photographer for Rolling Stone and Vogue, then slowly transformed myself into film production. I started as a producer and Director of commercial and short films such as Kohler. Co, Apple India, etc.

Since the time I moved to the United States of America in 2017 where I studied film in college and always knew that I wanted to be on the production side rather than in front of the camera. I was fortunate to work with several production companies, which provided me with the experience and skills I needed to eventually get a job as a producer.”

I had the privilege to produce great commercials for Doritos and MTV VMA awards starring Machine Gun Kelly and the United States Army, presenting Captain in the US Army Reserve, Founder of a nonprofit & former Miss USA, Deshuna Barber. Moreover, it was an honor to be part of the directing team for 2 Day time Emmy Award-winning shows in 2021 names Venice Season 6 and Beacon Hill Season 2.

The short films I have produced have over 25 nominations and 2 award-winning films until now. I have also produced more than 6 feature films in the United States, Nigeria, and India.

My recent feature film Love… Reconsidered directed by Caro Hartsell was featured in screening at the 73rd Cannes Film Festival 2023 which was a big highlight in my career.

Addition to it my films have been on streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video, Tubi Tv and BET Plus.

I am currently in production of two proof of concept films which are in post-production and two feature films which goes in pre-production January 2024

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been a smooth road when you come from a different part of the world where nobody knows you well, and you have to make your own remark in this industry and start as a newbie; I was lucky enough to intern in a few film productions in earlier when I was studying in my college and then slowly made my own way in the industry being a film producer.

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?
One of the things I have learned during my career as a producer is that film productions employ a diverse group of people. Each of these individuals has a different communication style. To be effective, I need to be able to quickly sense how each team member communicates and then alter my style to address their specific needs. When speaking to the entire group, I try to keep my style as neutral as possible.

I am mostly known for my humble nature while working on set or off set, I feel as a producer you need to communicate with your crew members often so that my team is in a comfortable space, I always believe in teamwork because great films are not made by one person, we always need a great team to work with and slowly they become your family.

I feel most proud when my film does good work in front of my audience, and they appreciate my team’s good work as I say it’s always about working together and celebrating the success of failure together as well.

One thing that sets me apart is that I believe no work is bigger or smaller; there have been occasions on film set where me being the producer have to wear different hats in on film set; whatever my team needs during the production, I am there for them either I have to take n a PA job or covering up for my AD, I’m always there to jump in between and help the production run smoothly.

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
The COVID-19 crisis was a major hit to our entertainment industry.

The one thing I have learned from the COVID-19 crisis is to keep learning even when everything stops; believing in myself was the biggest lesson I took during the COVID-19 crisis. I myself was diagnosed with COVID-19 during one of my productions before the whole industry stopped.

Covid-19 taught us that nothing stays permanent regardless to how big you become or whatever you have achieved in life you gotta be always thankful to your family and your team for the amazing work we do.

One thing that kept me going was learning throughout the process, it gave me a lot of time to sit and evaluate the mistakes I had made in our previous films and how to make them better.

During the pandemic, I wrote a lot of scripts and took a good amount of time for pre-production before I went back into production once the pandemic was over; once our industry started opening I could see the difference on set and during the production period of the film.

How much difference it make if you take time to evaluate and go for pre-production ready when it comes to making a film.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/ipiyushthakur?igshid=YTQwZjQ0NmI0OA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ipiyushthakur?mibextid=AEUHqQ
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/piyush-thakur-a5682a16b/
• Twitter: @piyush_thakur15
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10359326/?ref_=rvi_nm

Image Credits
Outcast Forest project photos by – Nick Alvarez