Check Out Devon Gulati’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Devon Gulati.

Devon, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
From a young age, I was captivated by the magic of film. My passion for creativity and art led me to hone my craft. During high school, I began creating short films such as “Consequences” and launched a production company, Abrupt Arts.

In 2014, as a high schooler, I took a course at Columbia College where I was tasked to create a trailer. I chose to focus on my family friend Owen, but soon realized there was a bigger story to tell.

After college, I continued to film Owen’s races and collaborated with crews for interviews. Thanks to a grant from the State of Illinois, I finalized the documentary last year with the help of a talented team of editors at Secret Twins Post. The film was completed just in time for Owen to compete in the Paralympics, showcasing and providing a clear payoff for his years of hard work and determination. This sparked the creation of a short documentary over a decade, which is now finally coming out called “Looking Forward”.

“Looking Forward,” is an 8-minute film that follows Owen, a visually impaired para-triathlete. It captures his inspiring journey from being diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease at 11 years old—a condition that affects his central vision—to competing in para triathlons and eventually qualifying for the Paralympics at 20.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The journey of making this documentary was far from smooth. Personally, I struggled with accurately representing his story, as creating a documentary about someone’s life is challenging. Some moments could not be captured, and other footage had to be cut because it did not serve the narrative. This was particularly difficult for me due to my close connection to the story. It would not have been possible without my trusted team of editors who helped me distance myself from the footage and focus on directing the edit.

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?
Over the past few years, I’ve produced various feature films and short films. In 2022, I created a short film called “Nazar” (directed by Sean Raju). Around the same time I made a feature film called, “Room Six” (directed by Michael Panico and Matt H. Miller), about a motel attendant who becomes suspicious of the late-night arrival of two brothers. Furthermore, a documentary I produced about David Glass, former CEO of Walmart, was opened by Gina Davis at the Bentonville Film Festival where it had its world premiere and was accompanied by a panel with Doug McMillion the current CEO of Walmart.

I am excited to premiere the new short documentary “Looking Forward.” This film is significant because it represents my past growing up in Chicago and my growth from a producer to a director, with the intention of telling inspiring American Dream stories.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Luck has certainly played a role in my journey. While hard work and perseverance are crucial, a bit of good luck can make all the difference. I often fall back on the quote “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity”. For me that has held, especially since moving to Los Angeles and letting the hard work I have done so far prepare me for the future of filmmaking.

Contact Info:

• Website: abruptarts.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/producedbydevon

Image Credits
Poster Artwork by Tori Huynh Poster Photography by Trevor Witt Getty Photography by Jason Davis TCL Chinese Red Carpet picture by Andrew Bramson “Carjack” BTS by Michael Panico