Life & Work with Lalit Prasad of Burbank

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lalit Prasad.

Hi Lalit, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
There is a certain fascination in captivating individuals, having them lost in the moment, and instilling an insatiable curiosity for what lies ahead within them. It’s truly remarkable how deeply engrossed they become in a narrative that does not directly involve them. When they immerse themselves in the character’s shoes, finding it difficult to detach from this alternate reality for days on end. No, I’m not talking about drugs; it’s cinema in its purest form.

It goes back to when I started making films, ever since I had access to a device I could record on. What started as one-take videos when I was 9 years old evolved into proper shorts, and eventually, I learnt how to edit. I started going around directing my friends and shooting myself doing ridiculous and dangerous stunts. That was my theme.

From there, I made action shorts with fight sequences and chase scenes, and tied them to a story. I was coming up with stories just so I could do the stunts I had in mind. I kept getting injured making these stunts look real. When I was 13, a friend came up with an idea for a short film. We wanted to make sure this looks professional. So we taught ourselves the different shot types/sizes and how to make them look good, and we were lucky to get a DSLR then. So we cast my uncle and his brother and made our first proper short film, “Padhivu (2016)” with an original soundtrack, and I was the director of photography. From that moment on, I knew this wasn’t just a hobby anymore.

In 12th grade, I wrote a letter to my dad expressing the profound inner conflict I was wrestling with – the choice between pursuing commerce, a path I recognised as practical, and my undeniable passion for filmmaking. I wanted to cast aside the well-trodden paths of conventional careers. My family didn’t want me going through their struggles. They wanted me in a secure job position like an accountant, and to be prepared for the real world. This “real world” filled me with panic. And in my imagination, the real world became this dark old void. Full of fear, I had no idea of the magical wonder I’d experience in a shooting set just around the corner. Movies may not be necessary; an accountant can earn his way through life and live a happy life. But, as Tom Schulman said in Dead Poets Society, “And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love: these are what we stay alive for.

Soon after, while pursuing my Bachelor’s in commerce, I met more like-minded people who had the vision but needed help bringing it to life. I wouldn’t say I’m a writer, but by then I knew how to make a short film from start to end. When I pitched my ideas on how to bring these stories to life, we had struck gold. We worked with many different communities of artists who use their art to tell stories. We shot cinematic videos for Krump artists, animal flow trainers, and aftermovies for DJs at their concerts. We also shot video portraits for models, underground dance battles and cyphers, creative videos for my MMA gym, and a music video for an independent artist. Working in diverse sets like this honed my skills and added to my experience. Eventually, I started focusing on independent, art-house style projects like “Starchild(2022)”. I made two short films in my college, “Splice(2022)” and “Time’s canvas (2023), which went on to win first place back to back in my college’s interdepartmental competition. Right after that, my friends and I set out to create, which was at that time one of the biggest projects I’ve ever done, “Mukkonam (2024)”. I produced, edited and cinematographed it.

Now, here I am at the New York Film Academy pursuing my master’s in Fine Arts in Filmmaking. Choosing to study film full-time was a big leap. There’s no turning back, but it does feel like home again. Even now, I’m just scratching the surface. There’s so much more out there to learn, explore, and create. I’m grateful for every person, project, and moment that shaped my path so far.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was definitely not a smooth road. I started all this with hardly any gear and with no proper knowledge. I figured most of it out through trial and error, which meant a lot of failed attempts, a lot of work that wouldn’t be up to my expectations, and a lot of projects that I’ve completed but never posted because I wasn’t happy with how they came out.

And also being in places we shouldn’t be in to get some of these shots, it wasn’t the safest filmmaking practice that my crew and I were under. Had our car’s engine running in case we had to run.

Since I was also enrolled in a full-time bachelor’s program, I sacrificed a lot of sleep during this time. It was a constant hustle, and I did a lot of unpaid work. Initially, no one took us seriously because we were young and our major wasn’t anything remotely close to film. It took time and significant effort to change that perception.

It feels great to finally learn the right methods while prioritizing everyone’s safety above all else, and still capturing the shots I want and more.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a filmmaker who loves to direct and shoot. My style leans towards chaos, action and endings that leave the audience questioning everything they just watched. I love crafting visuals that feel cinematic and immersive. I like to blend genres like thriller, action, and fantasy with drama. I love building tension and finding the beauty in chaos.

I’m most proud of staying true to my artistic voice, whether it was making action shorts with an iPhone 4 or producing more ambitious indie projects. I’ve always pushed to have eye candy or something visually striking in my work.

What sets me apart is that, in retrospect, I’ve been making these wild action scenes with stunts and just anything crazy in front of the camera as a kid. I didn’t realise it then, but that obsession with movement, high octane and impactful in-camera energy subconsciously shaped my cinematic mindset. So now, even while working with grounded, emotionally intense projects, my mind wavers to see how I can elevate this cinematically through composition, blocking and rhythm.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I’d love to direct and/or shoot. Especially projects that push boundaries in story and visuals. I’m always drawn to bold, bizarre or mind-bending concepts. I believe in the idea of “every frame a painting”. If you’re building something with vision and heart, I’d love to collaborate. Also, throw in some action, let’s make it exciting 🙂

Please feel free to reach out to my Instagram handle @lltprsd
or
My email: [email protected]

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lltprsd?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@lalitprasad8483?si=ix7WvZATRH9ZuLvY
• Other: https://youtu.be/UDi41n4POpY?si=XYLPzbAUHY4H2xsl

Image Credits
Lalit Prasad