Today we’d like to introduce you to Hrisheek Panchmatia.
Hi Hrisheek, 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?
I was born and raised in Hong Kong and was studying Economics and Finance at The University of Hong Kong. Around graduation time, I started feeling a sense of anxiety that this might not be the type of career that I want to pursue. I have always been passionate about Entertainment, I just never knew what was the best way to pursue it, being from Hong Kong it is something that just always felt unattainable. So I decided that I would go to Los Angeles and explore what opportunities there were in Entertainment. I started off with acting and realized that it was not for me. The owner of the school took the time to walk me through and teach me about the various components that go into making a movie. It was through this that I realized the area that I could excel in the most was production and I immediately started taking courses in this and immersing myself into the world of it.
I started gaining practical experience at production companies; learning how to get a film distributed and then eventually in pre-production and the actual filming process as well. I realized that I was truly passionate about this field and made the decision not to turn back. One of my closest friends is an actor and I would always try to help him with script breakdowns and advice so when he got cast in two films last year including Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci he asked me to go along with him. Last summer, I also got to work in production on the film Get Lost which was an incredible experience. It went so well that a few months later in Los Angeles, the production company reached back out to me and asked me to work with them on post-production as well. I am set to Executive Produce a romantic/comedy in Atlanta called Hometown Hollywood this summer and I am producing a television series based on New York Times Bestselling Novel Relentless. Additionally, alongside my producing partners, I am developing a film with an Academy Award-nominated writer attached. The project is very much under wraps at the moment, but if all goes smoothly, we will be shooting not too far from Hong Kong early next year.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely been a roller coaster! It is such an unpredictable industry that you never know what challenges or opportunities are right around the corner. COVID-19 was definitely a huge challenge as a lot of projects were put on hold for almost a year, a good portion of which ended up being canceled. At that time I did not know if it would be viable for me to stay and continue pursuing a career in Entertainment. I was still enrolled in classes at that time and took the chance that by the time my classes were over the situation would be resolved. Obviously, I was wrong and COVID-19 is still very much affecting us today, but a lot of productions found a way to work through it, which is why I am glad that I stuck it out with Entertainment. Going from project to project is definitely a lot of fun and offers a lot of flexibility but there is a sense of anxiety that comes at the end of each project when you have to think about what is next for you. But I have begun to understand that this is simply part of the process and to go with it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a Producer specializing in the Film and TV space. A lot of my work has involved breaking down scripts and organizing a schedule for the shoot and making sure that the day-to-day set operations and run smoothly so that the production does not go over budget, not worse not get the footage that they need. Additionally, I work a lot with talent which is something that differentiates me from others. One of the actors that I work with, Edouard Philipponnat, is also my closest friend so I am extremely proud about how much he has grown as an actor and about how much we have achieved together and the path that he is now on. He was most recently in Sir Ridley Scott’s Napoleon and I am really excited to see where he goes next.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was always very passionate about the entertainment industry, I loved movies and tv shows and would spend a lot of my free time devouring them. It was really funny cause when I switched careers a lot of people who knew me as a child told me they weren’t surprised at all based on how much stuff I used to watch. I was a more reserved and analytical kid and this is something that I feel like has translated to how I am now and helps me immensely. It helps me evaluate a situation logically and allows me to avoid making impulsive decisions. I find this to be an important advantage in this industry. Other than that I was like any other kid, I loved junk food, rollercoasters and just having fun and spending time with my friends.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10540077/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hrisheek.panchmatia/?hl=en
