Today we’d like to introduce you to Peter Das.
Hi Peter, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Ever since I was four, I was a fan of storytelling, even if they were private stories that I was telling myself and characters who were ultimately only meant for my own enjoyment. In middle school, I actively started writing these down. Playing with LEGOs spurred my creativity, as well as my parents’ long-lasting aversion to cell phones, video games, cable television, and our use of the internet.
But one thing we always did as a family was watch movies and shows, and it was the show Person of Interest which showed me how the television format could be so effectively used–how a procedural crime drama could evolve into a serialized sci-fi epic. I reconsidered so many of the stories I was privately writing, which I now had an eye to share publicly, and realized that the stories I’ve been telling have been television shows.
If I suspected this then I confirmed it in my very first class at DePaul University: Intro to Television. My professor Jose Soto was passionate about the medium, particularly as it has evolved over the past few decades, and after some long discussions about Star Trek and sci-fi, I was blessed to have him as my advisor. Throughout college, I have continued to develop my voice, and while I am still getting my footing in Los Angeles and the industry, I am excited about the stories I can now tell.
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?
The road hasn’t been smooth, no. For one thing, it’s very easy to get distracted with socializing or social media. Easy as well to start questioning if all the effort I’m putting in will pay off in the way I pray it will or if I’m doing so much work for something that won’t ever happen. Chasing an imaginary carrot is hard. As many roads lie open before me, I know the game is designed to divert those who aren’t entirely committed.
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?
So much of the reason I am drawn to storytelling is the opportunity to convey ideas. Ideas enamor me, and information is so fascinating. There are very few subjects that won’t interest me in some way. And the chance to share ideas I love is priceless. You can learn things, say about the deep sea or quantum physics or the culture of chivalry or Second Temple Judaism that very few people know about, but which completely flip subjects people take for granted… such as life on our planet, the idea of the multiverse, modern romance, and western religion.
One writer I truly admire is Michael Crichton for the way he fused scientific, historical, and philosophical subjects that fascinated him with gripping thriller plots, resulting in titles like Jurassic Park and Westworld. In an age of such derivative concepts, there is so much untapped potential that begs to be explored. Why are we pretending we’ve run out of good subjects?
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love the culture. There’s honestly something for everyone, no matter your background. I’m still pretty new to the city, so I’m still discovering so many gems and hidden locations to hopefully share with others in time. Everyone I meet is so different, and it’s very difficult to pin down a Los Angeles “type.”
In terms of dislikes, it’s a pretty common answer, but definitely transportation. After living in Chicago for four years and not having a car down there, it was jarring moving here and having to pick it back up again. And drivers can be pretty crazy. I wish LA had major train hubs in each major neighborhood with major express lines zipping between them and then minor train lines branching off of those for more specific areas. As modern cities go, our metro system is sorely lacking.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/peterdas_?igshid=ZGUzMzM3NWJiOQ==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100014471860512
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-das-477294192/
Image Credits
Gary McMillan Masterpiece Productions
