The Journey That Changed My Life as a Documentary Filmmaker
There’s an inherent risk in being an entrepreneur—and even more so in being a documentary filmmaker. Few people pursue filmmaking, especially documentaries, for job security or financial stability. We’re driven by passion, by the desire to tell stories that matter, and by the hope that our work will make a meaningful impact in the world.
A Serendipitous Beginning
After directing my first feature documentary, I found myself craving a new project—something to uplift my spirit and spark fresh inspiration. During a short visit home for the holidays, I casually scrolled through the film section of Cleveland’s Craigslist.
One post caught my eye: “Documentary Videographer Needed This Weekend.”
I hadn’t spent much time back home since leaving at eighteen, but between visiting family and looking for paid work, I figured it couldn’t hurt to take a local film gig. I replied to the email and soon found myself on a call with the director. He invited me to document an event the day after Christmas, centered on a community of Indian doctors in Cleveland.
Having spent a month in India when I was seventeen, the project immediately resonated. The director was a journalist-turned-filmmaker, and the cinematographer a National Geographic photographer exploring video storytelling.
Hooked on the Story
After an evening of filming, I was hooked. I agreed to stay on board—unpaid—for the next few days. We conducted interviews and shot scenes around Cleveland, and I became increasingly inspired by the filmmakers’ drive to pursue such a meaningful story with almost no budget and little documentary experience.
Listening to the retired doctors, many in their seventies and eighties, speak about their 20 years of “Yatras”—10-day medical missions across rural India—moved me deeply. Their passion, discipline, and devotion to service stirred something within me.
The next thing I knew, I was strategizing with my mom about how to buy a ticket to India.
Taking the Leap
Within days, I felt a powerful calling to join their mission. Why not? I had just completed my first feature and was ready for a new adventure. They didn’t have a producer or executive producer—and I saw where I could help.
The very next day, I applied for my visa, got my vaccinations and malaria pills, and prepared for what I sensed would be a defining experience. A family friend even offered extra frequent flyer miles to help me get there.
One week later, on January 11, I boarded a plane to India.
Into the Unknown
As the plane lifted into the sky, excitement, curiosity, and a touch of fear swirled inside me. This was more than just a trip—it was a plunge into the unknown, a deep dive into the essence of risk and reward.
None of this had been planned. From spotting that Craigslist ad to connecting with the director and cinematographer, everything had unfolded by chance. Yet somehow, it all felt meant to be.
Settling into my seat, I reflected on what lay ahead. Documentary filmmaking is not for the faint of heart—it demands creativity, endurance, and a willingness to embrace uncertainty. And here I was, stepping boldly into that uncertainty once again.
The Risk and the Reward
With great risk comes the potential for great reward. I was on the brink of contributing to a meaningful project that could impact countless lives. I was about to immerse myself in a new culture, gain invaluable insights, and evolve as both a filmmaker and a human being.
Yes, there were risks—plenty of them. But the promise of transformation outweighed the fear of the unknown.
As the plane pierced through the clouds and the sun cast its golden glow across the sky, I felt it deep in my bones:
This was the life of an entrepreneur.
This was the life of a documentary filmmaker.
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
