We’re always excited about new artists when it comes to interviews. There are so many artists that have mesmerizing bodies of work, but there is only so much time to interview each person. We select the artists and professionals who are changing the game and raising the bar for those who want to pursue the industry. This time around, we are thrilled to speak to Sachin Ravindran. Sachin is a multi-disciplinary Media Professional. He is currently based in Edison, New Jersey while organizing and collaborating with artists at many other cities in the world. Sachin has been a top professional in the media industry for more than eighteen years.
NY Art Life: Thank you so much for sitting down with us for this interview. We cannot wait to speak to you about the stories you’ve developed.
Sachin Ravindran: Thank you, it is my pleasure to speak with you!
NY Art Life: You’re a multi-disciplinary media professional focusing mainly on postproduction. Which areas are your favorite among all the different things a person can do in that field?
Sachin Ravindran: All of it is amazing. I think once the story has been recorded and the important moments have been captured, it’s beautiful to sit down and work with elements that will enhance the audience’s experience of watching the story. I’m currently the creative head at a company I co-founded called Streaming Pixels Media. I help a lot of different channels produce shows and documentaries with my entire team. I think coming up with ideas and then helping people develop them is my favorite now, but there was a time when camera work was definitely my preference.
NY Art Life: You have an impressive background in video journalism, I believe the time you’re referring to is when you worked closely with the first team that launched Times Group’s Business Channel “ET Now.” Is that correct? What were some unforgettable experiences?
Sachin Ravindran: Yes, definitely! You know it well. I was sent off to work on different assignments and the settings were very interesting. I remember going to corporate houses and covering general budget and board room meetings of leading corporate houses in India. There are many stories that are essential to understanding finance and other aspects of society that unfolded in those rooms through the content I witnessed and captured. But I also loved talking to people of drastically different backgrounds and interests. It really expanded my understanding of the world and even impacted my vision for the stories I wanted to tell.
NY Art Life: That is truly beautiful. When you say camera work, it makes me think of your collaborations with NDTV, MMTV, and Sun TV networks. How did your work differ in those companies? Also, what were some of the most difficult moments for you during your work?
Sachin Ravindran: Oh, those were great experiences. All of them have a special place in my heart. I handled the cameras and shot content for all of those companies, but I also became involved in making decisions at the pre-production stages which were quite different from what I normally do. Many of the documentaries I was working on were heartfelt and they impacted me emotionally. Some of the most difficult moments would be when I was at sites of important incidents and events that were quite dangerous, such as the Aarushi Murder case, the BMW hit-and-run case, and many other murder cases. These were stories that people really watched closely.
NY Art Life: It’s so impressive. You’ve worked on so many important projects close to home and far away. How far have you traveled for work and how did that feel?
Sachin Ravindran: Yes, I’ve always been a nomad. I love it though. I love following stories and going to places for developing a shoot. I remember handling Srinagar Muzaffarabad bus service from the Indian Side and travelled to Kashmir to also work on related stories there as well. Some of these events were risky, and I traveled a far distance to capture those moments. Some were from events such as Panipat Train Blasts, and Nandigram issue (in Nandigram West), Delhi’s doctor’s strike. I also shot content such as the Mirae asset international media conclave, which was held at Seoul, South Korea as well as Hong Kong. This was when I was working for NDTV, and I was working exclusively with cameras. I also shot a special feature on the development and functioning of the automobile industry in the Netherlands as part of his projects at ET Now
NY Art Life: That’s intriguing. I’ve seen that you’ve worked with Nike and other great companies. What were some of your favorite independent projects and assignments?
Sachin Ravindran: That’s correct, Nike was a very special project. It’s always great to work on projects that mean something to us, which is something I truly believe in. As for favorites, it’s really tough to pick one. I usually think of all the work I’ve done collectively rather than as one thing.
NY Art Life: What’s one great piece of advice you were given?
Sachin Ravindran: To always believe in my vision. I think a significant part of storytelling is having a picture in your head of how the story will be experienced, and so a great amount of the way I work depends on that vision. I usually build on that image and that narrative with the tools I have and then venture on that journey trusting my perspective. I think it works for everyone too, as each person individually has something unique to offer. Finally, some more practical advice. Work hard and continually updates on new technologies. I constantly update and specialize myself in the use of equipment such as Steadicam, Jimmy Jib, and Drones. Only if you have expert knowledge of equipment and technologies are you able to control your work.
Sachin Ravindran in action during some filming.
NY Art Life: These are such great pieces of advice! and we love to hear that success comes with hard work. Hard work is always an indispensable ingredient. Shall we end on those notes?
Sachin Ravindran: Sounds great!
NY Art Life: Thank you very much also on behalf of our readers.
