The Most Rewarding Part of This Journey

 

What I Enjoyed the Most

After months of planning, shooting, and editing Shaam, I’ve had plenty of moments of stress, frustration, and self-doubt. But through it all, there were also moments that reminded me exactly why I love filmmaking. Looking back, here are the parts of this journey that made it all worth it.

1. Seeing My Vision Come to Life

When I first imagined Shaam, it was just a rough idea. A few images in my head, a vague mood, a concept I wasn’t sure I could execute. Watching it transform from words on a script to actual scenes on screen was surreal. The moment I saw the first sequence fully edited with sound and color grading, I realized: I made this. That feeling is something I’ll never forget.

2. Directing My Friends and Watching Them Become Their Characters

Working with my friends as actors was one of the best parts of this process. Since they weren’t professionals, I wasn’t sure how they would bring the characters to life, but seeing them get into their roles, understand the emotions, and even improvise moments that made scenes feel more natural was amazing. It was rewarding to guide them through their performances and see the raw emotion they brought to the screen.

3. Filming the Most Visually Striking Shots

There were certain shots especially the ones with the goat’s head and the shadowy figure where I felt like everything just clicked. The framing, the lighting, the movement- it all worked exactly how I imagined. Those were the moments where I felt like a real filmmaker, capturing something that would leave an impact on the audience.

4. The Collaborative Energy on Set

Even though our budget was tight and we didn’t have a huge crew, the energy on set was something special. From figuring out creative solutions to last-minute problems to having those moments of excitement when a scene turned out perfectly, the whole experience felt like a team effort. There was a shared sense of determination and excitement, which made even the hardest days fun thanks to all my friends there. 

5. Hearing People’s Reactions

One of the most rewarding moments was showing Shaam to an audience and hearing their thoughts. Some people understood the symbolism in ways I hadn’t expected, while others connected deeply with the emotions. Seeing people react, analyze, and engage with something I created made me realize how powerful storytelling can be. I wasn't sure people would understand the concept of the film but it surprised me when they did. 

6. Pushing Myself Out of My Comfort Zone

There were so many moments where I wasn’t sure if I could pull this off whether it was directing, handling technical challenges, or making tough editing decisions. But pushing through those challenges made me realize how much I love this process. Every obstacle was an opportunity to grow, and by the end of it, I felt more confident in my ability to tell stories through film.

Final Thoughts

The most rewarding part of this journey wasn’t just finishing Shaam. It was everything that happened along the way. The little moments of creativity, the excitement of seeing things come together, and the realization that I made something meaningful. No matter how many films I make in the future, Shaam will always be special because it was my first real step into filmmaking.

Wouldn’t change that for anything. 💫