Recalibration

Please introduce yourself.
Hi, I’m Sadat. I’m a filmmaker, DJ, band member, and a human being I guess.

Wow, you wear a lot of hats! How did you get into all these creative endeavours?
Film was really what started it all for me. I spent about 15 years doing videography and video editing, and through that, I developed a strong interest in music. That eventually led me to become a DJ. Once I stepped into the music world, things evolved—I ended up joining a band, and that opened up a whole new chapter for me creatively.

Interesting! Were you formally trained in film?
Yeah, I did go to school for it. It started off as a passion and just grew from there. It was the same with DJing—it began with me watching YouTube videos to learn how to use the gear, and with some discipline and patience, I eventually figured things out.

What kind of film projects do you usually work on?
Right now, I’m working as a freelance filmmaker, and that’s taken me down a few different paths. On one side, I do more corporate-focused work, and on the other, I’m involved in projects tied to the music scene. So the videos I create generally fall into these two categories.

How has it been for you working as a freelance creative today?
I think I’m still learning as I go, especially when it comes to understanding what people are really looking for in terms of professionalism and work. But it’s been a valuable learning curve, especially with the reality of not having a fixed salary at the end of the month. You really have to put in the effort to cover your dues and stay afloat. So yeah, I’m still figuring it out, but that’s all part of the process.

What were you doing before you started freelancing?
I was working at an in-house production company where most of the work was corporate. After a while, it started to feel a bit draining—more like a chore than something I enjoyed. So I decided to step away and take some time to recalibrate earlier this year.

That’s pretty recent! How did you feel when you started on this new journey?
It was definitely anxiety-driven at the start. But over time, with support from friends and the people around me, I gradually built up confidence and learned to manage it. it’s been a really positive journey on my end. It’s been good!

With you having this studio space, it seems like everyone’s here to support each other. It’s such a nice community to have.
It’s been really nice that we can learn from each other along the way. Helping one another has always been a big part of what we do. Having that kind of support and strength around really pushes us forward.

On the topic of creative spaces, what are your thoughts on the recent closure of The Projector?
Coming to terms with the reality of it is tough. It’s devastating to see a space like The Projector, which has been around for nearly nine years, shut down so suddenly. But there’s a lot we can take away from it—the memories, the creativity, and the energy that came from that place. As much as I hate to see it go, I think it also reminds us to appreciate what we have while it lasts. So yeah, looking back, it’s definitely sad, but I’m also hopeful about what’s to come.

And what do you hope is to come?
I think to have an avenue for creatives to actually just showcase their work in a non-competitive state—a space for sharing creative ideas.

Amen to that! Last question, what’s one lesson that you’ve learnt this year?
Wow, that’s a good question! To be patient, and to use your energy wisely and not just do things for the sake of it. And also to just pull through. I think all of us need to find our own way to move forward, and that’s where our focus should be—setting that goal and working towards it.