Please introduce yourself. What do you do? Why? What do you want people to know about you?
I’m an Independent Filmmaker, Screenwriter and Content Creator from West Bengal, India. Growing up watching Hollywood blockbusters like Jurassic park, ET, Back to the future, Star Wars it was always my dream to become a filmmaker. But growing up in an Indian lower middle class family it wasn’t easy. I dreamt about Hollywood. My friends used to laugh at dream. They used to mock me for having a huge dream. I’ve started making short films at the age of 13. Steven Spielberg was a huge inspiration for me. But suddenly when I grew up my family wanted me to do engineering because they also believed that my Hollywood dream wasn’t valid. But I kept following my passion even in my college days. I used my bunk my classes to make movies, to make new contacts in Hollywood. Suddenly, my short films grabbed the attention of some Industry Experts. Time flies. Back then it was my dream to go to Hollywood. Now, I’m bringing entire Hollywood on my own live show which is called “Late Night Show with Alavi” where Hollywood A-listers join and share their inspiring journey. Till now many A-listers such as Avengers Endgame actress Lexi Rabe, Back to the future actor Jeffrey Weissman, Marvel Studios Moon-Knight Writer-Producer Peter Cameron, Director of Disney’s Black Beauty Ashley Avis, Oscar nominated Make-Up Artist Donald Mowat, Star Wars Set Decorator Roger Christian, Narnia and The Martian music composer Harry Gregson-Williams, Director of Wrong Turn Rob Schmidt, Cobra Kai Editor Zack Arnold and many more joined my show. I also got an offer to write a feature film for a reputed Filmmaker of Hollywood. Although I can’t reveal it right now. It was a really tough journey.
What qualities make you different and unique from everyone else in the industry?
It’s no doubt my burning desire. I didn’t give up. I believed in my dream, no matter how big it is. Also I chose a very different path to get into the industry. There was a time i didn’t have connection. So, i decided to work for a literary agency. Then I made the contacts and left the agency. Right now, I’m working in a collaboration with that agency. I’m really great at convincing people. That quality makes me stand out.
Describe THAT moment when you realized you’re doing what you were born to do.
When I was about to graduate from my engineering college. I saw people are getting jobs but they’re not happy about it. People post stories about Monday blues and boring works. But I was enjoying my work so much. I wait for Mondays instead. During that time I’ve realised that this is all I wanted. And the dream became my destiny. I was born to become a filmmaker. I was born to conquer Hollywood.
What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve had to go through and how did you grow through it?
The biggest challenge was ignoring the negativity around me. Every Classmate, teachers used to mock me , laugh at me because of having a different career choice. Growing up in a small town of India and having a huge dream seems silly. But not for me. Having so much noise around me was literally killing me from inside. But I focused on my dream because if I get success from this, thousand more small town kid will follow their dreams no matter how big they are.
Who are the TOP 3 people you’d want to meet that could elevate your career or business? Â Why these specific individuals?
Steven Spielberg, Shah Rukh Khan and James Cameron. Steven Spielberg was my inspiration throughout my journey. He was a self taught filmmaker just like me. Same goes with James Cameron. I would really want to meet them in person. And i believe I will. And Shah Rukh Khan journey was very relatable. He was also from a lower middle class family and he became world’s biggest movie star.
Drop your social media links.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/junayed-a-444472b6
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/junayed_alavi/