South Asian filmmakers 'have so many stories to tell'

Amar Singh Sethi is a filmmaker who has always been passionate about movies. As a child, he would secretly take money from his parents to buy films, hiding them under his bed because he loved watching them so much. Now, Amar has turned his passion into a career. His first film, Bus Driver, has been shown at film festivals around the world. The movie tells the story of a man who finds himself in the middle of a terrorist stand-off on a London bus. Through this story, Amar explores the idea of unconscious bias, showing how people can judge others without even realizing it, especially after tragic events. Amar believes that South Asian filmmakers have many stories to share and that there are still many genres and ideas that have not been explored. He worked with a team of filmmakers from Berkshire, including associate producers and a music composer, to bring Bus Driver to life. Before making this film, Amar gained experience by directing music videos for his band, studying acting, attending the National Film and Television School, and editing TV programs. He says that all these experiences helped him develop the skills needed to be a director. The inspiration for Bus Driver came from Amar's thoughts about how British Asians were treated differently after terrorist attacks in London. He wanted to explore the prejudices that people might have, even if they do not realize it. In the film, viewers are put in a position where they have to figure out what is really happening on the bus, making them question their own assumptions. Filming Bus Driver was challenging. The scenes were shot on a real bus during the hottest day of the year, with 20 people plus extras packed inside. Despite the difficulties, Amar says the hard work was worth it.

Amar's love for movies started with Indian films, and he was inspired by famous actors like Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan. He also remembers being amazed the first time he watched The Godfather, calling it a phenomenal piece of filmmaking. Amar feels that there are many stories about South Asians that have not yet been told, especially considering the history of immigration in the UK. He wants to explore different genres and ideas, showing the world the variety of experiences within the South Asian community. After Bus Driver, Amar made a second short film called Sweaty Hands, which is now being shown at festivals. He is also finishing his third short film and has completed the first draft of his first feature-length movie. This new film will tackle some difficult topics within the South Asian community, such as greed, prostitution, and immigration. Amar says he wants to reveal some hard truths, even if it means facing criticism.

For aspiring filmmakers, Amar offers some advice. He says it is important to build a strong network and surround yourself with the right people. He encourages new filmmakers to ignore those who doubt them and to take practical steps to start making their films, whether that means picking up a camera or beginning to write a script. Amar's film Bus Driver is available to watch on Apple TV and Prime. He hopes that his work will inspire other South Asian filmmakers to share their own stories and that audiences will be open to seeing new perspectives on screen. Amar believes that the world is ready for more diverse stories and that South Asian filmmakers have a lot to offer. He is excited to continue making films and to see what stories others will tell in the future.