Ryan Westra is a passionate storyteller. He captured undocumented stories of a Sikh genocide. Ryan documented the struggle of indigenous peoples against oil companies in Montana. He followed HIV/AIDS outreach work of an NGO in Mozambique.
Ryan’s latest film, American Sikh is the 6th film he’s worked on about Sikhs, and second film he’s worked on with Vishavjit Singh. Both have worked closely for almost 4 years to craft the origin story of American Sikh. The film premieres at Tribeca.
indieactivity: Tell us, how did you get into directing? How would you describe your style?
Ryan Westra (RW): I’ve been making films since I was in elementary school. I’m excited by the power and potential that film, and especially documentary film, has to educate and create empathy. In a world where we can never truly live through another person’s perspective, I hope to direct films that make people care about and understand each other more deeply.
I also aim to work on films that are unique – this particular film will mark the first time ever that a film featuring an American Sikh story is premiered at a major festival.
The Official Trailer for American Sikh
Do you hire a casting director, or cast yourself? If so, what criteria go into your casting?
Ryan Westra (RW): This is an animated short documentary about the life and work of Vishavjit Singh. I also co-directed the film with him. He voices his own story in the film and is the only talent.
Without giving anything away, tell us a little bit about the script, how did you come up with the idea?
Ryan Westra (RW): I worked with VIshavjit in 2014 to make a live-action documentary about his work as Sikh Captain America. While shooting that film on streets of New York City, I was surprised and shocked to see how differently he was treated while dressed in uniform vs. in his normal clothes.
Ever since that experience, I’ve felt that his story needed to be told on a deeper level. So we stayed in touch and in 2019 I reached out to him again about making an animated short documentary.
Who is American Sikh for? Who do you think would enjoy it the most?
Ryan Westra (RW): The film is for the vast majority of Americans who know little to nothing about Sikhs and Sikhism. Lack of positive representation has been a massive issue for Sikhs in America and I hope this film is a step towards addressing that issue.
We feel that the film is a compelling and entertaining way for people to learn about Sikhism, the issues that American Sikhs have faced after 9/11, as well as more broadly the power that imagery has on our perceptions.
How long did it take to shoot the entire film?
Ryan Westra (RW): Vishavjit and I have been working on this film for 4 years, but the actual animation production lasted about one year.
The film had a lot of talent working behind the scenes as DPs, sound designers, composers, etc. Why is diversity important both in front of and behind the camera?
Ryan Westra (RW): Vishavjit and I feel that having a diverse team in production will help us reach a diverse audience.
What are your goals with American Sikh?
Ryan Westra (RW): As I mentioned before, lack of positive representation has been a huge issue for the Sikh community in the US. According to FBI statistics, Sikhs have consistently been among the most likely demographic to be targets of hate crime, especially since the attacks of 9/11.
Although Sikhs have made immense progress in public-facing jobs, there is still so much work to be done. It’s important to fight for more accurate, prominent and positive representation in the media and in doing so create a more poignant, relatable and expansive space for Sikhs in the world.
What’s next for you? What are you working on right now?
Ryan Westra (RW): Vishavjit and I are interested in working together on another film featuring a Sikh lead character. We feel there’s more to explore and still a great need for more Sikh representation in the American media. Stay tuned!
What would you recommend to a new director at the beginning of his/ her journey? Any special courses, workshops, helpful books they can read?
Ryan Westra (RW): Make films that no one else is making. And don’t wait for funding, make it now and make it cheap if you have to.
Who is your favorite director? Why?
Ryan Westra (RW): My favorite directors are close friends who I’ve looked up to for years. Ben Mullinkosson, Bobby Moser and Drew Heskett, to name a few. They all have an incredible ability to tell real stories in ways that are unique to their own viewpoints.
What advice would you give directors around the world?
Ryan Westra (RW): Filmmaking is a collaborative medium. Make friends you can trust to guide your vision. Secondly, work on projects that seem likely to fail. If someone tells you can’t do it, you’re onto something.
Tell us what you think of the interview with Ryan Westra. What do you think of it? What ideas did you get? Do you have any suggestions? Or did it help you? Let’s have your comments below and/or on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
Socials
Website
IMDb
Facebook
LinkedIn
Twitter
Instagram
FILMMAKER INTERVIEWS
