One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival is having a front-row seat for the bright future of independent filmmaking. While we can learn a lot about the filmmakers from the 2023 Sundance Film Festival through the art that these storytellers share with us, there’s always more we can learn about them as people. This year, we decided to get to the bottom of those artistic wells with our Backstory questionnaire!
“Shooting a 400-page script can be daunting in the best of circumstances,” admits Richie Mehta, creator of the limited series Poacher. “It’s a marathon in which the finish line keeps receding.” And that wasn’t the only big challenge he faced. Telling a story about wildlife crime fighters chasing down the biggest ivory poaching ring in India’s history meant venturing into the jungle for months “and learning to deal with the deadly surroundings as respectfully as possible, without incurring any casualties.”
But the risks were worth it so that Mehta could bring awareness to a dangerous and destructive illegal practice that still exists today. “I want this series to reach everyone who has access to a television!” he says. But most importantly, he wants to reach “the people who callously order wildlife contraband, without realizing the implications and heartbreaking destruction that their orders wreak. And those who don’t think twice about the subject.”
Below, discover how Mehta got into filmmaking, the key quality he strives for to be a better storyteller, and why Poacher is a must-see right now.
What was the biggest inspiration behind this series?
Meeting the real wildlife crime fighters in India — people who are risking their lives to avert (or delay) extinction.
What do you want the artistic legacy of this series to say?
I want this series to illustrate the courage of people who will give everything up to protect our future, shed light on the complex relationship we have with all other species on Earth, and inspire others to see how dazzling our (disappearing) wildlife world is.
Why does this story need to be told now?
Because if we delay, there won’t be any elephants left to tell stories about.
How do you want people to feel after they watch your series?
I want people to feel an array of emotions — joy, sorrow, confusion, hope, elation, and anger. In short, everything I felt while researching this series.
Tell us an anecdote about casting or working with your actors.
We performed extensive searches for all actors within Kerala, India, which was an industry I was unfamiliar with. But with the leads we have — Nimisha Sajayan, Roshan Mathew, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, and many others — I have never experienced working with actors who themselves were so close — in behavior, personality, mannerisms — to the real subjects they portrayed. This is not to say they didn’t give the performances of their lives. I believe they all have. But while I worked with them, I trusted their decision-making process so completely, because I could see in them the embodiment of truth. It’s an experience that’s difficult to describe, but I believe translates onto the screen.
Tell us why and how you got into filmmaking. Why do you do it?
I do it because films have changed me in the past, so I have this naïve belief that perhaps I can change others through the benefit of some of the life experience I’m accruing. Films also seem to be the most emotionally penetrative communication medium we have.
Why is filmmaking important to you? Why is it important to the world?
It allows us to organize thoughts, feelings, ideas, and experiences into patterns that are easier to digest.
If you weren’t a filmmaker, what would you be doing?
International relations or minor league baseball
What is something that all filmmakers should keep in mind in order to be better cinematic storytellers?
Humility
What three things do you always have in your refrigerator?
Seasonal fruits, coconut yogurt, hot sauce
What’s the last book you read?
A Passage to India by E.M. Forster
One thing people don’t know about me is ______.
I love baseball and softball!
Early bird or night owl?
Early bird
What’s your history with Sundance Institute?
I played my previous series Delhi Crime at the Festival in 2019.
What’s your favorite film that has come from the Sundance Institute or Festival?
Man on Wire
