Resurgence
The survival story of a professional canyoneer after a near-death accident in the canyons of Southern Utah.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer/Editor Krushan Naik
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Hearing the story for the first time made me reflect on all the events that occurred and simultaneously took place in my life as an international student back then. After moving to the States in 2019 and navigating life in a foreign land, the massive wave of socio-political turmoil and unrest during the worldwide pandemic pushed me to deal with unimaginable uncertainties. From the science vs. politics vs. religious clashes to the Black Lives Matter movement and the racial tension around it, all of it put everyday life on the edge, especially as an international student. Then came a shocking regulation (which was thankfully later revoked) for non-immigrant students to leave the country if the universities decided to remain online for the Fall 2020 semester because of the pandemic, which made me rethink my decisions along with the sudden financial instability that led to my abrupt move from Los Angeles to Utah. Like that wasn’t enough, another series of unexpected circumstances gushed at me like a whirlwind. It felt like every aspect of my life started to fall apart one by one, with an unanticipated heartbreak. Next, the people’s response to the Presidential Elections and the attack on the Capitol added to the uncertainty of the future of “aliens” (Not a fan of that word) like me in the States. All of it had driven me to a space of complete uncertainty that felt like a dark abyss from which I never saw myself resurging. All my plans had backfired, dreams were shattering, the future had never looked so uncertain, and every day was a new challenge in an alien world buried under snow for weeks and weeks. Isolation, depression, anxiety, helplessness, and fear put me through an existential crisis.
But I persisted and resurged! Somewhere around that time, I even came up with a quote, “There is no story without suffering.” A friend of mine even printed that and gifted it to me in a frame to keep myself motivated, not give up, and keep hustling. So, when the time came to make a film, I decided to make Resurgence because it had the perfect arc that shows how to rise back from your ashes, no matter how hard life hits you. Just like a phoenix rising from its ashes with a hopeful, optimistic, and cheerful ending! I want to continue with a similar approach in all my future projects.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
You should watch Resurgence because it will leave you feeling inspired, uplifted and motivated. You will have a sense that life is beautiful and worth fighting for, and to rise from your ashes no matter how hard life gets.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
In my opinion, as sentient beings, we can feel certain universal life elements like love, pain, suffering, passion, isolation, kindness, empathy, and so on, at varying lengths based on our experiences and circumstances. Inevitably, their effects are felt deep within, maybe at varying intensity, but indeed felt by the soul because we all emanate from the same tenets of the universe. They transcend all age, race, caste, nation, and cultural boundaries. They are non-sectarian! And the focus of my work is to explore such aspects of life.
Additionally, in our lives, we periodically cross paths with individuals who have no connection or relation with us. We are only aware of their existence after the point of our first encounter. But it is shocking to see how parallel our life situations are when encountering them. If not entirely, a particular aspect of one’s life matches the other. Different traditions have different names: Parallel souls, kindred spirits, twin flame encounters, and so on. And, Resurgence revolves around similar grounds. It is a survival story of a professional canyoneer after a near-death accident in the canyons of Southern Utah, but it is relatable to anyone who must have experienced any trauma in their life.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Another significant motivation for making this film came from normalizing mental health and emotional conversations among men. Since childhood, men have been raised with the idea that talking about emotions is a synonym for expressing weakness, and they should refrain from it by becoming tougher. However, I am exceptionally emotional and like talking about my sentiments because it is comforting and healthy for my mind, body, and soul. I didn't know it at first and had to learn it myself over the years, and I am still learning because it is an unknown territory and a complicated journey, to say the least. Hence, the entire perspective throughout making this film also evolved with time. It expanded from not only talking about Ryan's accident but also his struggles and the kickass resurgence afterwards.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Resurgence has been showcased at more than 30 film festivals, including those that are Academy®, BAFTA, and Canadian Screen-qualified, and has garnered over 16 wins and nominations combined. The feedback has been quite varied. As I mentioned earlier, although the story revolves around a canyoneer, the film's universal theme has resonated with people worldwide. One of the most common feedback I have received from people who have watched the film is that it is inspiring and uplifting. It has managed to strike a chord with anyone who has faced trauma and is looking to recover and rebuild their life.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Not really! If anything, the feedback has inspired me to keep making films.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Sales agents, buyers, distributors, journalists
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Questions about mental health, trauma recovery, resilience, suicide, life, existential crisis, and so on.
Interview: January 2024
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
Resurgence
The survival story of a professional canyoneer after a near-death accident in the canyons of Southern Utah.
Length: 19:00
Director: Krushan Naik
Producer: Danile Junge and Krushan Naik
Writer: Krushan Naik
About the writer, director and producer:
Based in Los Angeles, KRUSHAN NAIK is an award-winning filmmaker, educator, editor, and producer who has also served as the Head of Programming and a judge for film festivals; taught film production and post-production; worked as a Festival Specialist consulting filmmakers on film festivals and marketing strategies, and has been featured in various publications, including New York Amsterdam News, Variety, Gig Harbor Now, Film Daily, Digital Journal, and more. In addition, he is an Avid Certified Instructor and a Specialist and enjoys creating immersive audio-visual experiences from hours of footage. Krushan has won multiple awards for his films, including the Telly Award, and has premiered films at prestigious film festivals, including Oscar®/Academy Award®, BAFTA, Canadian Screen Award qualifying, and more. He also has a background in visual effects and 3D animation and was also the successful proprietor of an advertising agency where he collaborated with Bollywood celebrities and top artists in the film and fashion industries from his time in India.
DANIEL JUNGE is an Oscar-winning (two-time nominated) and Emmy-winning (six-time nominated) documentary filmmaker. His films include Oscar-winner Saving Faces, Sundance-premiere Being Evel, Toronto-premiere Iron Ladies of Liberia, Netflix-broadcast Fight Church, Tribeca-premiere A Lego Brickumentary, Tribeca-winner Chiefs, Oscar-nominee The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Garden, and Oscar-short-listed They Killed Sister Dorothy. Junge also served as showrunner and director on the AMC series Secret History of Comics and, most recently, the Emmy-nominated Challenger: The Final Flight for Netflix.
Looking for: sales agents, distributors, journalists, buyers
Facebook: Krushan Naik
Instagram: @krushanaik
Hashtags used: #krushanaikfilms #krushanaik #resurgence
Website: www.krushanaik.film/resurgence
Other: IMDb
Funders: Self-funded
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
Borrego Springs Film Festival
Borrego Springs, California
Saturday, 01/13/2024, Block H 4:00 p.m.