FILMMAKERS TO KNOW: REAA PURI
REAA PURI
Reaa Puri is a filmmaker and co-founder of Breaktide Productions, a film production company owned and operated by women of color. They work to center underrepresented voices and decolonize the filmmaking industry. After giving her first TED talk and working on a major campaign with Nike, Reaa is building an impactful platform for her incredible work. Reaa grew up between Mumbai, Delhi, Kuwait, and California. She is of Sikh and Kashmiri descent.
SHEER: Tell us a little bit about yourself and where you're from.
REAA PURI: I grew up between Mumbai, Delhi, Kuwait, and Berkeley, California. I have Kashmiri-Sikh roots. My cultural background is an amalgamation of the various cities I grew up in. In my professional life, I am a filmmaker and co-founder of Breaktide Productions, a film production company owned and operated by women of color. We work to decolonize filmmaking and elevate underrepresented voices behind the scenes and in front of the camera. My partners and I are currently developing six original projects that include quite a range of work, from doc-series to documentary and narrative feature length films. We also partner with mission-aligned clients to produce national digital campaigns. When I’m not on set, you might find me reading tarot cards or sharpening up my Spanish skills. Meditation, cooking plant-based food, turning off electronics, reading, and travel bring my heart lots of joy!
SHEER: At what point did you realize cinematography was a passion of yours and a craft you wanted to pursue?
RP: My interest in filmmaking stemmed from my passion in the work of creating change. Growing up, I experimented with everything from singing in a band to painting, poetry, and photography. I was drawn to the camera through my love for taking pictures. There is something special and captivating about the visual image. It is visceral and has moved me to the point of tears, laughter, and even action. In college, it was exclusively cis-gendered white men who were tasked with the role of cinematographer, and initially I was motivated to learn cinematography so that I could control the means of my own productions -- quite literally. I also wanted to prove to myself that I could hold a heavy piece of gear and capture a visual moment with clarity, beauty, and precision. Once I felt confident in my shooting skills, I started producing, directing, and even writing. At the end of the day, the technical skills are not the end-goal for me, rather a means to an end. My end goal is about investing in and contributing to a world that is rooted in principles of justice, love, and integrity. My work as a filmmaker allows me to dream and act towards these possibilities.
SHEER: In what ways do you believe your culture and upbringing influence your work?
RP: As a creative, I fundamentally don’t believe in the existence of an objective lens. Journalistic practices assume and impose an illusion of objectivity and neutrality, when in fact filmmaking emerged out of colonial practices. My identity as a queer woman who grew up between three very different countries has afforded me the privilege to relate to communities across languages, customs, and point of views. It has allowed me to listen closely, to ask questions, to keep an open mind. It has also taught me to be honest about my values; to embrace change and find comfort and home in foreign spaces. As a child, I often felt heartbroken about moving schools and cities every 3 years, but now I cherish my upbringing more than anything else in the world. I embrace my culture when I navigate professional and personal relationships, and I see this as a decolonizing act.
SHEER: How do you approach picking the subjects and themes of your work?
RP: My work is centered on themes of power, trauma, and belonging. My previous work has explored this through reclaiming stories of sexual and gender-based violence. In my documentary work, I intentionally create a collaborative and personal storytelling practice with my characters. While I am experimental with my medium and style of work, I am specific about my process. I prioritize developing an authentic and transparent relationship with my characters first, which allows the real story to emerge out of those bonds.
SHEER: How did the idea for Breaktide Productions come about and how did you connect with your co-founders?
RP: Jalena and I met at Berkeley High school of all places. We reconnected after college and we crossed paths with Alex at a film networking event. We had great synergy and very similar values, so the connection was instantaneous. We were all in a place in our freelance careers where we longed for a sustainable film practice. We didn’t have existing institutions to look to that we felt would provide us immediate support, and as young women of color entering the film industry, we wanted to create a space that centered our voices rather than included us in a space as an afterthought. In other words, instead of waiting for a seat, we wanted to build our own table! We decided to pool in our resources together. Breaktide has allowed us to reimagine and co-create our collective future as filmmakers.
SHEER: Which project for Breaktide Productions were you most excited to work on and why?
RP: Nike’s 2019 national Black History Month campaign was a really exciting project for us. We profiled four youth leaders and athletes across the country doing creative and social-justice oriented work in their respective cities. This series launched Nike’s “Until We All Win” program which enables youth leaders in different communities to be nominated for a mentoring program that creates avenues for their leadership to flourish. We were excited about executing a nation-wide project and working with a large crew, and of course the youth leaders in our videos were a joy to get to know. After the project wrapped, Jalena, Alex, and I were over the moon with the positive feedback we received from our crew and client alike. For a majority of the people who worked with us, it was their first time working under the leadership of women of color across departments. Many of them reflected that it was their most enjoyable film set to work on. We were excited that, not only did we execute a great project, but we were able to build community along the way.
SHEER: What do you envision for the future of Breaktide Productions?
RP: We see ourselves becoming an organization that people come to with critical issues. We want to be the production house that creates tangible impact and changes material realities for and with marginalized people through our media. We know how to tell stories in ways that inspire people to the point of action. We believe that it is possible to create great work while treating people well along the way. The future for Breaktide is decolonized and radical. It is rooted in abundance, community, and action.
SHEER: What advice would you give our fellow creative women of color aspiring to decolonize and revolutionize the film industry?
RP: Band together! Don’t let capitalism limit your beliefs of what success can or should look like. We must collectivize, support, and invest in one another. We must remind ourselves that our liberations are intertwined. We must take care of each other. Other notes: Take breaks away from technology. Prioritize rest. Carve out time for exploration. Remember to vote. And read adrienne marie brown’s books!