An interview with film artist Chiraag Matthew by David Xie

Chiraag Matthew is a filmmaker who grew up in Surrey, BC, Canada. He creates diverse compositions and has a unique understanding on the impact of films on the world. While inspired by the fictional worlds created by famous filmmakers, Chiraag devotes himself to creating films that showcase real-world circumstances in a fictional setting. In my interview with him, I got an inside look at the perceptions and thought process of a truly fascinating filmmaker.

David Xie: What is your favorite film?

Chiraag: I do not have a favourite film. I have films that motivate me, inspire me, and influence the films I want to make. Legend, directed by Brian Helgeland greatly inspired me to make films as I was fascinated by the way characters could be created and I could dive into a world that I truly believe exists and I can forget my surroundings. I wanted to create this feeling in others and make films. Edgar Wright, a British director, influences the films I want to make, as his talented methodology for transitioning scenes and using sound and its pairing with image creates such engaging compositions that I just want to utilize. Films like Straight Outta Compton, directed by F. Gary Gary, motivates me to make films that may appear as fictional representations of true events, but actually hold a lot of weight in the documentary realm in its ability to reveal the realities of circumstances within communities and people groups. I want to also do that in the future through fictional reenactment and storytelling that relates to the circumstances of the community I grew up in, in Surrey, B.C, Canada. 

While I do not have a favourite film, I do have a favourite actor. Tom Hardy. If I wasn’t fascinated and supportive of all the characters he’s played, I don’t think I would have the passion for film that I have today.

David Xie: Why do you choose to become an artist that focuses on film?

Chiraag: I still find it strange to have to identify myself as an “artist.” I would never associate that definition with myself if I was asked outside of the SFU Fine Arts community. My focus on film derives from my obsession with the creation of new worlds within films. My generation spends hours watching shows on Netflix where they stay engaged with a world someone else has created. That was not only motivating for me to create worlds and stories of my own, but to actually go and try and study film and switch out of the program I was in and into the Bachelor of Fine Arts program at SFU, and major in Film. I don’t regret that decision at all. Of course, there are doubts and worries about the future and the ability to support myself as a filmmaker, and I think those doubts will always be there, but I’ve solidified myself in other fields that I could balance with film to support myself and my family. 

David Xie: What is the work that you are most proud of? Can you show us?

Chiraag: I think that there is a lot of self-criticism and insecurity with being a filmmaker. No matter how much we try and differentiate the art community from other fields, it is still competitive, and I find that I compare myself to the filmmakers around me and I don’t feel like I’m doing enough. I don’t have any particular work that I am proud of, or would share with anyone and label it my work. I can do better, and I will do better, but the work that I am happy with for now, is work that has just been technical challenges for myself. I like to take small ideas, such as “I want to film at night, in a forest, and I want to see how light travels across a subject.” I will go out and film that and I will be happy with the product and keep it in a sort of...mental library. From there, when I have a real film I want to make, I remember that technique and I utilize it. 

David Xie: What is the reason that you choose to become an artist? What triggers you?

Chiraag: Again, calling myself an artist is a strange concept for me. I’d say the realm of art has always been a component in my life at some point or the other. I’ve played the guitar for 11 years, the drums for 12 years. I took Visual Art, Orchestra, Jazz, and Drama as electives in high school. A part of me has always had a connection to creativity. My friends and I were in a band that played Metal, Punk Rock, and Alternative Rock music and we still gather to jam and write on occasion. I’m not sure what originally triggered this for me. Perhaps it all related to film in the end, as I had to have wanted to make music because I had seen rock stars or musicians in movies. The trigger for film came from my desire to tell stories, and has now developed into the desire to tell stories that relate to varying realities all over the world. I was studying Criminology for 2 years before applying for the Film program. I have done martial arts for years, I am obsessed with superheroes and traditionally, being a police officer meant saving lives and that was the direction I wanted to go. That desire still exists within me, but perhaps I can accomplish it with film, as I don’t necessarily agree with the methodology and gang mentality within policing. You’ll have to tune into one of my films in a few years to really hear me dive into that topic.

David Xie: Where do your ideas come from? What are the inspirations for you?

Chiraag: My ideas come from varying aspects of life. I am currently writing a film that's entirely fictional, and honestly just going to be a fun film to make with my friends while not violating Covid-19 restrictions. It can relate to our current circumstance, as I am going to remotely direct the film, but it stems from my inability to make all the other films I want to as they would be near impossible to make without violating the current restrictions in place. My inspirations do come from my own upbringing and my community, but also my outlook on life. I have a strong desire to unify those who oppose each other because of political beliefs or cultural differences and I want to make films that reveal the aspects of people groups that remind us how similar we all are as human beings and how we all may desire similar outcomes from life like peace, comfort, assurance, and a sense of fulfilment. News media and social media greatly separate people, and film has the ability to counter those negative effects on society. I hope that I can not only make fun films with my friends, but also make films that culturally hold weight and can hopefully positively affect people. 

David Xie: What does film mean to you? 

Chiraag: Film is not only a representation of reality, but a recreation of reality. Film can serve as great tools to document and reveal the circumstances of those who cannot easily share their stories. It can then enlighten and inform those who are unaware of those situations in an effort to better the understanding between people. Film, however, also recreates reality in a way that, if you choose to escape or disengage from our world, you can watch a film or a tv series that takes place in an entirely different land and be fascinated, entertained, fully engaged, and dedicated to it. Drastic examples could be Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, or the Marvel Movies. Even on smaller scales, this byproduct of the viewing of films exists and as a filmmaker, if my audience was as engaged and as emotionally invested in my story and characters as the aforementioned films, It would be the most prestigious honour.

David Xie: Are there any advantages that only film has but other kinds of art have not?

Chiraag:I don’t believe that film has any substantial advantage over other forms of art. In my opinion, the effect art has on people is rooted in their willingness to understand it. In this regard, film actually has a significant disadvantage compared to other forms of art. In my experience, those who view visual art, dance, or theatre, seem to be more invested in trying to understand the artist and their intention, whereas those who view film can easily deem it as terrible due to its inability to entertain them. In regard to the “art” and “indie” film community specifically, this could be a bit different but the criticisms are entrenched in one’s ability to be edgy or significantly different from generic, Hollywood films. I am sure that other art communities have complications of their own, but film and its connection to being a consumer product has an impact on the independent and art film community. As I mentioned already, the arts are just too diverse to state that some component of film could be deemed an “advantage” over other forms of art. Art is art, just create it for whatever reason you want and don’t worry about others and what they will think or do. That will take up space in your mind that you could be filling with your next great idea.