State of the Creators

State of the Creators is a podcast that explores what it means for creatives to build something out of nothing. Digital creative Tawsif Akkas sits down with talented creatives from Bangladesh to Australia - and around the world - to talk about the process of creating, the struggles of being a creative and explore how to leave a legacy in this fast paced digital world. Through State of the Creators, Tawsif not only aims to deliver a compelling podcast series but also build a creative community to help the next generation of creators flourish. Find out more at www.tawsifakkas.com.

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State of the Creators

Going from Creating Viral Videos to Award Winning Films ft. Taha Ismail | State of the Creators 031

May 03, 2023 • Tawsif Akkas

Taha Ismail is a Bangladeshi filmmaker based in London. He is also the co-founder of Collective Unconscious - a creative production studio & collective working across film, music, fashion & more. Recently, Taha even won gold at the prestigious London Award Show for his work.

I came across Taha’s work through an incredible viral video of his back when viral videos weren’t even a thing. He had recreated in real life - an entire cutscene in the style of popular video game called GTA San Andreas. Today it might not seem a lot, but it was quite a big deal then. Today Taha’s work spans across incredible short films to music videos, and his work has been featured on US television, BBC, film festivals, and many other places.

In this episode, @tahaismailtvbd and I discuss his journey and what it takes to be a filmmaker in the modern world.

Just a note that this podcast was recorded in early 2022 and the artwork in the animation was done by the talented Ahmed Fahim.

00:00 - Intro
01:34 - Why the "Unconscious"?
03:03 - Who is Taha Ismail?
04:30 - Is Film School worth it?
08:34 - Taha's early days
12:24 - Why Taha stopped uploading to YouTube
15:21- State of YouTube today
16:31- Why create something new?
20:35 - Dealing with identity
21:59 - Catering for different audiences
24:07 - Music Videos vs. Short Films
29:23 - The lack of appreciation for work
33:16 - What is quality?
34:32 - Supportive parents
35:53 - Creative ruts
38:45 - Daily rituals
39:38 - Consuming a variety of work
42:37 - Dream collaboration
43:38 - Taha's goal in 5 years
45:47 - Advice for aspiring filmmakers

Find out more about Tawsif: www.tawsifakkas.com

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