Enter the Diamond Origins is an animated action/spy short film set in the 1970's. The Black Diamond is a newly promoted Mi5 agent of African descent who's first mission is to recover a stolen briefcase containing British Intelligence secrets. But right from the start Diamond is thwarted by Mr. Win, head of the Typhon Crime Syndicate. Black Diamond together with help from his associates the Sleeping Dragon and the Mad Dog, embark on a perilous journey to recover the briefcase and exact revenge. The director of the film, Bob Bharatwal is a Writer, Director of independent films and is based in Los Angeles, California. It was our pleasure to speak to him about the making of his film.
How did you start making films and what was the first film project you worked on?
I started making films after studying acting, and taking intensive courses in directing and producing. My first film is an independent feature film Enter the Diamond, a 1970s spy film, which is about England’s first intelligence officer of African descent named the Black Diamond. I am currently in post production.
What genre of filmmaking are you looking to work on and why?
Action, drama. Interests me more than comedy.
What is the most challenging aspect of being an independent filmmaker?
Fundraising.
How challenging is it to fund indie films?
Extremely difficult.
Please name three of your most favorite directors.
Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, Michael Mann.
How have they been influential in your work?
Studying their directing techniques have helped me in my directing and writing abilities.
What is your next film project and what are you currently working on?
My next film is a superhero independent short film entitled RESERRECTION. It’s about a Cambodian boy with untold powers that was raised by monks. I’m also working simultaneously in preproduction on an independent short Christmas film entitled The Expectation. I’m also in preproduction on a documentary feature film and titled Another hill to climb which is about a young Japanese Canadian ParaOlympic athlete who has Charcot Marie tooth syndrome.
What was the inspiration behind your latest film project?
I’ve always wanted to make an animated film. The animated short film Enter the Diamond Origins is based on my independent feature film Enter the Diamond.
How did you find the cast and the crew of the film?
The crew is my crew from my production company Arc Reactor Productions. The cast include some actors from my previous films and new actors that I’ve met along the way.
What is the distribution plan of the film and did the film receive any screenings or was it featured in festivals?
The animated short film was selected for 12 film festivals around the world. We were a winner at the Nollywood film festival in Toronto for best animated short. We were an award winner in the Canada Shorts-Canadian & international short film fest.
We were runner-up in the Hollywood international Moving Pictures film festival. Semifinalist in the Rome Independent Prisma Awards. Finalist in the in the Indie short fest.
Why do you make films and what kind of impact would your work have on the world?
My passion is filmmaking. I am a Writer Director, Producer, and actor. I hope my films shed light on the talented actors that I work with and also that my films create future opportunities for my wonderful production crew with which no film would get made.
I hope with my documentary feature film that I can share a inspirational story about a wonderful human being that triumphs over adversity and rises to the challenge as a Canadian Para Olympic athlete.