Flying Solo Productions
www.flyingsoloproductions.co.uk
We speak to directors Krishan Kainth and Rohan Midha, the dynamic
duo behind the award winning production company
Tell us about how you started and the background of the
team?
Rohan: We have been a registered film production company for 19
months now. The idea of setting up a company came up after I left
Sikh Channel, where I was working for almost a year. Krish rang me
up and suggested with our knowledge of the industry and experience,
we start our own company where we can specialise in Music Videos,
Advertising, Short Films, Corporate productions and much more. As
any business is, you have to build it up and it is a slow process
but I don't think we could have asked for a better first
year.
Krish: We studied very similar fields at our uni's, we are old
school friends who kept in touch and shared the same passion and
drive for the creative media industry. The first project we worked
on was actually for a uni project which went well and was aired on
sky, from then on, we have always worked together and formed Flying
Solo Productions.
You work as a small team, does that help with creativity,
do you bounce ideas of one another?
Rohan: Yeah, I guess it does. Me and Krish will lock ourselves away
for days and just throw ideas back and fourth till we come up with
something that has the potential to win another award. Its all
about being different. We have Graphic designers and animators that
we work closely with as well
Krish: 100%. We have weird and wonderful personalities when in
creative mode, we are often locked away in the studio brainstorming
idea's, always trying to outdo ourselves. We are anything but
normal in this sense.
What software do you use, did you have an special training
or mostly self-taught?
Rohan: I have been brought up using Final Cut Pro. I have touched
on AVID and After Effects. I was taught editing at University, but
that was on a basic level. I switched to AVID during my Masters but
because I knew the interface quite well, I switched back to FCP and
haven't really found another software that competes with it. I
didn't learn a great deal at Uni, so a lot of the knowledge I have,
Is all through trial and error. Its the best way to learn in my
eyes.
Krish: I have been brought up on Apple Final Cut Pro, learning
skills from both Uni and self training, the same goes for Adobe
After Effects. Rohan has also used AVID but i think he's in Love
with FCP, its his baby.
Who came up with the name, does it have a special
meaning?
Rohan: This is a question that every artist we work with asks. I
came up with the name. The name actually came from a title of a
song that I had on repeat for months. Its a name to me that means,
'there is no one else, to do what you want to do, show your
creativity' It has a nice sound to it.
What one experience stands out from the
rest?
Rohan: Pumbeeri!! To think of Flash Mobbing a shopping centre on a
Saturday afternoon is crazy. To actually pull it off is a feeling
that you cant describe and winning that award for it, was the icing
on the cake. Its an amazing feeling to know that you have
entertained thousands of people all around the world and you got
the credit that you deserve for it.
Krish: For me Its a toss up between shooting the video 'Pumbeeri'
and receiving the 'BritAsia Best Video 2011' award for it. Running
the 'stealth' operation of flash mobbing the Bullring at its
busiest day of the week with over 100 dancers was definitely mind
blowing, but I think walking up on that stage receiving the award
was the most significant experience for me as it felt like a great
reward for a year of complete dedication and hard work.
Winning a Brit Asia Music Award for best video is quite an
achievement, what was the inspiration behind the
video?
Krish: I think the main inspiration comes from being able to
achieve something outstanding on a huge scale to entertain the
masses. You often see experimental artistry on the internet using
human expression and I think that it provides such a rush for
people to see. Pumbeeri has been viewed worldwide and to know that
the Flash Mob has been emulated in other countries such as Malaysia
and America, is definitely something special
Rohan: I've always wanted to do things differently. Most
videos nowadays are lacking creativity in my eyes. Its easy to get
cars, girls, and clubs in your videos and to tell you the truth,
its outdated now. I started making videos so I can do the wacky
crazy fun videos. They are the ones that stand out.
Are there people in particular you source for
inspiration?
Rohan: Colin Tilley! His vision is out of this world.
Krish: I cant really say but know that I am like a sponge when it
comes to inspiration and I derive it from so many different
sources. The world fascinates me, its a powerful tool for
inspiration.
If there were any artists out there you would love to do a
music video for, who would they be and why?
Rohan: There's two. Firstly I would love to work with Kazz
Kumar. I think she is wicked. Her style is something that no other
female artist has. Especially on the Asian scene. I
think we could create something magical. The second person is
Skepta. The way he pieces his verses together in his songs, I know
I would have a field day making his videos.
Krish: Ed Sheeran, he has modernised a scene which I grew up
loving and with this style, there are no boundaries. Kanye
West, he is not afraid to try anything and I love that
element of fearlessness.
Where do you see Flying Solo in five years, what plans do
you have?
Krish: Directing and Producing commercial and mainstream
videos on a huge scale, Global. Once people see what we can do with
our ideas combined with the right resources, we can achieve
groundbreaking results.
Rohan: I always said I want to be in America. I want to be
directing music videos for mainstream artists. 2012 is all about
pushing more boundaries and making that attempt to break into a
more commercial scene.
Do you have any words for other budding video artists out
there?
Rohan: This industry allows you to use your imagination to paint a
picture so that the whole world can see your vision. If you have a
passion for film, grab it with both hands and show the world what
you have to offer.
Krish: Dream big and be dedicated. No-one can achieve their full
potential half heartedly so give it your best shot. Be wise with
your ideas and use material that inspires you as an individual
because if it inspires you, imagine what it would do for
others.
Article by Nardip Singh
As featured in Unfolded Magazine Issue 06