Behind the scenes of ‘Raj’

Levi Hintermeister, co-director and writer, and Harsh Gupta, the lead character and producer, joined forces to create “Raj,” a short film that reflects the mundane realities of day-to-day life and the aspiration for something greater.

The idea came from Hintermeister. After feeling discouraged in his film pursuits he decided to join a local film group. It was there that he met Gupta, and their connection led to the creation of “Raj.” The film was born out of shared feelings of discontent that became an exploration of the desire to break free from the monotony of corporate life.

Once filming began Hintermeister reminisced, “There is something so fun and electric about getting together with your friends, old and new, and making movies (even if it’s just a short one).” The passion for filmmaking is evident as Hintermeister expressed, “If I didn’t get paid to make movies, I would pay to make them.”

Making movies is a lot of fun but it is also not easy. For “Raj” the shoot was a rollercoaster of emotions. Filming took place over just three days with a small crew, making it both a blast and an exhausting experience. Hintermeister recalled a particularly risky moment when, in the absence of proper equipment, he and Gupta improvised to capture a crucial shot of driving at night. “I sat on the hood of my wife’s car with the camera on my lap, supported only by a ratchet strap,” he admitted. Looking back, he acknowledged the danger but emphasized the lengths they went to get the perfect shot.

Looking back Hintermeister mentioned that there would always be things he’d want to change. “But I think that’s what helps you become better: recognizing it isn’t perfect and being okay with that,” he mused. The imperfections, the challenges, all contribute to growth, a sentiment he hopes to carry into future projects.

Hintermeister had simple yet profound advice for anyone interested in working in film production: “Find people who are currently working on films (of any size) and see if you can help in any way.”

As for future projects, Hintermeister invited audiences to explore his world on Instagram at @levi.hint. “Raj” is an official selection at the Utah International Film Festival February 12-17 and will be screening at Maven Cinemas in American Fork, UT.