The entertainment industry is filled with dreamers, but they do not all dream of being in the spotlight or being the subject of the camera. For some, playing the incredible role behind what is seen by the audience is the ultimate dream, one Gurdeep Singh Sidhu shares with many others. One of the most promising, highly-trained, and ingenious filmmakers today, Gurdeep is backed by years of experience behind the lens and post-production editing. The visionary has claimed many accolades and made an impact in the film industry with his many works, especially Fenced, A Family Barbeque, and Paranormal Monster’s Society. On top of his technical skills in video and audio production, Gurdeep is known for bringing out the best in the actors he works with, interpreting scripts in a creative light, and leading a team to maximize their potential.
A graduate of the New York Film Academy, Gurdeep’s talent for cinematography is also unmatched. He has worked alongside industry leaders and elite talents, including Daljit Dosanjh, Jassi Gill, Mankirit Aulakh, and more. On top of that, he has also enhanced his skills by working as a production manager, videographer, and executive producer on many projects. Gurdeep has even worked with globally-renowned influencer Lele Pons and Montana Tucker for their social media content. To date, Gurdeep has worked his magic in over 50 music videos and collectively gained over 50 million views for his works.
Gurdeep’s journey as a filmmaker can be traced back to the life he had in his home country, India. While studying, he had to stay in a hostel where the only entertainment available was to watch movies in cinemas, so he never missed a single movie release. He loved filmmaking and began writing stories of his own, sharing them with his friends, who eventually found his works more satisfying than the ones they saw in the cinema. That marked the first moment when he wanted to build a career in filmmaking.
Gurdeep then took up a bachelor’s in filmmaking at the Centre for Advanced Media Studies at Punjabi University, where he directed various short films, commercials, and music videos. During that time, with his own Canon digital camera, he began building his portfolio and eventually landed an executive producer role at Speed Records, working on music videos for the likes of Miss Pooja and Akhil.
Soon enough, he shifted his focus from production to creating visuals and enrolled in the New York film Academy for a one-year conservatory course in cinematography, where he fell in love with different lenses and learned how to work with the camera to capture striking footage that leaves an impact among its viewers.
With the references he received after graduation, he began working with industry giants like Brad Hamilton and Maria Quintana. “Working with them was real learning,” Gurdeep said. “I have learned how to work in a fast-paced environment; I felt like every cinematographer has their way of lighting. Everyone has their preference for camera lenses and shot composition. I feel lucky that I got that knowledge from all of them,” he added.
Asked where he sees himself over the next few years, Gurdeep shared he wants to continue down the path to becoming one of the best producers in the entertainment industry. “It is my solemn aim in life to become a Hollywood producer. My favorite international directors are Martin Scorsese, David Lynch, and Quentin Tarantino. I wish to follow their footprints in Hollywood and carve myself as a niche in the world of filmmaking,” shared Gurdeep.