QUITTING DRUGS, 20min., USA
Directed by Ali Imran Ch, Fatima Mughal
Bumb Shah is a Pakistani rapper whose traumatic life experiences heavily influence his music. Like many artists, he began using drugs early in his career, hoping that they would fuel his creativity. Before long, he fell into a rabbit hole of addiction-centered depravity, something that was reflected in his music.

Get to know Producer Albert Crane:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
Living in California at the time, there is a huge community of recovery institutions. I had learned about them and one of our Stories in Season 3 will be a Recovery doctor, so this story along with that one was an easy choice to make.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
A few months, but took a bit to schedule it, we like to post the documentaries around Thanksgiving and Black Friday when the internet is on Fire.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!? Resilience Rhyme

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
Holding it for several months before releasing it. It's so good.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
Listening to people enjoy our work is amazing. I love the candid approach this festival takes on the feedback. I liked how they commented on the use of the filters to showcase time.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
I think my father instilled it in me when he was recording everything we did with his camcorder, but after that, I've always been interested in making films and short documentaries for our Docu-Series 'Your Everyday Heroes' was a great place to start.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
Pulp Fiction and Grease, last time I answered this, I learned how big of a Jon Travolta fan I actually was, Face Off, Broken Arrow, Phenomenon, Michael, Swordfish, Ladder 49, some of my favorite movies.

But I feel like Independence Day was watched many many times, and The Matrix was up there too.. This is clearly a hard question for me.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
Getting back to live events would be amazing, I'd love to meet others and network from this experience, the WhatsApp group is a good idea, but maybe a discord, or some type of grouping outside of a phone app would be good.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
I've enjoyed it. I love how easy it is to provide you guys with my films, is there something else i should use?

10. What is your favorite meal? Last time I answered this, it was my anything my wife's red sauce, this time i'll go with homemade mash potatoes but with KFC gravy. Yum.

11. What is next for you? A new film?
Releasing Your Everyday Heroes Season 3, it's coming very soon. We're days away now. We have a huge piece around Jahmal Cole, a Chicago Native. I can't wait to share that piece with you, and all of our other Hero Stories.