Welcome to my page!
I am an Indian-American filmmaker and actor from Dallas, Texas and Springfield, Illinois currently studying Film and TV Production at USC's School of Cinematic Arts.
With a background in political campaigns and a lifelong love of history and civics, I am drawn to stories that tackle cultural complexities, especially in rural America.
For the past 2 years, I have been working on a feature-length documentary about the family behind the landmark 1960s student rights Supreme Court case Tinker v. Des Moines, and their community's current political activism in rural agricultural Missouri. Through its process of collecting firsthand local histories, this project explores the evolution of student protest and the anti-war movement from Vietnam to present-day. Additionally, the project examines race relations in rural Missouri from the integration of public schools to today's community Juneteenth celebrations.
I have been involved in theatre since I was 9 years old. As a teenager, I received several UIL awards for my work directing, designing, and acting in one-act productions in North Texas. Arts access and arts affordability are two issues that matter deeply to me. As someone who was introduced to the performing arts through volunteer-based community theatre groups, I hope to work with non-profit organizations to bring more theatre to rural communities in the future.
At USC, I organize campus screenings and do grassroots marketing for independent film production and distribution company NEON, and I cover Arts & Entertainment for The Daily Trojan. Outside of school, I do freelance photography and editing work and have consulted on scripts for Telugu and Hindi-language independent feature films.
Whether it be a project, an event, a campaign, or just a random question -- I'd love to hear from you.
I'm always open to new work and adventures. Attached below is my email.
shouri.gomatham@gmail.com
See you then!