Sannan Saleh: Leaving Paramount Studio For Pakistan… | 463 | TBT

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Sannan Saleh, a filmmaker, storyteller, and creative producer who’s worked with global giants like Comedy Central in Los Angeles before returning to Pakistan. Sannan shares an unfiltered look at the real state of Pakistan’s entertainment industry, its creative challenges, and the opportunities AI now brings.

We explore:
- How his journey from Duke to LA shaped his creative mindset
- What made him leave a stable career in the U.S. to return to Pakistan
- Why content distribution is easier than ever
- How Pakistani TV channels are afraid to take creative risks
- Why boomer producers are out of touch with Gen Z audiences
- Why Pakistan doesn’t have a talent problem, it has a direction problem
- The elitism in filmmaking and why cinema must be made for everyone
- How AI tools will slash production costs and change creativity forever

An unapologetically honest conversation about filmmaking, creativity, and the evolving mindset of Pakistan’s new generation of storytellers.

🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications to never miss an episode.

#thoughtbehindthings #sannan #filmmaking #muzamilhasan #contentcreator

Socials:
TBT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/
TBT’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamil
TBT’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthings
TBT Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@tbtpodcastclips
Muzamil's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/
Muzamil's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/
Sannan's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sannansaleh/

Special thanks to Daftarkhwan for providing us with the studio space.
You can find out more about them at: https://www.daftarkhwan.com/

Listen on:
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3z1cE7F
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3cgIkf
Google Podcasts: https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCAkPt3qoHX1Z8uS1_-0kmGA

Credits:
Executive Producer: Syed Muzamil Hasan Zaidi
Associate Producer: Saad Shehryar
Publisher: Talha Shaikh
Editor: Jawad Sajid

Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
3:36 - Early Life & Journey
6:56 - Duke University Days
12:25 - Returning to Pakistan
17:38 - Acting vs Directing
22:05 - Evolution from Photography to Film
26:02 - Dunya Digital Days
28:05 - Who are the other actors in his usual videos?
29:04 - Instant Gratification of Likes & Views
32:04 - Saas-Bahu Drama's & Audience Gap
39:05 - Missing things in Story & Scripting
46:02 - Filmmakers & Comedy
52:03 - Acting Isn’t the Problem
56:01 - Films for the Masses
1:04:56 - Cutting Production Costs
1:11:04 - Future Plans for Long Form
1:14:31 - AI in Filmmaking?
1:19:38 - Collaborations & The Creator Economy
1:28:29 - Lahore vs Karachi Filmmaking Ecosystem
1:31:08 - What Will Pakistan Look Like in 2050?
1:37:07 - End Closing Thoughts

Видео Sannan Saleh: Leaving Paramount Studio For Pakistan… | 463 | TBT канала Muzamil Hasan | TBT Podcast