13/04/2026
From Vernita’s diary
Over the years, I’ve seen filmmaking change. But in the last two years, it has changed faster than ever.
I remember the days of bulky cameras and tapes.
Only a few production houses owned them. The rest of us rented, planned carefully, and made every shot count. Shooting days were tighter, mistakes were expensive, and there was a certain discipline to the process.
Then came DVs. Things became slightly more accessible. We could shoot more, experiment more, and slowly, the gap between idea and ex*****on started reducing.
When we started Varnan 16 years ago, we stored every tape. Especially documentary footage. We still have hundreds of them. We call it our gold. Back then, footage felt physical. You could hold it, archive it, revisit it.
Editing meant sitting in studios for hours. Rendering took time. Changes were not instant. Every decision carried weight.
Corporate films had a different place. They were made to last. A shelf life of 3–5 years was normal. And yes, we charged a bomb for it.
There was time, budget, and intent behind each film.
Today, everything is faster.
Everyone owns a camera.
Shoots are lighter, quicker, more fluid.
Content is created in volumes.
Editing happens on laptops, sometimes even phones.
Cloud has replaced cupboards full of tapes.
But with that, attention spans have reduced.
Shelf life has shortened.
“Content” has replaced “films” in many conversations.
There is more access now. More creators. More stories being told. Which is a beautiful shift.
But somewhere, the pace has also changed how deeply we sit with a story.
A lot has changed.
What hasn’t changed is this
a good story still needs time, honesty, and someone who cares enough to tell it well.
And when that happens, it still stays.
