Devesh Desai is a junior majoring in Digital Media Production at the University of Northern Iowa. He is currently working on a short film titled An Untitled Love Story for his independent research course. What once started as a dream is now becoming a reality, with Devesh stepping into the roles of director, scriptwriter, cinematographer, and casting manager.

At first, Devesh was not confident that he could pull such a big project together. Still, after months of planning and preparation, he and other UNI students committed to making this project a reality. Despite challenges and obstacles throughout filming, Devesh hopes people will enjoy his film. He also hopes to inspire other UNI students to step out of their comfort zones, try something new, and challenge themselves.

Devesh discovered his love for filming in high school when one of his speech teachers encouraged him to compete in short film categories at competitions. After participating in various competitions, he found a passion that has stuck with him. “They helped shape my path,” Devesh said. Now at UNI, with support from students at UNI and Hawkeye Community College, he is using his skills to produce something that people can enjoy.

The film follows two college students caught in a “messy romance that goes wrong … but not really.” Devesh explained that the title, initially a placeholder, became the official title because it perfectly captures the uncertain, bittersweet tone of the story. The idea for the film emerged last spring while helping a friend with their short film. Since then, Devesh has spent months working behind the scenes on his own story, making several changes to his script and creating numerous storyboards for all the scenes.

Like any other project, the making of this film has not been easy. Devesh admits that the lack of directing classes at UNI made it difficult to guide his actors at the beginning of the filming process. “Sometimes I freeze up and don’t know how to explain what I want,” he said. Thankfully, his cast includes Brady Okic and Megan Schwartz, both theater students who offer advice on shaping performances and scenes.

Scheduling has been another major conflict among the cast and crew. With everyone juggling different schedules, finding time to film together has been difficult. These issues have forced Devesh to reschedule shoots multiple times. “Stuff happens… we’re all busy, so I try to stay chill and find solutions,” he said. Despite the setbacks, he remains determined to make this project successful.                 

A typical day on set runs just like a professional shoot. Crew call happens about 15 minutes before filming begins, but Devesh often plans extra time, knowing that delays and problems could arise. He handles most of the cinematography, while his crew assists with equipment like the boom mic and lighting. Shoots usually last between one to two hours, but depending on how complex the scene is, they sometimes have to extend production time, making the shoots even longer.

This project has helped Devesh refine his skills, and he plans to use this film as part of his portfolio, showcasing his abilities in directing, editing, and marketing. He has invested so much time into this project that he even created a marketing plan for the film. He launched a website and an Instagram page to promote the film, treating the project like a professional production rather than just a class assignment.

For Devesh, this film is more than just a project, it represents an opportunity that could open many doors in the future and serve as the foundation for his filmmaking career. Devesh expects the film to be completed in May, with a private screening scheduled for May 13 and a public release soon after on May 16th. It will be available on YouTube and through the official website.

For more information about the film, visit untitledlovestory.com or follow @an_untitled_love_story on Instagram.