What does it take to leave behind a traditional career and bet on yourself as a filmmaker?

On this episode of Next Act with Jeff Ornstein, Jeff sits down with Adnan Amir, an award-winning British actor, filmmaker, author, and Founder and CEO of Colossal Films.

Adnan shares his unconventional journey from studying law to building a career in film and creating Back 2 Forward, an independent romantic thriller he wrote, produced, directed, and starred in. What began as an idea for a novel ultimately became an award-winning film and expanded into the larger Back 2 Forward Universe through a series of companion novels.

Adnan opens up about making an ambitious independent film with extremely limited resources, wearing multiple hats behind and in front of the camera, and why passion and persistence can sometimes matter more than having the perfect budget.

He also shares the personal challenges behind the project, including losing his mother and his home during the filmmaking journey, and how those experiences strengthened his belief in resilience, mindset, and continuing forward through adversity.

Jeff and Adnan also discuss the importance of film festivals for independent filmmakers, maintaining creative control, overcoming fear, building confidence, and what audiences can expect next from Colossal Films.

For anyone considering their own next act, Adnan's story is a reminder that changing direction can be difficult, but sometimes the biggest opportunities begin when you're willing to take the leap.