#creativeartsandtechnology

[thesearch-continues]

Episode 001

From humble beginnings and the hustle in New Jersey. I begin my filmmaking journey and share some of the stories that I haven't shared with anyone (until now) Be sure to check out the blog and social media pages to get the full picture and stay up to date with the search!

[thesearch-continues]

001: Hussle

So let me take you on a journey, starting with my transition from high school to college. I'm from New Jersey and before starting my four-year degree, I took my time to visit different schools and worked on a variety of freelance gigs. One project that stood out for me was a skit about colorism in a courthouse. I also had the opportunity to work with notable Jersey artists such as Lamar from Role Modelz, DJ Cali Cal, FatBoy SSE, and many more who supported me in the early stages of my career.

In my first semester of college, I enrolled in the Creative Arts and Technology (CAT) program at Bloomfield College. Although it was a great program with great educators and people, I soon realized that it wasn't the right fit for me and decided to transfer. While I was exploring different options, I came across a collective in Newark, New Jersey that was running its first and second internship program. ”SSMP” I reached out to @envisionedbyDenity and @NimiHendrix, and they welcomed me with open arms to come and intern with them. That experience taught me a lot about the filmmaking process and how to deal with people professionally.

After my internship, I decided to take a risk and audition for Mason Gross School of Arts at Rutgers University. I was one of the first transfer classes to be accepted into the program, and although I wasn't accepted into the filmmaking department, the visual arts department welcomed me with open arms. This new opportunity gave me a new set of goals to work towards and the pressure was on to succeed, being the first in my family to attend college.

Before starting my new semester, I decided to live a little and took a trip to LA with my collective. It was 2016, and I remember hopping off the plane, throwing my bags in the convertible and hitting the streets. The first thing we did was a photoshoot. 

On our drive to the desert, we were stuck in traffic and listening to Nipsey Hussle's "Crenshaw". At the time, I wasn't familiar with Nipsey but @Jabrillakeem introduced me to his music. The vibe of the song set the tone for the whole trip. After a quick photoshoot in the desert, I had the chance to meet Nipsey and showed him some of my photos. He was an honest guy and told me that my photos were good, but I needed to practice more. I agreed with his advice and started listening to more of his music.

I became a fan of Nipsey and his music continued to inspire me. This blog title and entry are a tribute to that! In conclusion, my journey out west has been one to remember, but each experience has taught me valuable lessons and led me to where I am today. I hope you enjoy the content on this blog and don't forget to check in next week's installment for more.